Dennis Lewis

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For the English soccer player, see Dennis Lewis (footballer).

Dennis Lewis (born 1940) is a non-fiction writer and teacher in the areas of

self-enquiry
.

In the book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Taoism Lewis is recommended as a source of instruction in Taoism for people who don't have much time for study and practice.[1] His breathing instruction and practices have also been recommended to augment meditation techniques,[2] to improve singing ability,[3] as a support for recovery from injury,[4] for stress reduction,[5] and for greater calm, presence, and clarity.[6][7]

In a 2004 critique of

Feldenkrais
, and others, along with scientific principles from anatomy, neurochemistry, and physiology.

Biography

Born in

University of Wisconsin initially but has a degree from San Francisco State University awarded in 1967 in Philosophy of Religion.[10]

Lewis was the co-founder and president of Hi-Tech Public Relations, San Francisco, which was sold to Shandwick P.L.C (UK) in 1988.[11]

Lewis studied

Lord John Pentland, from whom he learned breath-awareness practices as part of Gurdjieff's overall teachings. Lewis also worked with Advaita Vedanta teacher Jean Klein, with whom he studied self-enquiry, yoga and pranayama.[12][13]

His son is the author Benoit Denizet-Lewis.

Teachings

Lewis conducts Authentic Breathing workshops and retreats at venues such as

mindfulness and awareness practices, movements, postures, touch, and sound, with a stated emphasis on learning how to exhale fully and effortlessly. He writes in his articles and books that when the exhalation is full and natural, the inhalation usually takes place spontaneously in the most appropriate way for the demands of the moment.[16]

Lewis claims that most people are unaware of their breathing until they have some kind of major problem. This lack of breathing awareness, he believes, is a manifestation of a larger issue: a general lack of self-knowledge and self-awareness. Reflecting the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff, Lewis maintains that people often live unconscious, mechanical, disharmonious lives, unaware of the miracle of their own being.[17] Lewis leads "harmonious awakening" gatherings, on occasion with harmonic chant pioneer David Hykes. He describes those gatherings as helpful for seeing and going "beyond the boundaries of the conditioned mind--the habitual constellation of thoughts, emotions, sensations, beliefs, and judgments that each of us calls 'myself'." He also claims they can help people "awaken to who they really are".[18] In the gatherings he employs self-enquiry, natural breathing, qigong, meditation, and special self-sensing and awareness practices.

In his writing and teaching about breathing, Lewis maintains that many people habitually

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, there are no long-term, well-controlled scientific studies that support claims of benefit for increased oxygen in healthy people.[20] There are many like Lewis today, however, including breath therapists, breathing teachers, MDs, and researchers, who maintain that good breathing increases the likelihood of a longer, healthier, more-rewarding life—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.[21][22]

Published works

References

  1. ^ Toropov and Hansen (2002) p.251
  2. ^ Bailey (2001) p.78
  3. ^ Vendera, Jaime (2008) Free Your Breath, Free Your Life web article[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Jameson (1998) pp.238-240
  5. ^ Lazarus (2000) pp.74-75
  6. ^ Goddard (2008) pp. 125–126
  7. ^ Rogers (2006) p. xi
  8. ^ Carrette and King (2004) pp.92-93
  9. ^ Preface to The Tao of Natural Breathing
  10. ^ Marquis Who's Who In America, 2008
  11. ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; 4 Shandwick Purchases Include American Firm (Published 1988)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-07-29.
  12. ^ Lee (2004)
  13. ^ self published biography
  14. ^ "Hyperventilation & Health". Archived from the original on 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  15. ^ John Du Cane's Weekly Qigong Tip for Health and Well Being
  16. ^ Empty Vessel Interview on Breathing with Dennis Lewis
  17. ^ Article: Awakening to the Miracle of Ordinary Life
  18. ^ Official Lewis Website
  19. ^ Encyclopedia.com short article about Breathing
  20. PMID 12523293
    . Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  21. ^ Clinical Studies and Optimal Breathing
  22. ^ Mccarthy (April 2001)

Other sources that reference Lewis' work

External links
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