Breath is the gateway
The in between
It animates the body and gives us the gift of life
With each new inhale, we receive the chance to start again
What is Breathwork?
There are many different types of breathwork out there - and even many types of active breathwork. The one I practice and support you in is fully active, circular breathing and utilizes a three-part* breath, inhaling through the tummy, chest, then exhaling through the mouth. It is a constant flow of inhale-inhale-exhale. Our session is set to a curated selection of music and prompts, designed to support your full RELEASE so you can walk away feeling lighter, supported, more centered, and with a sense of clarity that not much else can bring. And it all happens in one session.
I approach the breathwork session as a ritual for releasing what is clinging on in your mind that you’re ready to shed. It is big work, it is cathartic, and it can be confrontational. Because of this, we approach it with reverence and ask for support from our helping spirits, our well and healed ancestors that support our growth, the elemental energies present in the earth and in our bodies, and the directions. We create a sacred container together so that you have an embodied knowing that you are safe and supported.
This work parallels beautifully and effortlessly supports what walking in the mud requires of us. It is the most powerful tool I am aware of that allows us to come into acceptance and to move into surrender.
This 1:1 breathwork ritual is available in person in my sanctuary in Portland, Oregon, or virtually on zoom. If in person, there are options to add on to personalize your healing experience and make it a mini-retreat.
I am so excited to work with you and support you in this work, in this way.
*The three-part breathing technique I use I learned through Erin Telford (@erintelford__), who learned from David Elliott.
Benefits
Lowers stress and anxiety
Increases energy
Boosts immunity
Lowers blood pressure and improves circulation
Helps manage pain
Strengthens lungs
Improves mood and self-esteem
Improves sleep
Helps manage depression
Helps release deeply stored trauma and manage PTSD
Improves Digestion
Helps to overcome addictions
Improves focus
Increases creativity
…and, if you practice with me, you’ll also be participating in deepening your relationship with your helping spirits, your ancestors, and the directions, as you acknowledge and honor them by formally welcoming them into our ritual container.
Curious?
Here’s a Bit More about Breathwork
Breathwork is a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. Pranayamic breathing, or intentional breath control, has been a part of yoga since its origins over 2000 years ago, and it has long existed outside of a movement-based yoga practice.
One of the main purposes of breathwork, physiologically, is to activate the body’s relaxation response. The practice triggers the brain to turn off the fight-or-flight response, deactivating the sympathetic nervous system, and really be able to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which allows us to sink into the deeply relaxing, calm, rest-and-digest state. This shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic interrupts our automatic stress response.
It can allow us to deeply work into the traumas that we just can’t quite clear through more conventional methods, such as talk therapy. It’s just an incredibly powerful tool for release and for clearing the lenses of your spirit, so that you can walk away with feeling lighter, clearer, and with a more solid direction of the ways in which you want to walk through life.
Love + Praise