The Healing Power of the Breath

Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions

By: Richard Brown, Patricia Gerbarg

Narrated by: Richard Brown, Patricia Gerbarg

Here is a drug-free, natural solution to common stress and mood problems—developed by two physician pioneers in Integrative Medicine. Millions of people suffer from stress and trauma-related issues including anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and relationship problems; and most would prefer not to take medication due to troublesome side effects, withdrawal symptoms, disappointing success rates, and rising costs.

In their own voices, Drs. Richard P. Brown and Patricia L. Gerbarg share the methods they have used for twenty years to build stress resilience and reduce the negative effects of stress and trauma on the mind, the emotions, and the capacity for close healthy relationships. These simple breathing and movement techniques are drawn from yoga, Buddhist meditation, the Chinese practice of qigong, Orthodox Christian monks, and other sources. These methods have been scientifically shown to be effective in alleviating specific stress, anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and many other conditions. The authors explain how breathing practices activate communication pathways between the mind and the body, positively impacting the brain and calming the stress response. They also provide guidance to help make the practices an ongoing part of daily life.

This audiobook, containing the entirety of the original edition along with some updates from the authors, provides breathing techniques to help relieve:

• anxiety, depression, and insomnia
• trauma-related emotions and behaviors
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• addiction-related behaviors
• mental and physical fatigue

It also offers breathing techniques to enhance concentration, productivity, peak performance, and personal relationships.

©2012 Richard P. Brown, MD, and Patricia Gerbarg, MD (P)2022 Shambhala Publications

One of the two most important skills of life

There are two skills I’ve studied that I feel have been life-changing, and even life-saving: one is The Alexander Technique and the other is Drs Brown and Gerbarg’s Breath Body Mind practices as introduced in this audio book. I’m in absolute awe of the transformations of people’s greatest challenges (physical/mental/etc) described here. Unimaginable trauma soothed so one can carry on with their life, and even thrive again! Performance anxiety managed and even dispelled. Physical enhancement to support all physical and mental functioning… all based in solid scientific research. The audio version of this is wonderful - the two doctors divide the reading equally and you get a real sense of their teamwork developing & teaching these methods - their calm and wise voices guiding you. I wish the audio recordings of the practices were included within this Audible program but they are easily accessed on the publisher’s website. I recommend this with tremendous enthusiasm - really one of the most important things you can do for yourself!!! Listen and practice daily - the whole world will thank you!

The depth of knowledge and practical experience

Amazing, I wish there was a way to share this with the youth of today because it would be so valuable so they’re learning and their happiness.