The term “breathwork” refers to an active meditation utilizing breathing techniques for the purpose of altering your mind state. It is commonly used for relaxation, spiritual practices and coping with stress, trauma or anxiety. It has been used therapeutically and spiritually for thousands of years with a modern resurgence in the western hemisphere in the 1960’s. Examples include Pranayamas in Yoga, meditations in Buddhist tradition, and modern therapy practices to access unconscious material.

When presented with the opportunity to join a breathwork workshop I was curious, but skeptical my experience would be anything extraordinary. I thought “I help people breathe all the time as a therapist, what will this really do for me?”. 

The breathwork I did was inspired by Tummo meditation with a mix of the Wim Hoff & Holotropic methods. I essentially put my nervous system into a state of activation (fight or flight) for 40 minutes, and then brought my body back into parasympathetic (rest and digest) for 20 minutes. The entire process was under the supervision and guidance of a trained professional. I personally never felt out of control or unsafe. 

Here are my three takeaways from this experience*:

1. We are not taught how to breathe

Wild, right?! It’s literally THE thing our bodies are born knowing how to do, yet so many of us are just walking through life holding our breath. Even as a therapist who does EMDR and uses somatic techniques with clients, I didn’t really understood how to breathe properly in everyday life. Since this workshop I have been much more aware of my pelvic floor muscles, when I’m holding my breath or engaging in shallow breathing. I am sleeping better, feeling less tense in my body and overall feel more capable of managing anxiety.

2. Our energy is real and powerful!

I grew up in a Catholic household in midwest America. My therapy training was extremely westernized and rooted in mostly white, patriarchal research. I love yoga, I dabble in astrology when friends are interested and will listen to guided meditation to sleep. I’m a 6/10 on the “woo wood” scale; open but skeptical. When people talked about being spiritual or noticing energy I didn’t fully relate.

It turns out, breathwork did feel spiritual. My body was creating and moving energy culminating in this really intense, deep experience of self. I felt my own energy, maybe for the first time. There were tears, yelling, tingling and even laughing. At one point my body from the waist up was completely numb. I was unable to move my arms, but I wasn’t scared. The tears felt joyful. The laughter felt freeing. The breathwork facilitator, as well as the community of people I was with, created a safe container to temporarily surrender to the process and feel the full scale of my energy.

3. Our bodies are infinitely more capable than we know

I journaled immediately after the experience. I highly recommend writing, painting or creating post breathwork. One thing I noticed looking back at my journal was the simple statement “that was MY body”. I felt empowered and in awe of my body in the aftermath. To truly feel connected to one’s body can be a rare experience, especially those who struggle with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. One thing I love most about being a therapist is equipping people with tools to influence and guide their internal experience. We can’t control what emotions come up, but we are not powerless to them. When we have these tools it can actually feel safe enough to be in our bodies. Breathwork is a great tool for not only accessing deeper parts of self, but coping with intense, often out of control feelings. 

Having this experience with fifteen other humans, all of our energy working together, was unbelievable. Some folks I practiced with reported visions of their inner child, physical clenching of hands and feet, hearing a clear, inner voice, and so much more. Similar to any kind of somatic or trauma work, safety and containment are absolutely key. If you’ve ever been curious about guided breathwork I hope this helps you understand more of what to expect and feel more confident about exploring the right facilitator for you.

*This is a summary of my personal experience with one breathwork session. I am not an expert. Consult your doctor or therapist before engaging in breathwork. Certain medical and psychiatric conditions may not be appropriate or safe for this practice.

References

“History of Breathwork”, Mana Breathwork. https://manabreathwork.com/history-of-breathwork

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