What to expect in a Breathwork session...
What is it?
Breathwork is a general term used to describe any type of therapy that utilizes breathing exercises to improve mental, physical, and spiritual health. Many forms of breathwork therapy exist today, each with their own unique methods of using breath for healing purposes. Drawing from Eastern practices like yoga and Tai Chi while also incorporating Western psychotherapy techniques in order to bring about self-awareness, breathwork can include elements of talk therapy, breathing exercises, art, music, and bodywork. This therapy can be used with individuals, couples, and groups and should be facilitated by a certified professional.
The Breathwork at Breathe – A Festival of Life
By using a simple, gentle conscious breathing technique. We learn to breathe more fully, freely and naturally again, the natural healing processes that we all hold within us are activated. With inner healing intelligence guiding the process, the quality and content of the experience is unique to each person and their intentions and needs.
How is it done?
A private session is usually broken into three parts, around 30 minutes talking and exploring issues, up to 1hr of breathwork and then another 20 minutes or so of integration and talking, depending on the session
The conscious breathing session is usually done lying down in a relaxed and comfortable place
You learn to consciously connect your breath so that there are no pauses between the inhale and the exhale. The breathing is full and also relaxed. Slowly you are guided to find your own rhythm, probably slightly faster and fuller than you are used to.
There might be music playing
How does it work?
It is based on the belief that the body wants to heal itself and it has everything it needs to be able to do this. It will always be working towards that state of balance, and by accessing this healing space within ourselves our awareness is brought to whatever needs to be resolved. That is why every session is so different.
So the breath acts as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious, between the mind, body and the spirit. By connecting with the breath we can tune into our deep intuition, which will always direct us to the best outcome.
What happens?
Through breathing continuously in a balanced cycle without break, your body takes in more oxygen than usual
Activation of vivid memories, pictures, emotions or body sensations can surface to be reviewed, released and integrated. These can come from as early back as your birth.
You will always know where you are, you are merely observing yourself, as an onlooker.
Through conscious connected breathing you accumulate life force (prana, chi, ki) which starts to move freely through you body (experienced as tingling, energy rushes or waves).
The breathwork practitioner
Will be there to hold the space for you and to guide the breath & the journey
To help you integrate whatever comes up in the session
They will be non-judgmental and compassionate
It is important to be able to form a trusting relationship with your practitioner
Whatever comes up for you is the most important for you at this time. It is important to trust that you will only experience what you are ready to explore