Can anyone help me breathe??? Can't get a full satisying breath, anxiety? Please help

[SharonNYC]

Originally Posted by KathAL79

Another enthusiastic vote for Barbara Benagh's breathwork, whether you're suffering from asthma or anxiety. Yoga for Stress Relief has some good exercises that I've personally found helpful (I have family history of asthma and display some symptoms myself, despite "passing" tests for asthma). Her breathwork was quite literally a breath of fresh air after trying other styles' breathwork. (For example, kundalini's quick movements while doing breath of fire is a big no for me when I'm having trouble breathing deeply.)

From what I understand Kath, breath-of-fire and kapalaghati are best avoided when asthma-like symptoms are present. I'm pretty sure Barbara says this in the material I link to.

I agree- her breathwork has been a real revelation to me, with its emphasis on the exhalation etc. Her audio download on Breathwork is great stuff and what she offers on Yoga for Stress Relief is a lovely short version.

[videofit]

Bronchitis and whooping cough have been going around at work. There are three women in particular who have been coughing at least two months. One was prescribed an inhaler which made her faint and another got antibiotics which worked for a little while but she's started coughing again. Do docs give people TB tests any more?

[suebella]

Not to be alarmist, but be patient with me because I am recovering from a serious illness (pulmonary embolism), one of the symptoms of which is shortness of breath. My symptoms came on suddenly and it doesn't sound as if yours did, but shortness of breath is always a condition that should be taken seriously. If this continues I would definitely pay a visit to your doctor.

A few years ago I had plueirisy after a chest cold, and that was also painful and made it hard to breathe. It took a few weeks to get back to normal.

Whatever you do, please put your health first. It's important!

[videofit]

Originally Posted by Inchworm

I also have always had a slightly bigger ribcage area on left side, non-symmetric, not sure if that contributes or not. Anyhoo, with major heart disease that runs in my family, when one can't breathe right, it can kind of freak you out.

I have mild scoliosis and my midback dishes in a bit instead of bowing out as it should, so I have a smaller than normal ribcage breathing area. Then when my back locks up due to stress, I have shortness of breath. A couple of months ago it got so bad I saw a cardiologist because I thought I was having a heart attack. Heart problems killed both of my parents. So now I just have my chiropractor pop my back out and I loosen up. Gets expensive though, so I wish I knew a way to do that myself. Just stretching where I clasp my hands and extend my arms away from my chest and pull to open up my shoulder blades doesn't always do it.

[KathAL79]

Originally Posted by SharonNYC

From what I understand Kath, breath-of-fire and kapalaghati are best avoided when asthma-like symptoms are present. I'm pretty sure Barbara says this in the material I link to.

Yes, that makes sense. I wish I had known this before trying out kundalini or anything with BOF, as I had to learn it for myself. Fortunately no real harm done, but hopefully our discussion will help someone else avoid my rookie mistake.
I really need to break down and get Barbara's Breathwork. An expanded version of YfSR sounds fantastic to me; I've learned a lot from her YfSR and her writings.

[lfcjasp]

Get thee to a doctor who will give you a pulmonary function test to see IF you have asthma. And will work with you to make breathing easier. I'm not familiar with this Barbarba Benaugh but she sounds like she helps a lot of people.

I would never have thought I would have asthma until a doctor at our hospital (military) made me take a breathing test...talk about a shock. Between my asthma education and my choir rehearsals, I'm really learning about breathing deeply...not to mention the tiny bit of yoga I do and my cardio (walking).

Good luck, Inchworm!!!

[scrappindad]

I would encourage you to see an allergist/asthma specialist. Sue B., I think you should, as well. (I went two weeks ago and even though I didn't feel "sick" and had done a 10 mile run 4 days earlier, at 43 my lung age was 72. )

Debbie

[videofit]

Originally Posted by scrappindad

at 43 my lung age was 72. )

What sort of a test is it? Having lived most of my adult life in cities, I often wonder at the toll it has taken on my lungs. My aunt lived in the LA area for forty years, during the worst years before smog control, and developed emphysema. She had never smoked and was physically active, hiking and biking.

[SharonNYC]

Originally Posted by KathAL79

Yes, that makes sense. I wish I had known this before trying out kundalini or anything with BOF, as I had to learn it for myself. Fortunately no real harm done, but hopefully our discussion will help someone else avoid my rookie mistake.
I really need to break down and get Barbara's Breathwork. An expanded version of YfSR sounds fantastic to me; I've learned a lot from her YfSR and her writings.

I wish I had known this a long time ago too. So much time wasted learning something that was, in reality, working against me. But hey, eventually I learned.

The Breathwork is really great. I travel with it on flash memory.

I'd love to take a live workshop with Benagh. She doesn't get to NYC all that often though and slots fill up so fast.

[geojill]

Originally Posted by KathAL79

Yes, that makes sense. I wish I had known this before trying out kundalini or anything with BOF, as I had to learn it for myself.

Me, too. It definitely did not help me when I was experiencing stress breathing. But when I wasn't, kundalini helped reduce my stress level. Long, deep breathing is what I turn to when I feel short of breath due to stress (and I did have a breathing test done at the doctor to make sure it wasn't asthma).

To the OP, I hope that you are able to get this solved, whether it is stress-related, asthma-related, or illness-related. I know how bad it feels to not be able to take a full breath.