As a teenager, traumatic events in my life delivered deep-seated emotions of instability, low self-worth, and anxiety. I had been loudly and publicly deemed worthless and stupid.
Needless to say, that did not do much for my self-image.
Later, I met my wife—a true gift from God—whose parents introduced me to knowing God via the Old Testament. The more I studied the more I wanted to learn. At that point, I had been in therapy for some time, and nurturing a vigorous prayer life began to change me. I felt that God had mercy on me. But as the years went on, at age 53, I realized I was still carrying the effects of the trauma I experienced as a teen.
This realization led me to begin exploring the deep internal breathing regimen known as “Systema breathing.” This too was a gift from God. Practicing the technique removed the effects and memories of the trauma that were no longer just in my brain, but had lodged themselves deep within my muscles and cells.
I discovered that trauma is, at best, treated incompletely with traditional therapy. One must get into the actual muscle fibers and the vertebrae of the sacrum to loosen and release the body’s stored physical effects of past trauma.
I started doing this breathing practice and two months in my family said, “Dad you’re a different man!” Today I pray, meditate, and study the Bible every day. This deep relationship with breath is at the heart of everything I do now.
I refer to Systema breathwork as my new relationship with the breath of God. I highly recommend not just giving lip service to deep breathing regimens, but to direct and focus breath into every square inch of the body. The results—at least for me—have been life-changing.
My wife has always been super supportive of me and I could never have done this without her. I wanted to be the best man that I could be for her.
Study the word of the Lord for the word is living, and it applies to everyone at every age. But for those of us who have deep-seated effects of trauma, the regimen of deep, focused, and directed breathing can do things reading and studying cannot. I wish you well.
