Migraine Headaches Support Group

Dr. Lawless explains in his book, The IQ Answer, that proper breathing is the most direct route for teaching the brain what you want to do whether it's to relax or to facilitate the body's own natural healing process. Here is a short synopsis of the techniques for learning to control your breathing patterns to improve your health that he shares in his book.
1. Diaphragmatic - this breathing pattern is to help with memory or mobilizing your strengths. "Put your hand on your belly button. Breathe in a nd out and note how your hand moves up and down. Breathe in for seven counts and out for seven counts."
2. Full Breath - is helpful when you are very anxious and need to gain some emotional control. "Put one hand on your navel and lower hand while keeping the chest staple. After sixty seconds, breathe so that only the chest area is moving and the stomach area remains stable. After sixty seconds, try to breathe only through the shoulders by slightly raising them up with each inhalation while keeping both the chest and stomach stable. After thirty seconds, begin to breathe by moving all three areas (chest, stomach, and shoulders). It's a bit tricky and takes quite a bit of practice."
3.The Triangle (1-4-2) - good for relaxing and trying to get to sleep. "For every one count of breathing in, hold that breath for four counts, and exhale for two counts. If this pattern is too rapid, us the the typical count of 4-16-8. Try to do this for 10 minutes."
4. Alternate Nostrils - "It is a method for breaking throught patterns when you are stuck or can't seem to excape self-defeating behaviors. Breathe in one nostril by closing off the other, and when you've inhaled all you can, close that nostril and breathe out through the other. Then, when maintaining the same side, breathe in and release on the other nostril. Repeat the alternating pattern several times in a relaxed manner....You may feel some confusion after two or three minutes and you might want to stop, but dont'. Keep breathing in this pattern until youcan no longer think about the problem. You are cleansing your mind."
5. Box Breathing (4-4-4-4) - "This breathing is used for dealing with fear. Breathe in for the count of four, hold it for a count of four, exhale to the count of four, and do not breathe in for a count of four. Do this for at least 10 minutes."

Dr. Lawlis also shares how to detox your brain, how to nurture your brain, how to help with foggy brain, restoring your brainpower, overcoming the emotional traps that drain your genius, and how to empower yourself. He does a fabulous job of combining your mind, body, and soul in a natural way.