Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions I’ve encountered when it comes to breathwork. If you something this on this list or you want to chat more, please email me at hello@soulbody.co
The Basics
What Is Breathwork?
The short answer, breathwork is breathing.
In all seriousness, like yoga, there are many different styles and types of breathing that fall under the guise of breathwork. Breathwork can be either a simple breath awareness meditation or a more active, transformational breathing technique.
Soulbody Breathwork is an active breathing meditation that uses a pranayama-style of breathing that helps you get out of your head and into your body. If you are feeling stuck, disconnected or lacking in clarity, our style of breathwork will help you sift through your emotional gunk and find clarity and certainty through a connection to your hearts wisdom.
How Are We Breathing?
The style of breathwork I teach is a 3-part breath. All done with the mouth open, we begin with one inhale into the belly (or sacral chakra), a second inhale into the chest or heart space and finish with an exhale. We continue this breathing pattern for the entirety of the session until we move in the the integration period which is similar to the savasana you practice at the end of a yoga class. In my opinion, it’s in the integration that all the magic happens.
What’s Happening In My Body?
As you start the active breath, you begin to increase the level of oxygen in the body. You are oxygenating the blood, stimulating the hypothalamus gland, and releasing endorphins in the body. As the endorphins kick in, the brain is less and less in control though it will try to fight it for the first few minutes. Your body may start to feel electric like it is coming alive with energy. This may be all over, or local to one area. This is when the body begins to open up and energy and emotions can move freely through the body, even those emotions that have seemed stuck for lifetimes.
You are voluntarily stimulating the involuntary system and moving to a higher state of consciousness.
During sessions, clients feel their nervous system slowing down and gain a tangible sense of dropping into their bodies (often in the first few moments). They learn to discharge energy in a safe way, experience awakenings in their intuition, and clarity on their next steps.
What Are The Benefits of Breathwork?
I’m sure by now you’ve hear the benefits about some of the common benefits of a regular meditation practice. Breathwork is that and so much more! Here are some of the known benefits:
Like meditation, breathwork can help increase parasympathetic tone (moving you from ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and digest’).
Active breathing practices, like Soulbody Breathwork, can help reduce stress, anxiety grief, depression and anger.
It can increase energy levels and boost your body’s immune system.
It does wonders for increasing your self-awareness, presence, happiness, and access to joy.
It can increase our capacity for self-love by bringing us into our body and seeing our truth.
It can help improve sleep, releases trauma and fear stuck in the body,
It can help reduce pain, releases toxins from the body.
It can improve digestion
It helps you explore altered states of consciousness, consciously!
What Can I Expect To Feel?
I invite clients and group participants to come with an open mind, an open heart, and to be open to infinite possibilities.
Like anything, when we come to a breathwork session with certain expectations, we may be disappointed by the perceived outcome. Trust that the breath and the energy are doing EXACTLY what it needs (notice I said what it needs, not what you want). Breakthroughs do not have to be loud or profound, they can be peaceful and subtle.
Here are some common feelings and reactions the body can experience:
Temperature - it is normal for your body temperature to fluctuate from hot to cold as fear is being released from the body
Body Stiffening - The body can tighten and contract in places that commonly hold blockages - the mouth and lips, the hands and arms (tetany), the legs and feet, the hips. This goes away when you resume your normal breathing.
Tingling - It is very common for the body to begin tingling either all over or in certain areas, depending on where energy is moving.
Movement - during the session your body may shake, vibrate, move around. Listen to your body!
Release - you may feel the need to release energy through crying, laughing, screaming. All of this is a part of the energetic release.
Muscle tightness - energy can collect in the body and create a traffic jam. The area may become knotted, tight, or sore. This usually passes within a few minutes.
Emotions - the process is about releasing the emotions that are on the surface. With the breathwork practice, we are getting under the fears and anxieties that are stuck so this may get uncomfortable. I encourage students to commit to the practice and soften the breath if things start to feel too uncomfortable.
After a session, you’ll likely feel some combination of clarity, calm, connection to self and others, forgiveness, increased feeling of groundedness, creative inspiration, or like you woke up from a nap.
