The Evolving Breath Two-Volume Set

If you have ever asked yourself the question 'why and how do humans breathe?' then these are the books for you. This comprehensive 2-volume set explores the evolution of the breath and guides practitioners on how to help their clients breathe better.

In volume 1, the authors uniquely combine evolutionary biology, anatomy, physiology, assessment, technique and psychology, to develop current concepts regarding the mechanics of human breath, whilst also bringing to light new approaches to the theory and practice of breathwork.

Building on the evolutionary science of breathing explored in volume 1, The Evolved Breath explores the reasons why we don't breathe the way we should and how breathwork practitioners can help clients find the 'perfect breath' for their situation and health.

Written in clear language and including explanatory videos, this extensive work makes the exciting evolutionary biology of the breath, and the biochemistry of breathing and breathwork accessible.

This practical and approachable work provides numerous strategies to intervene when faced with dysfunctional breath patterns and brings to life the science behind why they work - an essential read for anyone who teaches or practices breathwork.

Christopher Gladwell has authored 14 self-published books, the most popular of which is Engaged Yoga: Weaving Yoga into Daily Life(978-0956792242). He has also written over 50 articles for the yoga press, including Kindred Spirit Magazine.
Christopher's exploration of breath began with athletics and the military, where he encountered first-hand the relationship between respiration, stress, performance, and resilience, an inquiry that expanded through martial arts, yoga and meditation, plus conscious connected breathing, into a systematic investigation of how breath, biomechanics, nervous system regulation, and attention shape both individual and collective development.
With five decades of lived practice and study, his work integrates the wisdom of deep meditative and initiatory lineages with evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychology, and physiology to support sustainable human flourishing. Out of this synergy, and alongside extensive training in yogic psychology, mindfulness, Clinical Hypnotherapy, NLP, Structural Integration, Ayurveda, Shiatsu, and decades of teaching anatomy in movement, emerged Evolutionary Coherence (EC). EC is a systematic, practical framework composed of four Meta-Skills, trainable capacities to help people restore functional fit between mind, body, breath, and environment, so that people can meet life with clarity, resilience, agency, and heart, enabling full participation in life. These skills are - Intelligent Conscious Breathwork, Mind Training, Embodied Awareness & Relational Intelligence. These skills emphasise disciplined practice as the foundation of effective work with our biological algorithms, and conditioning, and necessary for authentic freedom with responsibility. Christopher has taught and presented internationally over the last 30 years at numerous retreats, conferences, and workshops, and continues to do so.

James Earls is a Structural Integration practitioner and manual therapist with decades of experience. He holds diplomas in various forms of bodywork and a BA(Hons) in Psychology and an MSc in Human Anatomy & Evolution. James lectures regularly worldwide and was a founder of the annual Evolution101 Summit in London. He has written widely. As well as writing for Massage World, Today's Therapist, the journal of the International Association of Structural Integrators and 'In Touch', James has authored four books with Lotus/North Atlantic Books: Fascial Release for Structural Balance (2 ed); Born to Walk - Myofascial Efficiency and the Body in Movement (2ed ); Understanding
the Human Foot; and Functional Anatomy of Movement - all published by Lotus/North Atlantic. He has also authored a portion on movement for Thomas Myers' Anatomy Trains (3rd & 4th eds), and was invited to write a chapter on gait for the second edition of Fascia in Sports and Movement (Handspring), and contributed to Lauri Nemetz's recent title The Myofascial System in Form and Movement (Handspring). Whilst not currently serving on any board he has been involved with the International Association of Structural Integrators, the Sports Massage Association (UK), the Institute of Sports and Remedial Massage (UK), and the Association of Physical and Natural Therapists. James has extensive teaching experience, teaching about fascia, functional anatomy, and movement.