From Air Hunger to Freedom: C.J. McRae's breathing story & the Alexander Technique (w/ Simon Spire).

New video: • Help for Air Hunger, w...
C.J. developed air hunger in December 2018. After trying everything he could find to address it, he discovered Simon’s essay which led him to beginning weekly, in-person Alexander Technique lessons from June 2019-March 2020 with a teacher in Portland, OR, Eve Bernfeld. Hear about C.J.'s journey of restoring his natural breathing in these excerpts from a conversation we recorded in September 2021. To hear the full 78-minute conversation between C.J. and Simon, sign up for the 15-module course, Liberating the Natural Breath, which includes a wealth of knowledge and tools that are designed to set you up for an easeful, swift, and rich journey toward natural breathing. The course covers in detail practices such as Constructive Rest, finding and working with an Alexander Technique teacher who is a good match for you, the tools and understandings that will help you to more quickly find relief, the many questions that arise for people as they’re working through this process, and much more. Remember that everyone’s journey with this is different, and different people choose to place different degrees of emphasis on regular Alexander Technique lessons. In the course, we help you to find the way that works best for you. Learn more at www.liberating...
All info at www.liberating...
New video: • Help for Air Hunger, w...
This video explores natural breathing and the Alexander Technique. These principles may be helpful for understanding non-medical symptoms such as chronic breathing tension and air hunger, dyspnea, sighing, yawning, feelings of struggling for air and breathlessness, shortness of breath, gasping for air, reaching for air, muscle tension, hyperventilation, belly-breathing, chest-breathing, feeling like you can't breathe or can't get a full breath, can't get a full breath in your lungs, or feeling like you're having a panic attack. This video is not intended to address medical issues in any way. Rather, it is an educational video about the Alexander Technique; our capacities for awareness, choice, and habit; and how we can learn to recognize the ways we unintentionally interfere with the natural movement of our breath. This video and the course are both offered by Emergent Inquiry, LLC.
This is an educational video about how the Alexander Technique and self-awareness can be used to reduce habits of interference in the body’s natural ease and coordination. Neither this video nor the associated self-paced course are intended to address medical conditions or mental health conditions. This video and any associated services are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.
Emergent Inquiry, LLC recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any information to your individual situation and seek one-to-one guidance from a certified Alexander Technique teacher if you decide to pursue the application of Alexander Technique principles to your own physical or mental habits.
Copyright 2021 Emergent Inquiry, LLC

[@mcrae121]

Simon - it was so wonderful to meet with you to have this conversation. It is because of you that I ultimately found the Alexander Technique, which led me on the right path to conquering air hunger and breathing tension. I hope that others struggling with breathing tension can find solace in the premise that they are not alone, and that there is a solution, as discussed in this video.

[@simonspire]

Thank you for your words, CJ, and thank you so much for sharing your story with others! I think many people are going to benefit from getting to learn from your insightful and powerful experience.

[@gabriellekeane3030]

Hi would you be able to share who you worked with? I wonder if they do zoom visits. I have air hunger for 6 months. Thank you so much!

[@marwagul7264]

Hey u thr

[@tierraverdeaustva7212]

This is such comprehensive information🙏

[@simonspire]

New video, How To Get Through Air Hunger: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6rVqoudd8Rqg5I All public resources and in-depth course and community at: www.liberatingbreath.com Testimonials: www.simonspire.com/breathing-testimonials FAQs: www.simonspire.com/breathing-faqs You may also find this article on What Causes Air Hunger helpful: www.simonspire.com/blog/2023/9/3/what-causes-air-hunger Thank you for watching.

[@alexissmith782]

Thank you for these videos and your channel. I believe I have gotten air hunger due to chronic anxiety I developed this year. It’s unlike anything i’ve dealt with before. Everyone around me gave me crazy eyes when i would talk about the feeling of not being able to breathe and having to take deep breaths constantly to get a “satisfying breath”. Even my doctor was confused and just said it was because of anxiety. But i’ve always had a little anxiety to some degree and it’s never resulted in air hunger so i went on a hunt for answers. You and Howard Cooper at Rapid Change Works have been my only hopes in figuring out this cycle of air hunger. Sometimes it corrects itself but then it comes back as I reinvolve myself thinking i’m not getting enough air. I hope to be free from this cycle as it’s scary and like the man in the video says your mind will start to play tricks on you. Anyways, thank you so much for your information.

