If I'm honest, when I first finished my yoga teacher training, I felt a bit disillusioned. I expected to emerge knowing everything there was to know about yoga. It took me a while to realise that the training was just a foundation, a starting point. The real learning came from practice, from exploring different styles, and discovering the areas I was truly passionate about – like yin and restorative yoga.

And it's the same with breathwork. The initial training provides you with essential tools and knowledge, but the journey of learning and growth doesn't end there. The world of breathwork is constantly evolving. New research emerges, fresh techniques are developed, and the understanding of the mind-body connection deepens. To truly serve your clients and continue growing as a facilitator, continued education isn't just a good idea - it's essential.

Up until recently, if you'd asked me, I would have smugly said, "I'm not an angry person, it’s just not something I experience." But life, as it often does, had a few lessons in store for me when I became a parent. As I've gone on my own journey of self-discovery, I've come to realise that anger has been lurking beneath the surface all along.

Growing up in a household where anger was seen as a "bad" emotion, I learned to suppress it, to bury it deep within so I could still be a “good girl”. Over time, I developed a clever disguise for my anger: sadness. In my family sadness is more acceptable, more palatable, and somehow less threatening. Sadness got hugs. Anger got silent treatment.

Have you ever experienced that magical flow state in a vinyasa yoga class, where your breath effortlessly guides each movement, creating a seamless dance between body and mind? It's a feeling of complete immersion, where time seems to dissolve and you become one with the rhythm of your breath and the flow of your body. This harmonious union of breath and movement is at the heart of an embodied breathwork practice.

I remember walking in to my first yoga class, feeling totally broken and going through a painful divorce. At the end of the class during savasana, they came around and massaged everyone’s neck with a cooling gel that had peppermint and lavender. It was HEAVEN. I hadn’t realized how healing the combination of aromatherapy and touch were. I know that’s controversial (the touch and scent during savasana, not the power of them!). But what happens when we combine the potent effects of scent with the transformative practice of breathwork?

I recently came across a comment online that said "nervous system regulation is just new-age bullshit." As both a nurse and a breathwork business owner it got my back up and it got me thinking about how much we underestimate the power of our own breath and our ability to influence our body.

The truth is, our breath and our bodies are deeply connected. It's not just about staying alive; it's about how we feel, think, and experience the world. Our breath is a mirror reflecting our inner state, and it's also a bridge connecting our mind and body.

I remember the first time I tried breathwork. It was at a retreat center in Ubud, Bali. You know the type – lush jungle, the distant sound of gamelan music, and more yoga mats than you can shake a stick of incense at. The facilitator, a serene man in white linen clothes and long white beard and hair. "Just breathe," he said, his voice as smooth as the rice paddies outside, "and let whatever comes up, come up."

So there I was, lying on a mat, surrounded by blissed-out strangers, all of us breathing like we were running a marathon while perfectly still. And let me tell you, what came up was... rage. Blinding, white-hot rage.

For an hour, while everyone around me seemed to be floating on clouds of ecstasy, I was a volcano of anger. I was mad at the mosquito buzzing near my ear, furious at the sweat trickling down my back, someone was touching me, and why was that guy making so much noise when he was breathing?! I had visions of getting up, kicking someone in the head and storming out. But of course, I’m too polite to ever make a scene.

Society often views neurodivergence through a deficit lens. Yet, in the world of breathwork and wellness, those perceived differences can become profound strengths. This article challenges assumptions, highlighting the advantages of the ND mind, strategies for managing challenges, and the importance of showing up as your authentic self for both personal well-being and the benefit of those you serve.