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  • Published: 3 March 2006
  • ISBN: 9781869417796
  • Imprint: Random House NZ
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

Breathing Matters

A New Zealand Guide




A revolutionary book from top Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon, Dr Jim Bartley, and highly-regarded breathing expert,Tania Clifton-Smith, who believe that good breathing patterns can dramatically improve the lives of people with major diseases such as heart disease, asthma and depression.

A revolutionary book from top Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon, Dr Jim Bartley, and highly-regarded breathing expert,Tania Clifton-Smith, who believe that good breathing patterns can dramatically improve the lives of people with major diseases such as heart disease, asthma and depression.

Breathing well helps us relax, normalises body biochemistry, reduces muscle pain and allows the re-establishment of normal posture and movement.

Part I discusses the role of smell and the "nose brain" in our everyday lives. These chapters provide a physiological, scientific basis to the book.

Part II discusses basic breathing techniques, posture, self-massage and muscle stretching techniques. These are the self-help techniques that you can adopt to help yourself.

Part III discusses common disease conditions that can be improved by attention to breathing techniques. These include asthma, heart disease, migraine, tension headache, jaw-joint pain, anxiety and depression.

  • Published: 3 March 2006
  • ISBN: 9781869417796
  • Imprint: Random House NZ
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

About the authors

Jim Bartley

Dr Jim Bartley, author of Healing Headaches and co-author of Breathing Matters with Tania Clifton-Smith, is an eminent Auckland ear, nose and throat specialist. He has been a major force in developing and promoting endoscopic surgical techniques in the management of sinus disease. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at Auckland University as well as in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at AUT University.
He has active research interests into the antibacterial actions of vitamin D and the effects of CPAP on nasal physiology. Healing Headaches is the essential guide to managing headaches, migraines and stress headaches, including advice on sleep, relaxation, exercise, nutrition — including the recent discovery that gluten-free diets can prevent migraine — and pain management. Breathing Matters explains the important physiological role breathing plays, and shows how good breathing patterns can dramatically improve health and wellbeing in a number of areas from asthma and migraine to heart disease and gastro-oesophageal reflux.North and South called it a ‘fact-filled fascinating guide for the general reader’, adding ‘and probably a lifesaver for the breathing-afflicted’.

Tania Clifton-Smith

Tania Clifton-Smith is a New Zealand physiotherapist who has 30 years' experience in the field of breathing dysfunction, breathing pattern disorders and hyperventilation syndrome, treating thousands of individuals. She and co-founder Dinah Bradley developed the world-renowned BradCliff® Breathing method. Tania is in demand as a speaker at international conferences, now mostly on-line, due to her expertise and skills in treating Covid patients. Tania also has post-graduate diplomas in spinal manipulation, mind and body medicine, and meditation and mindfulness instruction. She is on the NZ Asthma and Allergy Educational Board and is a member of the NZ Physiotherapy Business Development Advisory Group.
In 2021 Tania became an Honorary Fellow of Physiotherapy NZ, the Oscars of physiotherapy and equivalent to a national knighthood within her profession. Tania joins an exclusive list to become one of only nine New Zealand physiotherapists ever to receive this honour.