Breathwork

Breathwork is a healing modality that uses the breath to move energy. It can often help us move out of our head space and into our heart space, to reach places that might feel hard to reach in our day to day lives. It can help us gain insight and bring us into the present moment.  Breathwork is a tool that can help us move through and process trauma.

Trauma can be physical, emotional, and spiritual. It can originate in our current lifetime, it can be ancestral and passed down through our lineage, and we can also feel collective trauma that is energetically being felt by all humans on this planet. As Peter A. Levine writes in Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, “Traumatic symptoms…stem from the frozen residue of energy that has not been resolved and discharged: this residue remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our bodies and spirits.”

We are all made up of energy, and energy can get stuck or stagnant in our bodies. Breathwork is a tool that can allow our energy to become unstuck and flow freely, which in turn can facilitate heart opening, and more ease and joy in our lives.

This is a space free of judgment, where all experiences, feelings, and emotions are welcome. Providing a safe container for catharsis and release is of the utmost importance. The practice always includes a grounding exercise to help us better dive into the practice, and ample time for rest and integration following the breath practice.

In-person group classes can be found and booked at Breathe Ojai, located at 323 E. Matilija St, Ste 217 (upstairs, above Relaxation Station). Group zoom classes and 1:1 sessions can be booked by clicking here. See below for a schedule of group offerings.

Wondering what to bring to a breathwork experience?

Your comfort is important during a breathwork experience. Whether you are joining from home or joining in person, having a comfortable place to lie down is important. That can be a couch or a bed, or a yoga mat if you are joining us in person. Some other items to bring or have handy, should you feel called, are:

  • Cozy layers (sometimes the body can feel warm or cold during breathwork) and/or a blanket

  • Eye Mask

  • Water bottle

  • Good pair of headphones (for online classes, for best sound quality)

Contraindications:

While breathwork is generally a very safe practice, there are some contraindications to consider. If you are experiencing any of the following, please refrain from participating in this practice:

  • Pregnancy

  • Asthma

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Recent physical injuries or surgeries

  • Any condition that keeps you from rigorous exercise

Please note, even if you cannot participate in the breathwork, everyone is welcome in the space to meditate, reflect, and be a part of the shared energetic field that is created through these experiences.