You may experience some of these or none. Your experience will change from session to session and person to person. Know that all of these experiences are temporary and you can use your breath to move through them.
Is Breathwork Safe To Do On My Own?
Absolutely! Your journey with breathwork is just that - your own. If you are curious or feel comfortable doing it on your own, I have a free 7-minute practice you can try.
If you do practice on your own and have questions about your experience, I encourage you to reach out to me. If you’re just not sure or would prefer to practice breathwork in the safety of the container that I create in 1:1 or group session, I’d love to support you.
Who Is Breathwork For?
Breathwork is for everyone! I like to say breathwork is for seekers, those who know there’s something else, who are looking for clarity and purpose. It’s for the curious. You do not need to be an experienced meditator or have done breathwork before to take part in one of my curated breathwork experiences.
Are There Certain Health Conditions That Would Prevent Me From Doing Breathwork?
During breathwork, you remain in control of your breathing for the entire session. However, if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidneys disease, or severe panic attacks or seizure disorders it’s advised that you consult a physician.
While you can do breathwork while pregnant, my recommendation is to wait until the child is born before diving into the practice.
At the end of the day you are responsible for your own health. If you are unsure if this is for you please consult a doctor before joining us in a session or experience.
The Experience
Is Breathwork Done In-Person or Online?
Both. While I LOVE (and prefer) In-person sessions and events, because of the world we live in today online has become much more prevalent. When signing up for a session, the booking will specify if it will be hosted in-person or online, via Zoom.
What Is The Difference Between Doing Breathwork In-Person vs Online? Is It As Powerful Doing It Online?
YES they are very different experiences and YES they are equally as healing and transformational. Every experience with breathwork will be different, what matters most is the container in which you experience it. My intention is ALWAYS to hold as safe and sacred a container for you to let go in as I possibly can. Whether in-person or online, I am checking in on each person throughout our session or event to ensure you feel held and you are moving through the session with more ease. While in-person there is the benefit of gentle touch and personal connection, there is also something special and comforting about doing a breathwork experience in the comfort of your own home.
How Do I Prep For Breathwork?
Prepare Yourself (Online OR In-Person Experiences)
Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Don’t come on a full stomach.
Get comfortable - we’ll be laying down flat (floor, yoga mat, bed, etc) and it’s normal for your temperature to fluctuate so it’s nice to have a blanket close by.
Bring a pen + your fave journal as we’ll work through some self-inquiry questions in most experiences. It’s also nice to have it close by to write down anything that comes to you in the session.
Come with an open mind, an open heart, and a willingness to explore yourself and your potential a little deeper
Prepare Your Space (Online Experiences)
We’ll be meeting on ZOOM as I love to see as many of you as possible so I can properly hold space for you as you breathe.
You’ll want to make sure you are in a space that is comfortable for you. Breathwork can get vulnerable and we may have releases (sounds and crying - you’ll want to be somewhere that feels good for you.
Eye pillows or covers are great for covering the eyes, but not necessary
If you have anything that is special to you: candles, crystals, essential oils, whatever...please bring them along. The more comfortable you are the better.
Common Questions I GEt
How Often Can I Practice Breathwork?
Listen to your body. I personally have a weekly/bi-weekly practice and will do a quick 7-minute practice when I feel like I need an energetic tune-up.
If you are relatively new to breathwork, working with a facilitator, whether in-person, online or in a group, is best. I have been practicing for well over 2 years and still prefer a guided practice over one I do on my own.
Is _____ Normal?
I get asked if various experiences are normal ALL.THE.TIME. It’s probably my most commonly asked questions. My response: “What do you think?” Your body knows and is any of this life ‘normal’?
What If I Didn’t Feel / Experience Anything In The Session?
It is normal to THINK you didn’t experience anything during your session. It is usually the thinking part of your brain that is expecting a big, out of body experiences when sometimes the healing can be more subtle than that. TRUST that breathwork, like other forms of energy healing, is working under the surface EXACTLY how it is meant to.
This quote by RUMI sums it up perfectly: