Scroll down for resources that include videos of the Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg explaining the science and demonstrating the exercises, tools to pace your breathing, further reading, and guidance on sharing these exercises with children.
Videos
HOW IT WORKS: June 2020 presentation at Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Includes an explanation of the science by Dr. Gerbarg and demonstration by Dr. Brown. See also the interviews and videos posted to the Breath-Body-Mind web site.
BREATHING PRACTICES TAUGHT BY DR. BROWN: Below is a brief (12 min) introduction to the experience of coherent breathing. Go here for a full (52 minute) session that includes standing and seated breathing exercises.
QIGONG
EIGHT CYCLES – If you are interested, do explore Master Robert Peng’s website and online courses (Robert Peng.com). Linked here is a follow-along video of Master Peng doing the Eight Cycles, a practice that we have explored in some of our classes.
FALL 2024 WELLNESS WORKSHOP – Some promised follow-ups to what we practiced together. What can we say but – YAYFORLIBRARIES – !!!!
SPRING 2024 PRACTICE SESSION – A recording of the 6/10 class. Enjoy…and YAY!
Reading (print and online)
- The Breath-Body-Mind website includes a substantial list of scientific publications as well as an expanded calendar of workshops, videos, and other resources. In 2024, they published an article on BBM for Global Mental Health, which includes a neurophysiology and polyvagal review. The article can be read or downloaded for free. Published in 2021, you may also want to see this article on non-western interventions for stress reduction and resilience which also offers a tidy review of why BBM practices work.
- Richard P. Brown and Patricia Gerbarg, The Healing Power of the Breath book and CD set. Print and e-book available on Amazon.com. Copies are available for loan from the Westchester Library System and can be purchased at Interest Group sessions. Spanish edition released at the end of 2021!
- For more on trauma/stress and resilience, see the resources listed on our RESILIENCE page. Note especially The Pocket Guide to Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges.
- Referenced in the training is the work of Les Femi’s Open Focus and Master Robert Peng.
Tools to Pace Your Breathing
- TONES audio track (3, 4, 5 and 6 cycles per minute).Download from naturalsinger.com/5-breaths A donation is suggested; half of the proceeds go to the Breath Body Mind Foundation!
- BELLS audio track (25 minutes of 5 breaths/minute) Available on Amazon Prime’s Music, Apple Music, and Spotify. To locate the “2 bells” track: Search for the album “Respire 1 Coherence.”
- OCEAN WAVES (60minute track at same pace as the TONES) Go to robertpeng.com | store | scroll to the bottom. You can download – free – the “Ocean Whispers” track.
- There are a number of apps available for iOS and Android to time breathing. Some examples are below.
- iBreathe (Jade Lizard Software) – Audio and visual cues; can adjust timing for inhale, exhale, and hold. Stores multiple internals to support practice.
- Breathing Zone – Can set the breath rate, different sounds (for iPhones only)
- Breath2Relax – Has visual as well as auditory prompts, can adjust breath rate; only does 16 cycles (about 3 minutes)
- If you have an AppleWatch, the Breathe app can be adjusted from 4 to 10 breaths per minute.
Working with children
CHILDREN: See NoLimitGen.org for Dr. Gerbarg’s series on Emotional Well-being & Healing Practices for Children.
See also this description of the work done with BBM in Chemung County for an idea of how powerful this practice can be for children and ways it can be integrated into school programming.