The collarbone breathing exercise is a core part of the Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, also called TFT or thought field therapy. EFT is a modern spin on acupressure that uses tapping with the fingertips on key pressure points to release emotional tension. Once you understand a few of the main components of EFT, you’ll be ready to release emotional blocks using the collarbone breathing exercise. EFT is not a replacement for conventional medical therapies.
Theory
EFT works from the idea that emotional imbalances underlie and perpetuate many physical ailments, according to the website of the World Center for EFT. Specific EFT treatments focus on helping you release phobias, post-traumatic stress and grief. EFT practitioners recommend using the collarbone breathing technique in order to enhance other parts of the EFT program, since collarbone breathing can accelerate the release of especially deep-seated emotional blockages.
Terminology
In order to practice collarbone breathing, you’ll need to understand a few EFT terms. The “gamut spot” is a point on the hand, in the groove between the pinky finger and the ring finger, according to the website 123EFT. Find the two collarbone points you’ll be stimulating by moving down from the chin to the place where the knot in a necktie would sit. Go down an inch, then over an inch to the right and feel for a natural dip at the end of your collarbone. This is the right collarbone point. Move down an inch and over an inch to the left from your imaginary necktie knot, where you’ll find the left collarbone point.
Tapping
The next part of collarbone breathing is the tapping pattern. Tapping involves placing the index and middle fingers of the left hand on the left collarbone point. Use the index and middle fingers of the right hand to tap with a gentle but firm pressure on the gamut spot of the left hand. Then touch the left collarbone point with the knuckles of the left hand, still tapping on the gamut spot. To complete the collarbone exercise, you'll need to tap using the combination of fingertip pressure and knuckle pressure on both collarbone points, according to the website EFT Masters Worldwide. Tapping gently stimulates pressure points to release tension.
Breathing
The final component of collarbone breathing is a specific pattern of inhalation, exhalation and holding the breath that helps you to further break up stale energies and release them. As you tap in the first hand position, inhale fully and hold the breath in. Exhale halfway and hold, exhale all the way, then inhale halfway. Move to the knuckles, then repeat this breathing pattern.
Expert Insight
Dr. Franzi Ng, thought field therapy expert, advises that regular practice of collarbone breathing can help you to restructure your mental processes. In her YouTube video "Introduction to Collarbone Breathing," Ng recommends collarbone breathing for people who are clumsy and lack body awareness, or who self-sabotage and procrastinate.
Research
EFT demonstrates promise as a treatment for anxiety, according to a 2009 pilot study by D.J. Benor and colleagues from the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology. Benor’s team reported in the journal “Explore” that Canadian university students with severe to moderate test anxiety experienced relief in only two sessions of EFT. Wholistic hybrid eye movement exercises, or WHEE, proved similarly helpful. Both WHEE and EFT were faster acting than cognitive behavioral therapy sessions.
