The origins of breathwork are ancient and ubiquitous. Cultures all over the world have infused breathing practices into their spiritual, physical, birthing, and rites of passage practices, beyond what has been captured or recorded by the official texts of our time.  Pranayama in Indian Yogic tradition, Shamanism, breath-led meditations in Buddhism, Taoism, Sufism, Christianity, and martial arts are recorded examples of ancient uses of breathwork.  There are denotations of breath and breathwork practices in most major religious texts.  Humans have tapped into the power of breath for millenia.

In recent history, breathwork had a resurgence in the Western world in the 1960s and 70s, partially as clap-back to restriction on and legal repercussion to psychedelic research and the use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings.  Stanislav Grof and Leonard Orr led the first (of their era) experiments and clinical trials of breathwork, eventually developing what is known as Rebirthing Breathwork and Holotropic Breathwork (respectively).  Both of these researchers were interested in accessing altered states of consciousness to explore the healing potential within the inner and subconscious landscapes of our being without the use of substances or drugs. Various techniques, schools of thought, and practices of breathwork were born and inspired from this reemergence.

Breathwork is a therapeutic tool that uses purposely altered breathing patterns to improve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. There are many forms and types of breathwork that essentially are various techniques that lead down a  similar path towards breakthrough and inner healing.  The type of breathwork I offer is called Conscious Connected Breathwork. 

Conscious Connected Breathwork (or CCB) is most easily broken down into four parts:

1. Wide open-mouthed breaths

2. Full body breaths into every part of the body

3. Keeping breath connected. No pauses at the top or bottom of breaths (breaths become connected -- like a wave, or a wheel, of continuous breath). 

4. Inhales are active and powerful (pull), and exhales are passive and effortless (release)

Every CCB guided session will include a thorough introduction and explanation of the breathing practice. 

Breathwork has the potential to create the access to and processing of emotions and trauma that are held within the body and subconscious mind. By breathing in a specific way, you stimulate the autonomic nervous system, possibly releasing stored emotions and memories. It is common for people who practice breathwork to report profound emotional releases, often revisiting and confronting past traumas in a new light, and gaining a new or shifted perspective on old wounds that can substantially help in the healing, reframe, and integration process of trauma. Because of the potential for traumas to be revealed or revisited, it is possible for the nervous system to become overwhelmed by the experience. The sessions are held in a safe and controlled environment, and guided by a certified breathwork practitioner. You will be taught and coached on how to self-modulate and slow down and “put the brakes” on your experience. While there are safety mechanisms in place, it is important to arrive to a breathwork practice informed of the potentials of this work.

Support outside of the breathwork session is highly recommended, especially when working with complex trauma. This work is complementary with talk therapy, somatic therapy, or other holistic and conventional mental health therapies.

My approach to this work is trauma focused. I hold certification in Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy, and hold years of experience in trauma focused and informed bodywork modalities.