Anatomy of Breathing (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: diaphragmatic inhalation, pulmonary elasticity, costal breathing, Analysis of the Principal (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

My hope is that [this book] will contribute to a more enlightened practice of breathing. I also hope that you, the reader, will have a better understanding of how breathing changes spontaneously from moment to moment. My other wish is that you will discover how to consciously choose a specific breathing technique for certain purposes or circumstances. -- Author s Preface Everyone breathes, yet few of us understand how to consciously control breathing to improve our well-being and the quality of many daily activities. Anatomy of Breathing is a clear and helpful guide to both the theory and practice of breathing in its many variations. Hundreds of expert drawings along with easy-to-understand text help you explore just how breathing works. Once you re acquainted with the principal organs, structures, and forces that affect breathing, you will learn how to control them to enhance the quality and variety of breathing in your own life. Along the way, you will also correct many common misconceptions about breathing. Anatomy of Breathing is filled with helpful practice pages. Here you will learn simple exercises to prepare your body for the benefits of different types of breathing. You will then be shown, step by step, how to practice some of the most common and useful breathing techniques on your own. Anatomy of Breathing is a unique and wonderful resource for anyone who wishes to understand the science and art of breathing, and how to make their own breathing better and more life-enhancing.

About the Author

Blandine Calais-Germain lifelong involvement with dance, both as performer and teacher, eventually led to an interest in other physical disciplines, and then to more formal study of the complex and integrated movements of the body. From 1977 to 1980 the author studied physiotherapy at the French School of Orthopedics and Massage in Paris. In physiotherapy, body movements are analyzed both in terms of their neurophysiological and mechanical aspects, which allows for a better understanding of the actual mechanisms of movement. From her work with dance and physiotherapy, the author developed an innovative method for teaching the physical structures of anatomy in relation to movement. This method, the subject of her companion volumes Anatomy of Movement and Anatomy of Movement: Exercises, has been enthusiastically received in workshops that she presented for many years in France. Her two books have been translated and published throughout the world in many languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Eastland Press; 1 edition (December 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939616556
• ISBN-13: 978-0939616558
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,920 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, interesting and to the point, January 17, 2008

By	Erifili I. Nikolakopoulou (Athens Greece) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is well written and interesting.
The anatomy of the breath is explained in layman's terms and illustrated so that even a child could understand its basic concept.

The book chapters are:
1. Initial observations about the act of breathing
2. The skeleton's role in breathing
3. Respiratory organs
4. Respiratory muscles
5. The principal forces involved in breathing
6. Forces affecting respiratory volumes
7. Relationships among anatomical structures involved in breathing
8. Analysis of the principal types of breathing
9. Practice pages

Practice pages include exercises for lamaze, costal, diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing amongst others.

Strongly recommend it to people involved in body work teaching. Even if you already know this stuff, the book may help you find ways to explain it to your classes more simply. At least this is what it helped me for.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Breathing Beginning, December 27, 2008

By	Ann L. Rodiger "Ann Rodiger Alexander Techni... (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a teacher of the F. M. Alexander Technique I am always looking for good resources and material about breathing for my students and teacher trainees. I found this book to be very helpful in sparking discussion about breathing and how to think about breathing mechanics. The drawings are generally very helpful although I found that the arrows are sometimes confusing and unclear.

Many techniques and types of breathing are presented in the book which are wonderful to explore. It would be great if there was more of a point of view about the best and optimal breathing coordination.

My experience is that when breathing is optimal the breath comes in and out by itself and no sucking or pushing is necessary on either the inhale or the exhale. When one works too hard to breathe it shortens the neck and basically pulls the whole body down -- thus restricting the breathing potential. Basically one has get out of the way and allow the breathing to take place. It would be great to hear about that option in the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional clarity, January 25, 2009

By	Dominika Gaines "Movement Educator" (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Blandine-Calais has again written a book of exceptional clarity: the descriptions of the body parts related to respiration and the exercises given are simple, clear and easy to follow, yet bring a depth of understanding to the reader.