Have you ever woken up from a vivid dream, feeling like you just stepped out of another reality? Or perhaps you struggle to remember your dreams altogether, leaving you with a sense of missing out on a hidden part of yourself. While the world of dreams remains shrouded in mystery, there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that conscious breathing can unlock a deeper connection to our sleep cycles and the realm of dreams.

Ever feel like you're at a crossroads, unsure of which way to turn? Like there's a whisper of an answer inside you, but you just can't quite hear it? We all have this incredible inner wisdom, a kind of inner compass, that can guide us through life. But sometimes, it gets drowned out by the noise of everyday life.

This inner knowing, your intuition, is like a superpower! It helps you understand yourself better, make choices that feel right, and find a sense of calm amidst the chaos. It's that gut feeling that nudges you in the right direction.

My daughter, at the tender age of two, had an adorable way of describing breathwork exercises: "Tummy Rides." This endearing term stemmed from a Barefoot Books story about breathwork that we often shared together. It perfectly captured the essence of these practices - a gentle journey of the breath, expanding and contracting the belly like a gentle ride on a wave.

Menopause is no longer a taboo subject. Women are done suffering in silence and are taking charge of their well-being during this transformative phase of life. From herbal remedies to hormone replacement therapy, we're embracing a whole range of options to navigate the challenges and celebrate the opportunities that menopause brings.

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.

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.

Neuroception, an idea rooted in Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, offers a framework for understanding how our nervous system unconsciously assesses safety and threat in our environment, shaping our physiological and behavioural responses. The interplay between our nervous system and our perception of the world has huge implications for how we experience the world and how we respond to breathwork practices.