Invisible suffering: breathlessness in and beyond the clinic

The German poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote of breath as “an invisible poem”. Indeed, breath is invisible literally but also metaphorically; it is something we take for granted. Breath is intimately entwined with life, movement, and activity, but mostly goes unnoticed. In particular situations, it becomes the focus of our attention. When exercising, meditating, giving birth, or practising yoga, breathing is a focal point and becomes bound by particular techniques.