Everything is better with breath
What is Breathwork and how can it support us?
So, what is Breathwork / Breath Therapy? Here is a little history
We've used Breathwork both therapeutically and as a path to spiritual awakening for thousands of years, such as through pranayama in yogic practises and a variety of breath-centred meditations in Buddhism, Taoism, Sufism, Christianity, Shamanism, and martial arts.
The practise of using the breath for healing and awakening was mostly forgotten by Westerners during civilisation but experienced a re-emergence in the 1960's thanks to primarily - Stanislav Grof and Christine Grof, Leonard Orr and Sondra Ray. These individuals brought us the 2 original branches of modern-day breathwork - Holotropic and Rebirthing, which has formed a baseline for a variety of branches of breathwork that we can experience today.
Did you know that....
- a huge percentage of our population sub-ventilate? Who teaches us to breathe effectively?
- our breath and bodies are impacted by traumatic experiences, and they remember our journey
- 90% of our thoughts and experiences are 'safely' tucked away in our sub/unconscious?
- the body is designed to self heal and provides us messages regularly on where we should be applying our focus for well-being
- We can positively impact our autonomic nervous system with our breathing
Increasing breath = increasing life (cells, lungs, immune system and more - We could live longer)!
Increasing consciousness = releasing trauma and navigating our journey more elegantly and joyously!
What types of Breathwork are offered at Respirate to Illuminate?
The Breathwork that we practise at Respirate to Illuminate is a body-based therapy that combines talking therapy, psychotherapeutic concepts, intentional conscious connected breathing and awareness. It has a foundation in Rebirthing and Tibetan 5 element breathing and was developed by Nathalia Westmacott (the Founder of the First Breath training organisation), who has over 25 years experience in the field of Breathwork. As part of our session work together we may also combine other complimentary practises such as sound therapy (such as drumming, or toning/humming), acupressure/hands on support and other somatic and gestalt approaches.
Our Breathwork practise supports us to go deeply, safely and compassionately in to our personal process, using our conscious breath. Allowing us to explore, identify, unlock and integrate any life experiences (e.g. from womb onwards) and unconsciously repressed or disowned parts of ourselves, to enable profound healing and transformation.
This work provides a powerful self exploration, to get conscious on and alchemise our past in to a beautiful present and bright future - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
In the moment Breath support to regulate the nervous system:
There are many many types of breath interventions that we can access in the moment to support us. Maybe we are trying to calm things down in a difficult moment for example, or maybe we are trying to increase our energy and enthusiasm. At Respirate to Illuminate we can support you in learning and experiencing the techniques that may support your current situation and aspirations. Giving you the tools you need for every day life.
Conscious connected Breathwork for Personal Development:
Conscious connected Breathwork can enable you to access deeper levels of consciousness, supporting you in releasing past trauma and deep emotions, gaining insights and providing the opportunity for personal development and transformation. Respirate to Illuminate is skilled to support you in going safely and compassionately in to your personal process as part of your Breathwork journey.
What are the types of challenges can conscious connected Breathwork help to process?
- Fertility challenges and pregnancy loss - Journeying with grief, finding joy and purpose.
- Chronic body pain - Processing to a level of experiencing a more loving body connection and significantly decreased pain / dis-ease, to the point of no longer requiring a blue badge.
- Addictions and dependencies - Experiencing increased consciousness and making different choices around addictive behaviours.
- Bullying / School trauma - Working through to confidence in authenticity.
- Violent & manipulative relationships - Letting go of the past and inviting in new energy in relationships.
- Panic attacks - Particularly around agoraphobic tendencies (e.g. planes, trains, cars, concerts, shopping centres, lifts etc). Consciously working the edge to a reality of not being constrained by fears.
- Anxiety / 'Generalised anxiety disorder' - Finding confidence in releasing feelings, experiencing more calmness and clarity in reality.
Although Breathwork can support many goals, the️ above are just a few of the specific challenges that I have personally have breathed through and/or supported Clients with to reach their personal goals.
Find further information here on what might be involved in taking a Personal Journey.
Find further information here on what we offer in support of a Conscious Performance Culture.
If you're interested in how Breath & Body work may be able to support you or your employees then please contact me here to discuss your personal or professional circumstance and goals.
Here's why to work with me. There are also Apprentice Practitioners and Practitioners around the UK that I would be happy to connect you with.
Potential contraindications for breathwork - Please discuss with your practitioner before embarking on a journey together:
- Pregnancy
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Detached retina
- Glaucoma
- Uncontrolled and/or high blood pressure
- Cardiovascular Diseases (including prior heart attack)
- Mental disorders (manic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), paranoia, psychotic episodes, depersonalization, etc.)
- Strokes, aneurisms, TIA´s, seizures or other brain/neurological conditions
- A history of aneurysms in your immediate family
- Use of prescription blood thinners
- Hospitalized for any psychiatric condition or emotional crisis within the past 10 years
- Osteoporosis or physical injuries that are not fully healed
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-II and COPD-III)
- Chronic diseases with symptoms of decompensation or terminal illness
- In an active substance addiction
- Recent surgery or broken/fractured ribs
Please remember that what we offer here are complementary therapies, which is not a substitute for medical treatment.
An introduction
The power of breathwork and what it can do
Find out here (entry named 'an awakening through breathwork') how breathwork can impact lives, through some insight in to my own journey - How I was introduced to Breathwork and the PROFOUND impact that it has had for my healing and awakening, physically and emotionally.