[@simonspire]

Hi Alexis-thanks so much for your comment, and I'm glad you're finding this information helpful. From what you've described about your experience, it sounds like you're definitely heading in the right direction to find improvement. As CJ said in the video, one way to get some really good support with the process is to try some Alexander Technique lessons, and the 15-module course is also there both as an important standalone support and to really enhance the efficacy of any lessons you might take. In any case, all the best for your journey as you find the improvement and support you're looking for, and thanks again for your comment.

[@vitorfernandes6747]

Maybe this will help you.. Put your hands behind your head and breathe with full expansion.. You feel good soing that and breathe better

[@margaritapalacios4788]

​@@simonspire😂

[@RexPaul-ij5go]

Thanks for sharing it has helped a lot, my situation started approx 1 year ago, I should add am highly anxious, but whenever I felt chest pain or even something like a twitch I would conciously hold my breath why I don t know. Then in November this year I started to realise I was doing this unconsciously the more I focused on stopping this the worse it got and I couldn't, this in turn made my breathing feel out of sync and made me daily gasping for air to the point I had to phone the emergency services, all tests done returned normal results which were reassuring but again provided know answers which in return increased anxiety. I have bipolar also which I dont think is connected, I also believed it was my sinuses and would start to breath through my mouth it all just feels disfuntual, the breathless feeling can last most of the day and trying to sleep at night is a nightmare. I have been told am suffering from a hyper stimulative state which according to gp means am on state of alert, but I agree gasping for air and yawning just to get that little bit in is rewarding but you know how this shouldn't be. I should add that mid December I experienced quite a traumatic event which only made this worse....I spend hours searching through google to find answers to the point its just obsessive and the screenshots of information I have on my phone is just mad. Am based in the UK and if anyonecould give any useful pointers I would be so grateful. I will of course look into the Alexander Technique. Peace!

[@Themooseandparkershow]

I’ve suffered w this for 33 years!

[@tosabendoagora4474]

Has your breathing improved? If so, how long did this struggle last for you? I've been struggling with this since I contracted covid 3 months ago. Do you have any advice? Please help me.

[@patrickbetyounan7235]

I'm suffering from the exact same symptoms. My cardiologist wants to rule out microvascular disease. I have been suspecting chronic breathing tension/pseudo dyspnea/sigh syndrome/hyperventilation syndrome which are all names for the same thing since 2018 but I feel the toughest part for me has been convincing myself what it is. I think its worth ruling our microvascular dysfunction if stress tests, CTCA, echocardiogram, respiratory tests have all come back normal.

[@mirzafatic1663]

sounds like Sensorimotor ocd, or Somatic hyperbody awareness. I have been through this for years, by far the hardest thing i ever had to deal and am still facing it

[@poisonousflytrap6073]

Me too

[@anthonydavis9382]

Same. It's pure unadulterated hell. No joke. It's gotten to the point of being afraid to go sleep. How you both are feeling better.

[@Themooseandparkershow]

I’ve had it for 33 years. Ruined my life and finances

[@cinmac3]

i feel for you all, keep trying to think of a better future for us all!?

[@tosabendoagora4474]

Has your breathing improved? If so, how long did this struggle last for you? I've been struggling with this since I contracted covid 3 months ago. Do you have any advice? Please help me.

[@Themooseandparkershow]

I’ve suffered w this for 33 years

[@eng.mohammed123]

And now you solve it? Hope you did

[@anthonydavis9382]

I get this ocd breathing thing. I've had it for about a year now. It's absolutely brutal when trying to sleep. I can't shift focus off of my breath and i get a lot of panic attacks. And yes, there's a lot of tension in my body, especially my chest and neck but I can't release it. It has gotten to the point where I'm absolutely afraid to go to sleep.

[@samia6888]

This is exactly me right now. I searched this video to see if anyone is going through it. It is so extremely scary. I can barely sleep. It just started. How are you able to cope? I try to sleep and almost fall asleep and then wake up because it feels like I am holding my breath.

[@anthonydavis9382]

@@samia6888 a lot of people go through this. It's just a phase though we will go over it. It's anxiety about anxiety. In all honestly there's no reason to fear it. Nothing will harm you. The more you fear it the worse it gets. Once the fear is gone then you won't even notice it. I promise you it will pass and it WON'T harm you. Just remember to breathe slowly and try not to over think it. If you try to breathe too deep it will cause hyperventilation. Slow your breathing down a little bit and don't breathe as deep.

[@samia6888]

@@anthonydavis9382 thank you I really needed this, I am like crying right now.

[@anthonydavis9382]

@@samia6888 you'll be ok I promise. It's all a state of mind. If you're having trouble sleeping try taking a little bit of Benadryl before you lay down. It will pass

[@samia6888]

@@anthonydavis9382 literally what I was thinking, to take that. Thank you so much. You are genuinely a good person.

