BENEIFTS
There are an enormous number of benefits you may experience through breathwork. Some are immediate and short term, while others – which are deeper and lasting – are illuminated to you through a consistent practice over time.
PHYSICAL + MENTAL WELLNESS
Includes the possibility of:
- Improved sleep
- Increased energy levels and vitality.
- Increased resilience to navigate difficult situations.
- Strengthens mind-body-soul connection.
- Increased self-esteem, confidence.
- Release tension and stress.
- Reduce anxiety.
- Digestive support.
- Better focus and motivation.
- Clarity and direction.
- Detoxification of the body.
- Boosted immune system.
- Reduce inflammation.
SPIRITUAL + EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Includes the possibility of:
- Creates emotional balance and inner peace.
- Improved connection with oneself, other and God/the universe/the Divine.
- Supports processing emotions and releasing stagnant energy.
- Strengthened intuition.
- Raise your vibration and create positive shifts.
- Release old patterns and craft new neural pathways.
- Transform old belief systems and rapidly shift perspective.
- Be a channel/outlet to let go of anger, fear, shame and grief.
- Help you to build a deep sense of inner trust, expand your awareness and gain a deep understanding of yourself.
OTHER BENEFITS
Includes the possibility of:
- Optimism for life.
- Openness to new experiences.
- Willingness and determination to keep going.
- Peace of mind, heart & soul.
- Practicing presence.
- Know your worth.
- Believe in yourself.
- Clarity of thought.
- Profound sense of gratitude.
- Forgiveness of yourself and others.
- Powerful insights into your next steps.
- Powerful insights into what needs to change.
- Grounding.
- Build a strong relationship with your inner world and body, so you can fully receive your outer experience.
- Increases emotional intelligence and resilience.
- Reconnects you to your emotions and how to feel them in the body.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
SOULBODY BREATH™ is an intensive breathwork practice that has activating effects on the nervous system and endocrine system. It is not – as it is often mistaken – a practice of relaxation. We are up regulating the nervous system using this method, accessing certain brainwave states and changing the body biochemically.
Your health and safety is the top priority. Listed below are the contraindications that are not safe to practice with. However, that does not mean you can’t participate in a session! Please inform me before you attend a session, and I can share an alternative way to breathe that is safe for you, but still offers an experience and shift of the energy.
CONTRAINDICATIONS THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO PRACTICE WITH:
- Pregnancy.
- Epilepsy or seizures.
- Cardiovascular disease (angina, arrhythmia, history of heart attacks, strokes).
- Severe asthma.
- Kidney disease.
- Glaucoma.
- Detached retina.
- High blood pressure or low blood pressure (with a history of fainting).
- Recent surgery, broken bones that are still healing.
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR, THERAPIST OR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
- Pre-existing lung diseases.
- Untreated/severe PTSD.
- Bipolar, schizophrenia, psychosis or panic attacks.
- Active use of recreation drugs or medication that alters brain chemistry, including painkillers, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, stimulants, hallucinogens etc.
WORKING WITH TRAUMA
In a breathwork session, we are working directly with our nervous system, and so it would be normal and expected that the breath may activate a part of you that is called ‘trauma’.
WHAT IS TRAUMA?
When we experience an event that is traumatic, the traumatic symptoms are not caused by the event itself, rather they are a result of the energy that is not discharged from the body at the time of the event. In other words, the body closed and the energy (emotions) remained trapped in the nervous system. It is here where it causes discourse in the body and mind.
I am asked by many clients how to “get over” their trauma, and I always answer the same. As a trauma aware professional, it is not about “getting over” your trauma, or trying to ignore it, push it away or pretend that it never happened. It is about releasing the emotional charge that surrounds the event/s so that your nervous system is no longer hijacked by emotions whenever it is activated.
As trauma lives in the nervous system, using a bottom-up (body first) approach like breathwork can be extremely supportive in discharging the energy that has been trapped. However, I always recommend a first point of contact if you are ready to walk this path, is to speak with a trauma trained professional.
SOULBODY BREATH™ AS A TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICE
While breathwork and SOULBODY BREATH™ can feel therapeutic, it is not intended to be the first point of contact for working with unresolved trauma. If you are carrying unresolved trauma that feels like a 6 and above on a scale of 1 – 10 – with 10 being extreme discomfort – it is advisable that you first speak with a therapist or trauma trained professional before entering a breathwork session.
Facilitators of SOULBODY BREATH™ are educated in the basics of polyvagal theory, trauma and how trauma lives in the body. They never push clients into “releasing” or “letting go” of uncomfortable experiences in a cathartic experience. They are trained to be trauma informed which allows them to hold powerful space, and to make a judgement call to invite clients to seek the support of a trauma trained professional help before they continue with breathwork if needed.
Private sessions are recommended if you are experiencing a heightened sensitivity around a certain experience so that you can have the full attention of the facilitator to guide you through.
SOULBODY BREATH™ is intended to be an experiential practice, where breathers can move stagnant energy and experience the relief and freedom they seek. Sometimes, that might mean that emotions rise up, tears come, screams want to be heard and the body wants to move and shake. But making breathwork look a certain way, or expecting it to feel a certain way is not the goal.
We breathe so we can create space in our inner worlds, know ourselves more deeply and be in relationship with our body, heart and soul. We breathe to create freedom from the limitations of the past so we can step into a new future.
