What is Breathwork?
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Breathwork is an umbrella term.
In the simplest words, it is an active form of meditation in which focusing on our breath serves as an awareness anchor. This eases the process of getting into a "meditative (theta brainwave) state".
I practice a Breathwork style called "Transformational Breathwork".
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Transformational Breathwork is a type of breath-based therapy that aims to calm down our nervous system and helps individuals release emotional, physical, and mental blockages.
This can lead to improved physical and mental health, as well as a greater sense of peace, well-being, and deeper connection to the self and others ("BOND Breathwork" as social-health tool)
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A session works by tapping into the connection between the breath and the nervous system. By slowing down and controlling the breath, practitioners can guide people's nervous system going from a sympathetic to parasympathetic state, evoking a relaxation response. This calms the mind (can ease anxiety, feelings of chronic stress etc.) and helps to release tension and stored emotions from the body.
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During a Transformational Breathwork session, the attendee will lie down and will be guided to place their attention on their breathing pattern, using a specific breathing technique called "conscious connected breathing". The breathwork facilitator may also use verbal guidance, music, and tactile guidance to support the participant in the process. The vital time after a session, the so called "Integration" serves as a tool to mentally preserve, work through (and find inspiration) from what has arisen.
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The goal of a Transformational Breathwork session is to establish a safe, supportive environment where individuals are able to quieten the conscious mind through changing our physiology, in order to access the subconscious. This can evoking positive mental shifts that prime our brain towards shifting our external reality.
Through this, a session serves as time to deeply connect ourselves, our inner world (and through BOND-BREATHWORK, to connect to one another).
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Lucas - BA in Education Student (Germany)
The session with Kylie was my first Breathwork experience and is by far the best thing I have done to my body in a long time. I have never read about, heard or experienced a session like this anywhere else in Europe. Kylie knows a 100% what she is doing. Through her intuitive approach and the very warming atmosphere of the breathwork session, I felt safe and could open up very well, so that things I stored subconsciously came to light, which helped me to move past them, let go of a mask I’ve been carrying and unravel more of “myself”.
FAQ
What is Transformational Breathwork using CCB? (Conscious-connected-Breath) "Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) is an experiential field of study and practice that uses conscious connected breathing and body-mind techniques to support the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of being. Some schools of CCB are psychotherapeutic." (Wheble, P., & Manga, E. (2024) Here’s the correct APA citation format for a website reference based on your details: **Wheble, P., & Manga, E. (2024).** *IBF Science & Research Group.* Retrieved from [https://ibfbreathwork.org/conscious-connected-breathwork/#:~:text=Conscious%20Connected%20Breathwork%20(CCB)%20is,schools%20of%20CCB%20are%20psychotherapeutic.]
What are the possible benefits? Research suggests that conscious breathing can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers cortisol levels, Â heart rate, and promotes relaxation. It can also increase oxygen flow, enhancing overall mental clarity and emotional balance. Further, Breathwork is considered to enhance mood, reduce anxiety, mind wandering and intrusive thoughts. Â Thus, it is considered a potent stress-management tool. (Balban et al., 2022) Yilmaz Balban, M., Neri, E., Kogon, M. M., Weed, L., Nouriani, B., Jo, B., Holl, G., Zeitzer, J. M., Spiegel, D., & Huberman, A. D. (2022). Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Reports Medicine, 3(2), 100895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895
What happens during a session? A session can be structured in 1. climbing a mountain, 2. reaching the peak and 3. then going into full relaxation (from sympathetic / beta-state to parasympathetic / theta-state). In the first part (to have a mindfulness anchor) participants focus on their breath, using specific techniques such as conscious connected breathing. The facilitator may provide verbal guidance, music, or use gentle touch to support the participant’s experience and induce a release. 2. The peak is the built towards a release, induced by breathing in the 3-part breathing pattern and being for a certain extent of time. 3. After the peak and the "active" part, participants fully drop into the "relaxation response". This part may include breathholds, followed by the natural slow breath. During this part, the participant reaches the theta-brainwave state, in which the subconscious may be accessed. This is usually where a guided meditations & visualisation component is integrated by the facilitator, designed to rewrite inner narratives.
What are potential side-effects? Is Breathwork for everyone? While it is generally considered safe for individuals without an abnormal health conditions - Breathwork changes the participants physiology during the session. Thus, if any medical conditions are known or the participant is taking regular medication , it is best to ask a medical professional before starting any new wellness program or activity. Breathwork may not be suitable for you if you have any of the following: Pregnancy Severe Anxiety Respiratory issues like sever asthma or COPD Cardiovascular issues Epilepsy
