Simply put, breath work is breathing;  it is manipulating the breath to have different desired effects on the body.  The type of breath that I guide is a circular, conscious connected breath.  Connecting to the breath in this way, allows us to disconnect from our head, reconnect to the body, and move stuck energy and emotion.  The continuous breathing helps to break up the emotions and energies that build up in the body.  This build up is often stagnant and unprocessed and it creates havoc on our physical bodies. Moving through the stuck emotion and energy facilitates this way in which you become a very active participant in your own healing!  It allows us to tap into this inner healing intelligence that we all possess.

No.  A big misconception about this breath technique is that you’re going to dive head first into a bunch of unresolved trauma and stir up a bunch of inner sh*t.  There is an intention set prior to each session and an invitation to gently work through whatever is coming up for you.  Your body is only going to present to you what is ready to be cleared.  Things can most definitely come up during a session but only when you are ready to move through them.  Trust in the experience.

No.  Although the breathing is quick and can feel uncomfortable at the beginning, it is done in a controlled way.  Remember, you are in complete control of the breath and the experience.  As the facilitator I am guiding, holding safe and loving space and supporting you but it is ultimately your show.  If you start to feel uneasy, simply slow the breath down or return to a normal breath pattern.  When YOU are ready, start the quicker circular pattern again.

 Check out my short 'how-to' video here.

Active breathing greatly increases oxygen in the body.  This is oxygenating the blood, stimulating different parts of the brain and releasing endorphins in the body.  As the endorphins kick in, the brain is less and less in control.  At first, the brain will freak out and try and fight for the first few minutes but it will pass and allow you to sink into your body.

As your nervous system starts to slow down and you sink further into the body, it will start to wake up!  Your body may start to feel tingly and alive.  As the body opens up, energy and emotions are able to move freely through the body and there is trust in discharging the emotion and energy in a safe way.

When a client (YOU) is able to tap into this ability to safely be in the body and let go of held emotion and energy, they experience a new relationship with their intuition; an awakening.  Next steps become clear and a new sense of calm can be felt.  It is from this PLACE where true healing can occur.

The session starts with compassionate inquiry into an area of your life that you’d like more clarity around.  This could be pain in the body, patterns or themes you’d like to complete with, identities that no longer serve you or simply to have a better idea of how to feel more at home in your own body.  This will determine the intention for the session.

The breathing typically lasts 30-40 minutes and is done lying down.  It starts with a grounding meditation and ends with a period of integration.  When you are done, there is this beautiful in between time where your body is open and expanded; you are connected to your higher self and an open channel for information, messages or feelings of love and happiness in your body.  This time is where the magic happens.

The energy from the session can integrate for up to 7 days!  Be gentle with yourself.  Spend time in nature.  Take a lot of Epsom salt baths.  Lean into whatever is coming up for you in a gentle and easy way. 

Here are some common feelings and reactions the body can experience throughout your session:

Allow the resistance or reaction to be an opportunity to speak to the body.  Ask your body and your heart what it is you are ready to release or let go of.  Invite this in with the highest level of self compassion and keep coming back to the breath to help guide you through. 

If you have done an online one on one session with me, you get a recording of the session to use again and again for as long as you’d like.  This will help continue to move through the stuck energy and emotion.  You can re-visit the session 2-3 times that first week if it feels good.  If you had a very intense session (a lot of energy moving) feel free to wait up to 6-7 days before re-visiting.  Remember the energy continues to integrate for up to 7 days after each session.

I don’t recommend doing a full length circular breath session everyday.

Oh ya.  Most of us (including myself) have spent the better part of our lives completely disconnected from ourselves.  It can be challenging to completely invite yourself into your body and soul!

Remember that breath work is a practice; it is a beautiful journey back home to ourselves.  We don’t get there after one session.  Saying "yes" to breath work doesn’t mean agreeing to violently blowing the lid off of all the collective trauma in your life.  I know there is this urgency and feeling that we need to ‘fully healed’ but life isn’t designed that way!  Breath work is more about uncovering the layers of untruths or beliefs that don’t serve us anymore by turning inward.

Having spent many years in traditional rehab “fixing people”, breath work is such a breath of fresh air (pun intended)!  This modality puts you in the driver seat when it comes to your own healing.  Being in control of the breath means you control your experience and, guess what?  You are never wrong.  You simply have to put trust in yourself and the breath helps you get there.

Active breathing greatly increases oxygen in the body.  Therefore, it is not advised for persons with a history of cardiovascular disease, including angina or heart attack, high blood pressure, glaucoma, retinal detachment, osteoporosis, any significant recent physical injuries or surgeries. 

 It is also not advised for persons with a history of severe mental illness, diagnosis of schizophrenia, seizure disorders or are if you are on heavy medication.  It is also not suitable for persons with a personal or family history of aneurysm.

 If you are pregnant, please consult whoever you see for your pregnancy before participating in any active breathing.  If you have asthma, please have your inhaler handy and let whoever is facilitating the breath work session know beforehand.