Creating a hā habit: Utilising Māori innovations in breathwork

Abstract

This article begins by identifying and defining a range of debilitating disorders— trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalised anxiety—and their symptoms before presenting a statistical analysis to give scope to the impact of the disorders. The article then explores the science behind breathing and breathwork as a valuable antidote to these disorders. The whakapapa of the concept of Hā, and how the Hā tool was developed, is then described. The article then describes how the creation of a Hā habit through intention, purpose, mindfulness and presence alleviates traumatic experiences and acts as both an intervention strategy and a preventative strategy to build resilience against poor mental wellbeing. Finally, the development of a new wellbeing measuring tool called Tū and Rongo is described, and positive feedback from users of the Hā tool is presented.