The MindfulBreath is based upon the premise that breathing is both, a natural reflex and a behavior that affects our whole Being. Mindful, natural, or good breathing supports us in being present, healthy, and connected to all we are. Without interfering with its natural rhythm, mindful breathing allows for the expansion of consciousness, the strengthening of inner resources, clarity, alertness, focus, and a healthy body-mind relationship. In addition, mindful or good breathing is critical to the maintenance of the body’s homeostasis. It regulates acid-base balance, electrolyte balance, and delivery of oxygen and glucose to every cell of the body.

Breathing adapts to life experiences and thus can also be considered in a behavioral context. Challenging, stressful or traumatic life experiences might lead to the transformation of our intrinsically good breathing behavior into an acute or even chronic state of overbreathing. Overbreathing, the mismatch of breathing rate and depth, leads to a CO2 deficit and as a result to a profound imbalance within the body’s homeostatic control mechanisms.

Overbreathing can have immediate and long-term effects that trigger, exacerbate, and/or cause a wide variety of emotional, perceptual, cognitive, attention, behavioral, and physical deficits that may seriously impact health and performance. Symptoms can include chest tightness/pressure, sweaty palms, anxiety, emotional outbursts, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, confusion, attention deficit, compromised thinking, asthma attacks, poor memory, unsatisfactory concentration, problem solving deficiencies, migraine headaches, seizures, muscle tension, spasm, stiffness, and abdominal cramps.

Overbeathing (CO2 deficit) can be measured by means of a CapnoTrainer, a computer-operated capnograph providing real-time PCO2 feedback which allows for the observation, evaluation, teaching, and re-learning of good or mindful breathing behavior. To learn more about the CapnoTrainer please visit the  Mindful Physiology Institute. 

By virtue of her training in Breathing Education Afra Zmrhal, Ph.D. utilizes the CapnoTrainer for breathing awareness and education purposes in both, her spiritual and psychotherapy practice. By bringing awareness to the sensation of the breath as it moves through the body, discovering habits and beliefs associated with breathing behavior, learning about breathing mechanics, regulating CO2 levels and exploring triggers that set off overbreathing, Afra facilitates her clients in finding their natural, mindful breath.

Empowered and attuned to breath, clients are more able to step into life embracing rather than avoiding challenging or stressful situations.

"I am grateful that Dr. Moenter (Zmrhal) recommended beginning with the Capno/breathing training in our sessions. The breath work calmed my anxiety and a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed. The Capnotraining helped create a sense of space in which things can be more comfortably processed and it gave me what has come to be a very effective technique for handling stressful situations as they arise. Working with my breathing was exactly the right place to start."   J. D., 61, Nederland, CO