Most of my adult life was spent drinking and using drugs, not knowing how else to deal with my thoughts and feelings. The drinking and drug use got worse after my partner left in 2016. A prolonged period of bullying at work also contributed to a breakdown in 2017. I was convinced that I couldn't be helped and even said to my brother once “no one can help me Johnny, I'm too far gone”. I felt I was left with two simple choices; take my own life or ask for help. I asked for help and that was the beginning of my healing and getting to know myself, and who I really am.

In breathwork, we have a profound paradox. On one hand, practices like Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) and Holotropic Breathwork can be incredibly transformative, opening doors to deep healing, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. On the other hand, these powerful experiences can also stir up a whirlwind of emotions, unearthing buried traumas and shaking the very foundations of our sense of self.

While these intense emotional releases can be cathartic and ultimately lead to profound healing and emotional integration, they can also be destabilising, leaving individuals feeling overwhelmed, disoriented, or even re-traumatised. This is where the practices of grounding and resourcing become not just helpful, but absolutely essential.

If you've experienced the transformative power of Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB), you know it's more than just a breathing technique. It's a journey into the depths of your being, a dance between breath, body, and mind. Each session has the potential to unlock profound insights, release emotional blockages, and awaken a deeper connection to yourself.

As you venture further into your breathwork practice, you may begin to notice subtle nuances in your experience. The way you breathe, the sensations you feel, the emotions that arise – all of these can vary depending on your mindset and intentions going into the session.

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.

The train's crowded, the air feels heavy, and your mind is racing. It's just another stressful morning commute. You notice you are holding your breath. You take a deep breath. In, and out. You feel the air fill your lungs, your chest expanding and then falling. The world seems to slow down for a moment. Your thoughts settle, and a sense of calm washes over you. You've just tapped into the power of breath awareness.

Breathwork classes and workshops seem to be popping up everywhere lately. From trendy city studios to peaceful online retreats, it feels like everyone's talking about the power of conscious breathing. And with this newfound popularity come some pretty big promises – less stress, healed trauma, even a deeper spiritual connection. It's exciting to see breathwork getting attention, but it's important to be realistic too. Some of these claims might be a little too good to be true, and it can be hard to know what to believe, especially when you are first starting off.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Jennifer Kitzman

For the past several months, I have been toggling between two roles: student and teacher. I have been a student in a year long Breathwork Facilitator training program and at the same time, I have been a Teacher Trainer for S Factor, a feminine movement practice I have been involved with for over ten years.

Your first breathwork retreat is an exciting opportunity for profound self-discovery and healing. It's a chance to connect with the power of your own breath, release what no longer serves you, and step into your full potential. We understand that stepping into a new experience can bring up a mix of emotions. That's perfectly natural. This guide is here to gently support you, offering practical tips and insights to help you prepare so you can fully embrace the transformative journey ahead.