The Need for Skilled Help
The constant danger and traumatic events in war trigger stress reactions that persist long after returning to civilian life. Severe traumatic experiences do not usually heal on their own, some intervention is necessary.
Trauma Relief Training
The Warrior Breath Workshop teaches unique breathing techniques that have been used successfully for 26 years to relieve stress and trauma. These proprietary exercises have been shown to be highly effective. The practices provide a physical therapeutic approach to trauma relief that will work well alongside other treatments.
Trauma Relief Training
The Warrior Breath Workshop teaches unique breathing techniques that have been used successfully for 26 years to relieve stress and trauma. These proprietary exercises have been shown to be highly effective. The practices provide a physical therapeutic approach to trauma relief that will work well alongside other treatments.
A Tool You Always Carry With You
Being self-administered, the practices can bring relief at any time, 24/7, and having that control brings a feeling of empowerment. Workshop participants will be supported in their practice with guided group practice sessions. These weekly meetings also provide peer support as participants will often share their progress with each other.
Experienced Team
Instructors with extensive experience in teaching the Warrior Breath Workshop trauma relief techniques have designed the workshop in consultation with psychiatrists and psychologists experienced with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consultants include Richard Brown M.D. Associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Floyd 'Shad' Meshad, a therapist and advocate for veterans for over 30 years. Mr. Meshad founded the National Veterans Foundation and is a member of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists.
Instructors with extensive experience in teaching the Warrior Breath Workshop trauma relief techniques have designed the workshop in consultation with psychiatrists and psychologists experienced with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consultants include Richard Brown M.D. Associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Floyd 'Shad' Meshad, a therapist and advocate for veterans for over 30 years. Mr. Meshad founded the National Veterans Foundation and is a member of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists.
Searching for Solutions
PTSD is a debilitating injury that, if left untreated, can lead to substance abuse, severe depression/anxiety, anti-social behavior, panic attacks and suicide. Early symptoms include flashbacks, attention deficit, persistent nightmares, hyper-vigilance, rage, emotional numbing and avoidance of people. PTSD symptoms can take years to fully present themselves. Many veterans from wars long past are still suffering with PTSD.
The Need for a Physical Approach
Many trauma experts believe that some form of a physical approach is a necessary element to heal severe trauma because of the connection between mind and body in the way traumatic memories are stored. Traumatic memories are often buried deep in the unconscious, inaccessible to the rational thinking mind. When used with skill, the breath has the ability to cleanse the system of these deep stresses. Breathing techniques in different forms have been used successfully for health improvement for thousands of years.
Trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk MD who worked extensively with Vietnam veterans believes strongly that therapy for severe trauma that relies only on talking has limited effectiveness. He is now a strong advocate of yoga combined with other physical and mental therapies. Therapist and author Peter Levine argues that trauma is "locked in the body, and it's in the body that it must be accessed and healed".
No Single Cure
There will always be debate about new theories and the efficacy of non-traditional treatments until significant clinical evidence is seen, which takes many years and a lot of money to produce. But all will agree that there is no single treatment is currently available to cure PTSD and the sooner intervention can take place the better the chances of healing the trauma. The medical community does not have a complete understanding of PTSD and continues to struggle with accurate diagnosis:
New England Journal of Medicine January 31, 2008: Col. Charles Hoge, a psychiatrist and epidemiologist who has conducted landmark research on PTSD states "Military physicians may be incorrectly attributing health problems to mild cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) when the conditions are actually caused by post-traumatic stress disorder...this may lead physicians not to treat the underlying illness."
There will always be debate about new theories and the efficacy of non-traditional treatments until significant clinical evidence is seen, which takes many years and a lot of money to produce. But all will agree that there is no single treatment is currently available to cure PTSD and the sooner intervention can take place the better the chances of healing the trauma. The medical community does not have a complete understanding of PTSD and continues to struggle with accurate diagnosis:
New England Journal of Medicine January 31, 2008: Col. Charles Hoge, a psychiatrist and epidemiologist who has conducted landmark research on PTSD states "Military physicians may be incorrectly attributing health problems to mild cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) when the conditions are actually caused by post-traumatic stress disorder...this may lead physicians not to treat the underlying illness."
Medical Study of the Breathing Techniques
After studying the effect of breathing techniques on traumatized disaster victims, Richard P. Brown, M.D. Associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York writes:
"Yogic breathing is a safe and effective method for balancing the autonomic and stress response systems to relieve the immediate and long-term psychological symptoms that occur in victims of mass disasters. We need to do more studies to document these benefits. However, there is sufficient evidence at this time to consider the yoga breathing techniques used by the Art of Living Foundation to be effective, low-risk, low-cost approaches to the treatment of stress, anxiety, PTSD and depression."
"Yogic breathing is a safe and effective method for balancing the autonomic and stress response systems to relieve the immediate and long-term psychological symptoms that occur in victims of mass disasters. We need to do more studies to document these benefits. However, there is sufficient evidence at this time to consider the yoga breathing techniques used by the Art of Living Foundation to be effective, low-risk, low-cost approaches to the treatment of stress, anxiety, PTSD and depression."
