PHYTO-BREATHING FOR THERAPISTS AND HEALERS

What is phyto-breathing and how does it work?

When I was thinking of a breathing exercise wherein deep breaths are taken by compressing the lower belly, I couldn't find a suitable word to explain it in a precise manner. At that time, one naturopathic healer suggested to me, "How about using the word phyto for this type of breathing?" This suggestion came when we were discussing about an effective breathing exercise for therapists and healers who serve as substitute caregivers. This breathing exercise will help these therapists and healers to learn an effective method which will further enhance their skills and capabilities thus providing better healing for their patients.

"Even if we eat nothing, we can live for a couple of months, but we cannot stop our breathing even for five minutes."

We all know that plants produce oxygen which we humans inhale. On the other hand, humans exhale carbon dioxide which plants absorb and it is essential for its growth. When we analyze this air cycle, it can be said that humans and plants co-exist with each other. Therefore, recognizing the plant's role, she suggested calling this method as "phyto-breathing". It was named to give recognition to the plant's role in the environment. We finally decided to use the term "phyto-breathing" to describe a breathing method done by compressing the lower belly.

THE EFFECTS OF PHYTO-BREATHING

I have been doing breathing exercises, Zen meditation and Yoga exercise since I was 19 years old and I have been teaching phyto-breathing for substitute caregivers since I was 40 years old. To date, I am now 70 years old. Recently many substitute care givers such as phyto therapists, aroma therapists, chiropractors, massage therapist, walking instructors and fitness instructors have experienced phyto-breathing and have adapted it their meditation training. When I heard of their experiences and considered the cultural heritage and physiological effects stated in the previous paragraphs, I came to the following conclusions:

1. Phyto breathing exercise sharpens your sensitivity

Synchronize your care with your client's body rhythm from the start of the therapy to recovery. Clients who are undergoing therapy experiences a series of emotional and physical changes starting from the preparation time, the therapy proper, healing and recovery. The healing effect is increasing gradually from the preparation time to recovery. The clients feel an emotional process while having a therapy. On the other hand, from a therapist's side, there is also an emotional process which they feel while giving the therapy. The therapists concentrate on giving healing and confirm the healing before sending the client off comfortably. Thus, they get a feeling of happiness and satisfaction for providing relief to their clients. It is very important that the emotions between the clients and the therapists be synchronized.

Our body maintains a condition of balance within its internal environment even when faced with external changes and this is called homeostasis. However, a true internal environment fluctuates with a certain rhythm. There are several types of physiological rhythms such as Monthly Rhythm, Circadian Rhythm and Ultradian Rhythm. What is important for the healer in his actual work is Ultradian Rhythm. In the client's body, the internal environment and sensitivity fluctuates autonomously whether the client has a therapy or not. It undergoes several processes from the onset up to the release time.

A certain plan is needed for giving treatment, which should be adjusted to meet the natural autonomous change in client's body. It is essential to enhance the effect. Therapists and healers should know how long these changes take to meet each process of treatment and they should also know human's internal structure for the proper use of this rhythm.

If they understand this rhythm well, it helps them to become sensitive to the delicate changes in the client's manner, expression or speech. There are many messages showing the client's body condition. Thus therapists and healers can find the best timing for giving him the proper treatment. It should synchronize with the client's body rhythm which is moving from self –autonomous healing mode to active mode. If the client is satisfied with the quality of treatment, he naturally becomes a regular client.

You need to be sensitive to any small changes in your client's body in order to find the most effective timing for a treatment. Phyto-breathing exercise can sharpen this sensitivity.

2. Enhances your healing skills.

You can provide appropriate treatment for each type of clients through accurate observations.

You can control your emotional power. Substitute caregivers should be kind to their clients during their treatment. This comfortable atmosphere comes from having a well-balanced mind.

Sensitivity as stated in the above paragraph is for the mental and physical state that changes through time. Sensitivity here is the ability to observe and understand the client's feeling based on their character, condition, mood and reaction. This means the ability to accept hospitably various types of clients. In this way, you will be able to show love and sympathy to your clients.

The ability to observe and to be responsive is very important to a healer. However, oftentimes the healer's attention is focused on one aspect only thus their observation becomes limited. Phyto-breathing exercise provides the healer the ability to observe the whole scenario and feel the essence of healing.

Phyto-breathing enhances caregiver's healing skills because the body trunk supported by inner muscles becomes stable through the phyto-breathing habit. It is because of the nerve connection between the brain, the lower abdominal muscle and iliopsoas muscle. The iliopsoas muscle consists of two muscles, the psoas major and the iliacus. They form the foundation for a body trunk. Also inner muscles are strongly strengthened to support the body thereby giving your hands more freedom in providing a healing massage. You can also give other healing skills accurately.

3. Develops your personality as a healer.

Personality is related with developing human relations. You may have heard someone say "He is a good man". This means people's perception may influence evaluation of a person's personality. Every person has its own personality and a matured personality is essential and needed in any occupation.

Substitute caregivers should also have confidence based on their own competence and not on other people's impression. They are expected to keep a well-balanced mind towards any type of clients. They also should have self-respect.