Colour Breathing FAQ| Page Links: 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-24 |
| 1. | Q: Where can I use CBRT? (Colour Breathing Relaxation Technique) |
A: The Colour Breathing kit can be used anywhere, at work or at home. It has been designed to be a sturdy, yet lightweight and user friendly relaxation and stress management tool which is also built to last. |
| 2. | Q: How does CBRT (Colour Breathing Relaxation Technique) work? |
| A: CBRT is based on the use of the Colour Breathing Disks and is a form of "Mindfulness" practice, where you focus on one object whilst relaxing your breathing pattern Colour Breathing is a very simple technique and combines many relaxation techniques which have been universally practised for thousands of years. Firstly, it is much easier to look at a beautiful coloured circle in front of you rather than having to imagine one, as is the case if you are practising any form of "creative visualisation." The colours of the CBRT Disks work as a tool to focus and calm the mind. The benefits of using the conscious use of the breath to relax the mind and physical body and use of a focus to calm the mind are well known and documented relaxation techniques. Colour Breathing also works with positive affirmations and heightens the awareness of the present moment – another calming technique. The Colour Breathing Disks themselves are found to be entrancing and as children, we love bright colours...perhaps this is why the Colour Breathing Disks take us back perhaps to the days when we didn’t have so much stress in our lives! |
| 3. | Q: Why do we focus our breathing on seven different parts of the body? |
| A: There are seven key "energy centres" said to be situated in the body that have been documented in India and Asia for many thousands of years. In some texts the word "Chakra" is used, which is a Sanskrit word, meaning “wheel”. According to tradition, although not physically visible to the naked eye, chakras are rather like wheels of energy. It is said that for a person to be “well” the body needs to be in balance with itself and run at the correct speed. When you focus on the particular areas of your body where the energy centres are positioned you may feel a sense of heightened awareness. The Colour Breathing disks have been specifically designed so that when you look at them, you are more easily able to imagine your own energy centres, whilst focusing on the particular area of your body. Yoga and many complementary therapies are based on the energy centres / chakras. However, what is really important with CBRT is that you don’t have to believe in energy centres for it to work! |
| 3. | Q: If CBRT is a form of "Mindfulness" what does Mindfulness mean? |
| A: “Mindfulness is the development of the ability to pay deliberate attention to our experience from moment to moment, to what is going on in our mind, body and day to day life and doing this without judgement.” On 5th January 2010, “The Daily Mail” carried a report that “Patients with depression should be routinely given £300 meditation courses on the NHS, doctors’ claim”. The article said that Mindfulness techniques used by Buddhist monks could produce 'massive savings' by halving the risk of depression coming back and that “only one in 20 family doctors are prescribing such treatment”, according to a report by the Mental Health Foundation charity. More than 100 studies have shown that areas of the brain linked to controlling emotion are bigger in those who have meditated regularly for five years. This means they have a greater volume of grey matter to process information. The report then quoted Dr Andrew McCulloch, the Mental Health Foundation's chief executive, as saying that 'mindfulness' therapies were much cheaper than treating the condition with drugs. 'This would have huge knock-on benefits both socially and economically, making it a sensible treatment to be making available, even at a time when money is short within the NHS,' he added. ‘Our report found that three-quarters of GPs have prescribed medication to people with long-term depression believing another treatment would have been more appropriate.' He said NHS guidelines already recommend eight-week meditation-style courses which cost £300 for recurrent depression, but provision is patchy and should be extended. Mindfulness-based approaches are intended to: • Teach people practical skills that can help with daily and ongoing life challenges and physical and psychological health problems. • Bring about an awareness of the benefits of correct breathing. • Teaches us a way in which we can get “back in touch” with the experience of being alive. • Help to halt the escalation of these negative thoughts and teaches us to focus on the present moment, rather than reliving the past or pre-living the future. • Mindfulness practice helps us to see more clearly the patterns of the mind; and to learn how recognise when our mood is beginning to go down and deal with issues much earlier than before. • Help us develop our willingness to experience emotions and our capacity to be open to even painful emotions. • Help people discover that even difficult and unwanted thoughts and feelings can be held in awareness, and even seen from a completely different perspective, which enables hope and empathy to the suffering we are experiencing. Relaxation Techniques support Mindfulness and Mental Health programmes. |
| 4. | Q: How do you know CBRT "works"? |
| A: In 1999/2000 we carried out extensive trials to see if people of all ages could relax (or relax more easily) using the Colour Breathing disks. Many of the trial participants found it difficult to relax or get into any form of meditative state. The controlled trials used the words of the book with no music (as we all know that music can help us relax) and compared using the colour breathing disks and having to visualise the disks of colour. 91% of the participants felt that Colour Breathing was a worthwhile experience and that the Colour Breathing disks provided an essential element to the self- relaxation process. |
| 5. | Q: Are there any adverse effects of using the CBRT kit? |
| A: Colour Breathing has been found to be a safe and enjoyable way to help you relax yourself. We have not as yet detected any side effects or adverse reactions to using the colour breathing disks by people of all ages. No medical claims are made as to the effect or outcome of using the colour breathing disks. They have been designed to be purely a relaxation tool. |
| 6. | Q: Have any Doctors or health specialists endorsed CBRT? |
| A: Yes. Mr Michael Dooley, (a UK Consultant) actually requested to write the foreword to the book. We have also received other endorsements, notably from Dr Richard Gerber, MD who has written the best selling book “Vibrational Medicine.” (Bear & Co) and top UK Psychologists. Professor Stephen Westland of Leeds University has agreed to become our Director of Research and lead an international research programme. |
| 7. | Q: How long will a CBRT session take to be beneficial? |
| A: A full session of CBRT takes the average reader (or listener if you are using the audio CD) approximately 50 minutes. The book which accompanies the easel card stand with the disks has been written in a style designed to help you pace your reading and focus on your breath. How long before a session becomes beneficial really depends on each person’s receptivity. It can be immediate, or it can take several days. It depends on how you feel about wanting to relax yourself in the first place, if you are in a quiet environment where you can relax and what challenges life is giving you at this particular moment. It isn’t essential to use all seven of the disks in sequence all of the time. We have found simply having the disks on your desk next to a computer can be beneficial as they can work on a subliminal level. The Colour Breathing Affirmation Cards has been designed for those people who feel they don’t have the patience or time to spend 50 minutes for relaxation. The Affirmation Cards can help you re-group your thoughts and relax in less than two minutes! |
| 8. | Q: Is CBRT suitable for any particular age group? |
| A: We have found Colour Breathing to be liked by and beneficial to people of all ages, from the very young to the more mature user! |
| 9. | Q: How often should CBRT be used? |
| A: Ideally, you could use the book kit once or twice a week- and also use the Colour Breathing Disks on their own on a daily basis. We have found the Disks help people to relax on a subliminal level - simply choose the colour you feel drawn to look at and put the easel card stand wherever you wish –for example, next to your computer or in the lounge. |