Copyright 2007 International Associaton for Human Values
2401 15th Street NW l Washington DC l 20009
2401 15th Street NW l Washington DC l 20009
The International Association
for Human Values
Project Welcome Home Troops Warrior Breath Workshop
info@PWHT.org
800-420-4193 l 202-558-6646
In Arizona:
520-232-2138 l tucson@PWHT.org
info@PWHT.org
800-420-4193 l 202-558-6646
In Arizona:
520-232-2138 l tucson@PWHT.org
Essential Stress Relief for Veterans and their Families
The Warrior Breath Workshop
Workshop Consultants
Shad Meshad, LCSW,
Director of the National
Veterans Foundation.
Director of the National
Veterans Foundation.
Richard P. Brown, M.D.
Associate clinical professor
of psychiatry at Columbia
University College of
Physicians and Surgeons,
New York, NY.
Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D.
Assistant clinical professor
of psychiatry, New York
Medical College.
Jyotsna Sahni, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Canyon
Ranch Health Resort.
James Farrow, M.D.
Col. USAF Retired.
Steven Marcus, PhD.
Psychologist in private
practice.
Associate clinical professor
of psychiatry at Columbia
University College of
Physicians and Surgeons,
New York, NY.
Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D.
Assistant clinical professor
of psychiatry, New York
Medical College.
Jyotsna Sahni, M.D.
Internal Medicine, Canyon
Ranch Health Resort.
James Farrow, M.D.
Col. USAF Retired.
Steven Marcus, PhD.
Psychologist in private
practice.
"The biggest health
problem facing our
society today is
stress and the
unhealthy ways we
handle it. The
breathing techniques
are the most
effective way to
alleviate stress that
I've ever found.
They are especially
effective for
depression, anxiety
and PTSD."
James Farrow M.D.
Col. USAF Ret.
Are you feeling numb, depressed or hyper-vigilant?
Do you have trouble sleeping or with your memory?
Do you have trouble sleeping or with your memory?
Multiple Forms of Treatment are Needed
The severity of the problems facing veterans requires more than one form of intervention. The tools provided on the Warrior Breath Workshop can enhance the healing process by helping the body directly rid itself of the traumatic emotions that have been stored during disturbing experiences, without having to think about them.
Independent Clinical Study on Veterans
Existing evidence of the WBW breathing practice's benefits has led to a proposed controlled study of OIF/OEF veterans taking the Warrior Breath Workshop at Florida State University. The study is to be led by Dr. Charles Figley, a recognized expert in the field of trauma. The study will provide independent clinical evidence of the efficacy of the program. This evidence will help bring greater support of the program from government agencies, the medical community and the military.
The Power of the Breath
There is a connection between breath, mind and emotions. Every emotion causes a specific pattern of breath. When we are tense, the breath is shallow. Anxiety and fear cause us to hold our breath. When we feel peaceful the breath is slower and deeper. Just as emotion affects breath, breath can affect emotions. The Warrior Breath techniques quickly release tension and the negative emotions we hold inside. Using these techniques every day brings increasing stability, improved sleep, memory and mental clarity.
The Quality of Life
The quality of life depends upon the state of our mind. The mind has a tendency to focus on the past or future. Anger, guilt and shame are always about the past. Worry, anxiety, and fear are always about the future. Happiness, peace and love are strongest when the mind is in the present moment. The Warrior Breath techniques bring the mind to the present moment effortlessly. Regular practice helps keep the mind present and clear so that thoughts of the past and future no longer dominate.
Workshop Schedule
Workshop meetings are typically held on evenings and weekends but other times can be arranged. Meetings last about 2 hours in the evenings and 3 hours on the weekend. After the workshop weekly meetings are held to reinforce the practices learned on the workshop.
There is a connection between breath, mind and emotions. Every emotion causes a specific pattern of breath. When we are tense, the breath is shallow. Anxiety and fear cause us to hold our breath. When we feel peaceful the breath is slower and deeper. Just as emotion affects breath, breath can affect emotions. The Warrior Breath techniques quickly release tension and the negative emotions we hold inside. Using these techniques every day brings increasing stability, improved sleep, memory and mental clarity.
The Quality of Life
The quality of life depends upon the state of our mind. The mind has a tendency to focus on the past or future. Anger, guilt and shame are always about the past. Worry, anxiety, and fear are always about the future. Happiness, peace and love are strongest when the mind is in the present moment. The Warrior Breath techniques bring the mind to the present moment effortlessly. Regular practice helps keep the mind present and clear so that thoughts of the past and future no longer dominate.
Workshop Schedule
Workshop meetings are typically held on evenings and weekends but other times can be arranged. Meetings last about 2 hours in the evenings and 3 hours on the weekend. After the workshop weekly meetings are held to reinforce the practices learned on the workshop.
