"Breath comes and goes on its own . . .

and with a peaceful rest . . .
we trust that the next breath cycle will come again on its own."

Ilse Middendorf

The Experience of Breath

The Experience of Breath, developed by Ilse Middendorf, is a gentle, non-intrusive, yet powerful movement and hands-on approach for bringing balance to the physical, emotional, and spiritual being through breath-the healthy life-giving force.

In classes and individual sessions, we discover that healing occurs within the balanced rhythm that natural breath movement creates as it comes and goes on its own-free from our will or control.

We learn that when we consciously experience breath movement, it has the power and wisdom to clear through restrictions and patterns of holding which can cause pain and chronic or acute illness.

Breath moves us!

As breath supports healing of the Self, it also opens spaces, so . . .

  • muscles and joints perform efficiently
  • posture re-aligns from the inside
  • circulation improves
  • thoughts and decisions become clear
  • organs function well
  • emotions are integrated
  • spiritual life grows

This work leads to personal growth and transformation so people are free to live up to their full potential.

With immediate beneficial effects, The Experience of Breath-Middendorf Breathwork- has gained renown and wide-spread influence in more than 65 years of exploration and experience in schools throughout Europe, and now in this country. Juerg Roffler, a close associate of Professor Middendorf is founder and director of The U.S. Middendorf Breath Institute, which began in San Francisco in 1991, and is now in Berkeley, California.

Benefits

The most powerful benefit in Middendorf Breathwork is in its ability to provide support in which all the body systems can rejuvenate, and come into balance.

Our own natural breath movement has immense healing power from within, when it is consciously sensed and experienced.

For example-

  • Posture-which is involved in most illnesses, can be re-aligned from the inside out.
  • Asthma patients can experience a sense of ease and well-being, when their breath rhythm comes into balance.
  • Arthritis is eased when breath opens pathways through joints.
  • Pains, depression, immune deficiencies, chronic symptoms, and long-term illnesses, can be minimized or relieved as they are more integrated into the total system through breath movement.

Breath moves us dynamically, from our inner being, to the outside world-without our need to manipulate, control, or push ourselves.

There is a healing aspect for everyone. In The Experience of Breath, people take responsibility for their own learning and healing.

"The fine thing about this work is being responsible. It really helps to develop a person's talents and own special qualities, bringing each person to be what he or she was meant to be."

Ilse Middendorf

Practitioner's Training

All teachers and practitioners are certified after a three-and-one-half-year intensive training program, which includes in depth work in classes and individual sessions, as well as supervised teaching and hands-on practice.

Background

Margot Biestman is a certified practitioner of Middendorf Breathwork, a staff member of the U.S. Middendorf Breath Institute in Berkeley, California, with a private practice in Sausalito and The Sea Ranch, California. She conducts breath classes, workshops, and retreats, and is a founding member and past President of The Breath Center of San Francisco, a non-profit organization. She has more than 35 years of experience in education, and is an author and artist.