The Breathexperience™ in Relationship:
Communicating, Clarifying, Resolving Conflicts,
Deepening, and Transforming Relationships
Margot Biestman © 20051
We are living in a unique moment in history in which conditions are asking for a shift in consciousness, as individuals, and in our collective cultures. We have one foot in what we know from the past and present that is familiar, and the other foot wanting to make a new step into the unknown. Change is the only certainty, yet it means to cross the threshold of fear to connect with the next step. The choices we make are shaping our future.
Breathexperience™ offers us a bridge—a guide rope—to connect our past and present into the future through the simplest of all realities—connecting with the breath that moves us. We all have it. Being present in the moment, and physically sensing movement of breath in our body is the simplest way to connect with our well being—body, mind, and soul. We can then connect with others to create new ways of being, realizing ourselves as part of a whole interconnected system.
Breathexperience in Relationship™ for partners and groups is developed by Juerg Roffler, Director of the Middendorf Institute for Breath Experience in Berkeley, California. This work has, at its foundation, breathexperience™, a developmental process, based on the work of Professor Ilse Middendorf of Berlin, Germany, developed over the past 70 years. This is both a somatic science and art of living practice, renowned in Europe for its beneficial healing effect, which is now gaining recognition in the United States.
Breathexperience in Relationship™ promotes communication and relationships on a deeper level than is typically found in partnerships, familial and social gatherings, community events, and business or government conferences. Based on being present in the experience of breath, is the simple, yet profound act of physically sensing the breath that comes and goes on its own, moving through the body.
Effortless breath movement “activities” and “breath meditations” in sitting, standing and moving bring about a somatic understanding of the breath and body’s intelligence that includes, but is far greater than the mind alone. Some results of this process are not only a sense of personal growth and well-being, but also a synergy develops in the collective consciousness within the group. In addition, when people meet and converse after their breath experience, they share some deeper feelings and knowledge which they may not express to each other in their habitual daily lives. As they come to ease and comfort in sensing their breathing body, they come to realize their healthy core. Their authentic presence emerges spontaneously, along with their integrity and values. Often people discover that these values are shared by others and though they may differ, they develop respect for the differences without compromising themselves. That, in turn, makes it possible to acknowledge how their past habits or patterns of behavior may have actually contributed to the problems in their private and public life, which they had not intended. At the same time they can realize new ways of being within themselves to contribute more to the health and healing of the world.
Most people are hungry to connect, cooperate, and collaborate. They are looking for new ways of being in the world. Breathexperience in Relationship™ enables participants to engage in partnership and groups in their professional and personal lives, and to be open for different approaches and to the surprises that can frequently arise between two or more parties. The result is more access to resources, talents, skills, and new and creative ideas to realize a vision in their everyday lives.
Some responses from our practice of breathexperience in relationship™are:2
- “It is critical for me to maintain my own breath rhythm when I relate to someone else. It helps me to stay with my Self at times when I take my stand and when I become more flexible and tolerant.”
- “I realize through sensing my breath rhythm, that when I’m too directive I don’t listen to the other person. I want to receive myself and others more. I’d like to give more space to them as well as to myself.”
- “I’m learning how to be with my Self without adapting or merging with my partner.”
- “The important thing in this practice is that I can let my partner be as he is and I can be who and what I am. I feel that we’re separate but can still be connected. In this way I respect myself and my partner.”
- “The amazing thing is that my breath teaches me to love my Self. As a result, I don’t have to give myself up by paying any price to be loved.”
In summary, the following is from a workshop presentation, “The Body of Breath: A Unique Approach to Conflict Resolution Through Breathexperience™,” by Juerg Roffler and Margot Biestman, Tucson, AZ @2005
“Conflict Resolution through Breathexperience™ communicates, clarifies, resolves conflicts, deepens and transforms relationships.
- Breath seeks oneness of body, mind, and spirit. It does not orient to conflict. It organizes each cell and being in contributing to healing and integration.
- We become aware of our unique breath rhythm through sensing, participating, and experiencing each part of our breath cycle—inhalation, exhalation, pause—one cycle after the other—each one different from the next.
- We maintain our own breath rhythm in partnerships and in groups, and
- We see others’ breath rhythms, through their inhalation, exhalation, pause, as different from our own breath rhythm.
- Sense our breath movement that comes and goes on its own as a reference for integrating conflict resolution.
- Increase our knowledge and understanding of somatic intelligence through The Experience of Breath
- Understand the importance of breath rhythm in our professional and personal lives as an indicator of all conscious and unconscious events.”
To experience this work, we invite you to join us in workshops, classes, and individual sessions!