David Chiu

Breathing is the most basic part of life but the majority of people do not realize the power that breath has on mood, energy and focus. That’s why you’ll find that in Yoga and Martial Arts, breathing is an essential component in training. In the past it would take years of practice and training under a Master in order to perfect breathing techniques, but now there exists affordable biofeedback devices that can quickly train you how to breath properly in order to reduce stress.

Recently I’ve noticed ads in different magazines for a device called StressEraser.
Basically it’s a small portable biofeedback machine which gives you a visual guide on how to breath while measuring your heart rate. It’s been receiving a lot of good reviews from very reputable sources such as Good Morning America and The Washington Post so I decided to look it up on the internet. The device costs $300 which is kinda expensive, but you’re paying for an easy portable way to train yourself to relax and relieve stress. A few years ago I actually bought a biofeedback device which you connect to your computer and is bundled with gaming software, called The Wild Divine Project.

What attracted me to this system was not only the good reviews, but the idea that you could use a video game to train yourself different breathing patterns. This idea alone sparked my imagination and I had to try it. The Journey to Wild Divine only costs $199 and comes with a biofeedback monitor and software. The software is a game called The Journey to Wild Divine and has a similar feel to the popular game Myst. In the game you explore this magical land and encounter different puzzles which you can only solve by changing your heart rate and breathing patterns in different ways. I really enjoyed the system. The difference I see between the StressEraser product and the Wild Divine product are portability and flexibility. The StressEraser is aimed at reducing stress and is ultra portable. The Wild Divine can be used to not only reduce stress but teach you different breathing patterns to create energy and change your mood.

I originally purchased The Wild Divine to help me with focus and to help me combat my anxiety attacks which had sent me to the emergency room twice. Well, it worked. I haven’t had an anxiety attack for more than a year now. My next goal is to conquer my hyperhidrosis/stage fright which I know stems from lack of self confidence - which I feel like I already have a good control over. It’s all the result of knowing how to breathe.