Breathwork
What is Breathwork?
Breathwork is a body based meditative practice, a method where we use continual intentional breath patterns to break down emotions in the body that are stagnant and create havoc on our energetic systems. This can feel like stress, overwhelm, anxiety, or a session can be created to invite in self-love, abundance, flow, and goes a little deeper than breathing for relaxation. It can help to regulate the nervous system, of allowing our systems to see a different perspective whereby we feel deeply connected to our bodies and understand and experience the intelligence contained within our systems.
The Pause Breathwork method is a way to heal, release, and transform. Emotional and physical responses/sensations may occur while in a Breathwork session. Sessions are designed to create focus and direction using an intention & mantra and can be designed with either (or both) integrative and meditative techniques. This can be discussed at the beginning so the session is unique to the person/pair.
Sessions can also include journaling/drawing as part of the session to allow embodiment of the work.
Due to the nature of Breathwork, such as possible physical & emotional responses, increased oxygen in the body, trauma-release and other energetic releases, there are some health/medical contraindications to certain types of Breathwork.
Before a session, it’s important to go through the medical/liability form and connect with the facilitator to see what type of Breathwork will best support you.
1:1 sessions available as well as small groups. Both can be in person or virtually.
Benefits of Breathwork
Stress reduction & anxiety relief
Connect with your emotions & change your response to them
Revitalizes your organs
Gives you access to your higher power
Reduces toxins in your body & provides an energetic release
More energy & mental clarity
Deepens your relationship to your body
Release trauma that has been stuck in your system for years
Better access your intuition, higher self, and source.
Breathwork FAQ
Why Breathwork?
Breathwork is the simple act of being aware of the way in which we’re breathing - breath awareness - and with that awareness, breathing in a conscious and intentional way we can choose how we breathe in order to change how we feel.
Did you that our breath is the only system in our bodies that is both automatic and controlled? This means that it is an involuntary system by itself without us having to think about it but we can also change how we breathe and feel into its power when and if needed. Every emotional state that we experience in our bodies has a corresponding breath response.
There are two types of Breathwork I share with clients and breathers: Integrative and Meditative.
Integrative Breathwork: The techniques/patterns of integrative breathwork brings it into our every day lives. We use these techniques when we “need a breather” to regulate our nervous system and clear any stagnant or negative energy. These techniques can be used throughout our day with the intention of mental clarity, relaxation, energizing, or to regulate our stress response.
Meditative Breathwork: The techniques/patterns used in meditative breathwork are used as a “journey” that takes us to deeper states within our bodies. Meditative practices can allow for transformation, to move past the ego/mind and release emotional blocks or energy that may have been held in our bodies for a duration of time, for us to move into a deeper self healing and connecting back to our bodies and the intelligence contained within our systems. It is encouraged to work with a facilitator for support during a meditative session.
How is Pause Breathwork different from other breathing patterns and modalities?
The core difference is that Pause Breathwork is for healing and transformation. There are a lot of breathing practices where the goal or outcome is relaxation, but with Pause, relaxation and connection are an after effect of the practice. The goal with Pause is to unearth the stuck energy that prevents us from living in our highest alignment and operating in elevated frequencies.
What are some side effects of continual breathing?
Depending on the depth and speed of your breath pattern, sensations may be felt in the body.
Tetany - It can start out as tingling in our hands, feet, extremities and around our mouths. This is called tetany. It's a physical response in our bodies where our muscles involuntarily contract - this can feel like our hands stiffening or tightening.
We experience this in breathwork as a direct response to the way in which we're bringing oxygen into our bodies and letting CO2 out. Depending on the speed and depth of breath the body can become hyper oxygenated. This is a completely normal response from our bodies during breathwork but can definitely feel weird! When we relax the exhale, the intensity of tetany subsides.
Dizziness/lightheaded/headache - it’s important to lay down when breathing for longer than 10 minutes.
Temperature shifts
Pain wherever you may have physical pain (old or new injuries, trapped energy)
Emotional Sensations - In breathwork, we bypass the mind and allow the body to heal and release what it needs to. This release might include crying, laughing, screaming / yelling, overwhelming states of love and moving the body. We don't have to logically understand why we experience a certain emotion and each breathwork session will be different. It's important that you just trust your body and know that whatever experience you have was meant for you in that session. Surrendering into the experience, letting go of expectation, and connecting back to your body.
Visuals and intuition -
Check in with your doctor or medical professional if:
Common contraindications to breathwork include (but are not limited to):
Cardiovascular issues
Angina
Heart attack
High or abnormal blood pressure
Retinal detachment
History of panic attacks
History of aneurysms
History of epilepsy or seizures
Frequent dizziness or vertigo
Glaucoma
Osteoporosis
Any condition for which you take regular or heavy medication
Severe mental illness
If you have any questions regarding emotional, physical, or mental health or unsure if Breathwork is safe for you, please contact your physician or doctor before engaging in any Breathwork.