[@Dasblublo]

Ive had air hunger since 2009, I didnt know what it was untill recently.

[@mcrae121]

Bolly - I'm sorry to hear that you have been dealing with air hunger since 2009. I'm glad you have made your way to Simon's KZbin page. Simon is an amazing resource and he is one of the reasons why I was able to correct tension that had engrained itself into my breathing. I hope that Simon and I's conversation is helpful in your journey back to breathing freedom.

[@witcherpie]

do you think that the whole air hunger thing could be a breathing tic? It very much feels like a tic sometimes if you think about it, you feel an urge that keeps growing until u perform that tic. And the more you focus on it the worse it gets.

[@andrewlepore2616]

Have you seen any improvements?

[@witcherpie]

@@andrewlepore2616 there is a study called The beneficial effects of oral amitriptyline in anxiety induced hyperventilation syndrome, im taking amitrip for about a year now, im better than before for sure, now it's usually just an annoyance that comes and goes but nothing to worry about. If the drug won't work, try to atleast slow down your breathing a lot, and focus on something else

[@andrewlepore2616]

@@witcherpie good to hear that you’ve seen improvements. Is that somthing you can take with an SSRI?

[@andrewlepore2616]

@@witcherpie also did you try anything like the Alexander method or buyteko method?

[@witcherpie]

im not sure, amitriptyline is a kind of an ssri too so probably u cant take both

[@ifuckinplaydrums]

I really appreciate both of you sharing your stories. I’m currently struggling with this and have been for a year now but am working with a breathing therapist to fix it. It’s pure torture but we’ll see how things go with these exercises i’m practicing.

[@simonspire]

Thank you for your comment and for sharing some of your struggle with this experience, Kris. Sending you good wishes for support and relief.

[@andrewlepore2616]

Did yours improve?

[@ifuckinplaydrums]

@@andrewlepore2616 It's definitely improved but to be honest I think part of the reason why is that I changed my diet dramatically. I was mega dosing Vitamin D for years and I think it was throwing off my bodies calcium balance. I cut out the Vitamin D completely three months ago and my breathing MASSIVELY improved. That said, I still believe it to be its own separate issue that many before me have healed through breathing exercises. The best rescourse that I can provide to you is Dr Rosalba Courtney, one of the leading experts in treating breathing dysfunction. Hope this helps.

[@andrewlepore2616]

@@ifuckinplaydrums glad to hear, thanks for the response !

[@brightfuture9099]

Can i ask what kind of breathing exercise are you learning is it buteyko or diaphragmatic breathing by any chance. I tried them but they did not work at all.

[@aniccaanatta1774]

Buteyko method and Alexander technique complimentsl each other for a happy and healthy life

[@brightfuture9099]

Sorry buteyko was working for me in the beginning but now i feel more suffocated when I do it

[@aniccaanatta1774]

@@brightfuture9099 get a qualified trainer

[@brightfuture9099]

@@aniccaanatta1774 i was trained by 2 buteyko specialist. It was working in the beginning, but now when I do it feel more breathless. Have you tried buteyko reduced breathing or relaxed breathing? Please advice?

[@aniccaanatta1774]

@@brightfuture9099 practice Shallow rapid breathing instead of reduced/relax breathing..

[@aniccaanatta1774]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ6qaqeVadqAp5I

[@kendra3606]

Does it ever go away?

[@simonspire]

In our experience and in what we teach and the process we lead people through, yes, it does go away. But in our experience, it requires being in a process. For some people, improvements and resolution are quicker; for others, it takes longer. FAQs: www.simonspire.com/breathing-faqs

[@nataliatozour6964]

How do I sign up for this process?

[@simonspire]

@@nataliatozour6964 Thanks for your interest. All info is available at www.liberatingbreath.com including links to the course itself, FAQs, etc. Hope to see you in the course.

[@anthonydavis9382]

Has anyone found anything that helps? Maybe even medication? Klonopin doesn't even help me. I'm desperate at this point. Don't know how much longer I can take this

[@samia6888]

This may be due to silent reflux. I just found this out and I also have reflux. Please get checked by gastroenterologist and if that doesn’t work then antidepressants (they work on anxiety as well) can work.

[@anthonydavis9382]

@@samia6888 thanks. I'm a lot better now I've cut out a lot of caffeine and been working so I am releasing tension and I don't fear it as much.

[@Hudson..]

@@anthonydavis9382how’s going for you now man? Any improvement? Hope it’s getting better for u man