OVERVIEW

Sheldon Hendler, MD, Ph.D. author of The Oxygen Breakthrough suggests that breathing is closer to the first place instead of the last place one should investigate when a diseased or disordered condition presents itself. I believe this is a masterpiece of understatement.

It is important to alternative and traditional healing modalities AND the general public to RAISE THEIR BREATHING CONSCIOUSNESS about the relationship of the breath to psychophysiology, spirituality, health, and longevity;

The breath is a major tool to self healing and personal transformation. There are blatantly obvious and insidiously subtle physical, biochemical, energetic, emotional and spiritual indicators that can indicate increasing or diminishing breathing strength, capacity, and coordination. BREATH IS LIFE..

THE PROGRAM - PHASE ONE

Healing and empowerment can come from both within and without.

Breathing paradigms or adjuncts to them can be separated into two groups. Where the patient/client is mostly on the receiving end of the work, and he or she is mostly autonomous. The facilitator must meet the client/patient at the level they are at and then choose appropriate directions and techniques. These techniques and paradigms can change with each moment in time and may well include those outside of the present facilitators expertise.

PHASE ONE breathing paradigms include both active and passive aspects with the emphasis mostly on the active. I've included chiropractic and acupuncture in PHASE ONE as I believe they can and should be adjunctive to ALL breathing paradigm forms. So perhaps should have homeopathy, herbs, naturopathy and nutrition been in PHASE ONE, but time and space did not allow. They will be included in PHASE TWO.

I sincerely hope this will add some clarity and provide inspiration to look more closely into why and how the expression "BREATH IS LIFE".is so much more than many can begin to imagine.

Namaste,
Michael Grant White

PROGRAM PRESENTERS:

9:00 OPENING THOUGHTS

Dr. Len Saputo, Chairman, HMF; A nutrition-specializing internist and world class master's tennis champion...

9:15 "Breathing as a Metaphor for Living"

Dennis Lewis.

This talk will focus on the big picture: the way in which the laws of breathing help us understand how to live fuller lives. He will give some simple exercises for belly breathing and showing the relationship of breathing to stress. Dennis teaches qigong, natural breathing, and meditation. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book The Tao of Natural Breathing and of the two-cassette audio program from Sounds True entitled Breathing as a Metaphor for Living.

9:55 "How Does Your Body Breathe? It is more then just your lungs"

Craig Wienston, DC

Learn how your body parts work to enable you to get that deep breath. A chiropractic perspective on posture and body mechanics to help your breath of life.

10:10 "Breath, Leader of the Qi"

Colette De Vore, L Ac.

The body's vital force. The breath can lead and direct the Qi. What happens to the Qi when the breath is not properly utilized. How it can be guided back to fullness and physical health.

Ms DeVore is a board certified acupuncturist, herbalist with a Masters Degree in

Traditional Chinese Medicine. She also teaches a chronic pain management class at Kaiser Hospital.

10:25 "Breathing and Ancient Yoga Traditions: Cellular Converting of Breath to Prana"

Rama Vernon, Cofounder - Yoga Journal; member Unity Center Walnut Creek Women's empowerment groups and workshop leadership throughout the world.

11:05 "Breath and the Heart Chakra -- an Elemental Connection"

Anodea Judith

The heart chakra is associated with the element air, and therefore relates intimately to the breath. When the heart is open, we breathe deeply; when we love we breathe sighs of relief; when we are hurt we close down our heart, our chest, and our breath. This talk will examine the heart chakra in detail, its place in the schema of the chakra system, and its relation to breath, love, and joy. Anodea Judith, M.A., is a somatic therapist specializing in therapeutic applications to the chakra system. Author of three major books on the chakra system, she leads workshops and trainings from coast to coast for therapists and lay persons on the use of the chakra system for mind-body integration. She can be found at www.sacredcenters.com

LUNCH 11:45 Bring a lunch or eat at the cafeteria/salad bar.

1:00 Keynote Speaker

"Breathwork Across The Spectrum"

Gay Hendricks, Ph.D.

"How I use breathwork in clinical, relationship and corporate settings"

30 years experience in the field of personal growth. Stanford Psychologist, college professor, author of twenty books (over one million sold) including Conscious Breathing, The Conscious Heart, The Corporate Mystic; facilitator of 20,000 breath sessions, consultant/counselor for corporate and individual relationship skills, screenwriter, songwriter.

1:45 Other Applications of Breathing Work

A. "Calming Chaos in the Classroom"

Blaine Tinsley,

How breathing exercises help sustain harmony, relationships and intellectual focus.

Elementary school teacher, tribes trainer, Lay Minister Unity Church.

B. "Have you dealt with your spirituality?"

Marianne Merritt, MA, Correctional Counselor, Mule Creek State Prison, Tai Chi Chih Instructor. Experiencing the balance of the chi.

2:20 "Qigong: Methods for Healing the Body/mind"

Michael Mayer, Ph.D. Psychologist, Chi Gung Teacher.

Experiential exercises on body/mind qigong. Clinical applications of integrating qigong, behavioral healthcare and breathwork. Case examples with anxiety, chronic pain, low back pain, hypertension, Michael is author of Trials of the Heart; Healing the Wounds of Intimacy; and several instruction books of valuable chi kung exercises.

3:00 BREAK

3:15 "What IS Optimal Breathing?"

Michael White, CMT, NE, DD. breathing specialist. Author of several breathing training audio tapes. Two breathing books in process.

Assessing and removing key blocks to breathing and living (over 150 key factors). Clinical studies supporting breathing' s relationship to life span, optimum health and well being.

4:00 "Holotropic Breathwork"

Theresa Steinberg, MD

Nonordinary or holotropic states of consciousness, their history, the potential benefit in using them, and how these states are induced.

4:40 - 5:20 A PANEL OF THE PRESENTERS FOR A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

5:20 - 5:35 CLOSING THOUGHTS with Dr. Craig Weinston

5:35 - 6:00 Mixing and book sales

BOOK SALES will take place ALL DAY.

BREATH IS LIFE - PHASE TWO

Will address breathing and: homeopathy; herbology, naturopathy; respiratory rehabilitation; physical therapy; Huna: Meditation; Death and dying; Middendorf, Speads, Rosen, Stough, and many more.