I’m pleased to share this book chapter from our GWI Breathe Initiative Vice Chair, Peter M. Litchfield, Ph.D.
Titled BREATHING AND RESPIRATION;
A Behavioral Perspective; Peter M. Litchfield, Ph.D. and Sandra Reamer, M.S., M.F.A.
Peter says, “This book chapter presents a new paradigm of thinking about breathing: breathing is behavior. This simple conceptual reframing makes the vast literature of behavioral science immediately relevant to understanding the role of everyday breathing in health and performance. The paradigm has given rise to breathing behavior analysis, an applied science for identifying breathing habits, editing dysfunctional ones, and learning new ones. It also presents the practical elements of breathing behavior analysis including education, assessment tools, testing protocols, learning protocols, self-interventions, and behavioral capnography technology. Monitoring and recording live respiratory physiology (PetCO2) while simultaneously sharing it with clients during sessions is centerstage to conducting an analysis and to teaching clients new habits that align breathing mechanics with respiratory chemistry requirements, i.e., CapnoLearning™. Mechanical and behavior models of practice are compared. The advantages of the more all-inclusive behavioral model and the limitations of the mechanical model are described in detail along with relevant case histories that clarify the differences. It offers up a new and exciting perspective of breathing that is comprehensive, all inclusive, and practical.”
Read the full chapter here: Breathing and Respiration — A Behavioral Perspective (1)
