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How to Breathe: Cultivating the Breath for Deeper Meditation, Better Sleep, and Nervous System Health (SF1D23)

Sean Oakes, PhD

October 7, 2023

Online Program Online

10:00 am Oct 07 - Oct 08, 2023 PDT

Date and Time Details:
Saturday, October 7, 2023
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. US Pacific Time

Online via Zoom

Contact: Spirit Rock Registration
registration@spiritrock.org

  • Benefactor – $200.00
  • Sustainer – $120.00
  • Base – $95.00
  • Mudita/Karuna Scholarship – $45.00
  • People of Color Scholarship – $45.00

Cancellation Policy:

  • No refunds are available, only open credits.
  • Open credits are available: any time prior to midnight the night before the event/program.
  • No open credits available the day of the event, or later.

Registration closes at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on October 7, 2023. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program. Continuing Education Credits? (see details below)


Description:
Working with the breath is foundational to Buddhist meditation, and was the Buddha’s primary practice both before and after his awakening. How we breathe affects our physical and mental health, and is one of the only ways we can directly engage with the Autonomic Nervous System. The breath helps determine how we process stress, move through emotions, and balance energy in our body and mind.

Though we often hear the instruction to let the breath be natural, adjusting the breath in meditation and throughout daily life can give tremendous benefit. This daylong will focus on changing unhealthy patterns of breathing for better energy, rest, and focus. We will learn prāṇāyāma from Haṭha Yoga, explore the physiology of breath, and meditate using the Buddha’s instructions on ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing). You will be able to immediately change how you are breathing, with direct impact on your meditation and general well-being.

Online Only: We are offering this program online via Zoom for you to join us remotely.

Sliding Scale: Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports the teachers as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners.

Benefactor – $200
Sustainer – $120
Base – $95
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, M/K) – $45

All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

*Recording Note: You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the program. If you would like access to the recording, you must register by the deadline above. The recording will be available in ~10 days after the program.

Cancellation Policy – Online: Drop-ins, Daylongs, Multiday Programs (1-3 days), Family Programs/Series, CEC fees:

  • NO REFUNDS
  • Open Credit, or Donation to Spirit Rock = if cancel by midnight, the day prior to program start (Pacific Time)
  • No Open Credit = if cancel day of the program, or beyond

Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
Important Note for CEC participants: If you are interested in receiving continuing education credits (CECs), you must register and pay for CECs prior to the start of the program (no retroactive CECs will be given) and you must attend the live program. Please review the CEC information below.

This program offers 5 CE credits for $50 for psychologists, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Please review our Continuing Education Credit information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.***

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public. Health care providers will learn the profound connection between the breath and well-being, as evidenced by the foundational role of breath in Buddhist meditation, which was central to the Buddha’s own practice. Understanding how the breath influences both physical and mental health is crucial, as it directly interfaces with the Autonomic Nervous System—a key consideration for mental health professionals. By acknowledging the potential for adjusting one’s breath to enhance energy, rest, and focus, this daylong training offers valuable tools for individuals seeking immediate improvements in meditation and overall well-being, aligning with the holistic approach mental health care providers often advocate.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program you will better able to:

  • Describe three benefits of breathing through the nose rather than the mouth;
  • Explain heart rate variability (HRV) and its importance for nervous system health;
  • Utilize breath counting to calm nervous system activation;
  • Describe how adjusting breathing length affects the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance in the body.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

***Please note:

  • For full Provider information, and additional CEC information, including attendance requirements, cancellation, and grievance policies, please visit our Continuing Education Credit information page.
  • For those with a different license than listed above, or with a license from a different board or association than listed on our CEC info page, please contact your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval/acceptance of CE credits offered at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not confirm applicability of credit for those with licenses different than those listed.
  • Spirit Rock is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16905 for 5 contact hours.
  • Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.

About the Teacher

Sean Oakes

Sean Oakes, PhD

Sean Oakes, PhD, teaches the Dharma with a focus on the integration of meditation, study, and self-inquiry with trauma resolution and social justice. He has studied in Theravāda, Zen, and Vajrāyāna Buddhist lineages, including training as a monk in Burma, and was authorized to teach Insight Meditation by Jack Kornfield in 2010. He completed the […]

Learn more about Sean Oakes, PhD

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