September 2008

September’s meeting continued the theme of managing breathlessness with Dr. Sharief from the International Art of Living Foundation telling us about the course the Foundation runs about breath and breathing. Dr. Sharief described how emotions are closely linked to breathing and how breathing changes, for instance, if we are angry. She believes that we can breathe out the toxins that cause disease and showed us one of the exercises included in this course, the ‘bellows breath’ which we all tried to much laughter.

The foundation’s courses use breathing techniques to help deal with negative emotions such as stress and anger, and to create energy so often lacking in people with COPD. Another important aspect of these breathing techniques, says Dr. Sharief, is their ability to treat depression, which many COPD patients suffer from. Dr. Sharief is hoping to run a course in Whitstable in the near future.