3 things I wish I learned during Breathwork Training
I first experienced Breathwork while in Massage School back in 2015. I have to admit, I hated that first session. It wasn't because of the modality or what I was doing. I hated it at first because I didn’t realize that I would be facing my fears and thoughts head on for 90 minutes.
When I say head-on, I mean looking at every belief system I had in place. Every detail of my life, my past, and how I ended up as the person I was that day. I not only witnessed the thoughts flow in and out of my mind but then breathed through it. This helped to discover the root system and then clear it out if needed.
Once I graduated from school, I found myself in a space of confusion and still completely lost. This deep awareness of life had rooted into my being during the breathwork session, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
2 months later I saw an advertisement from my Massage School. It read “Transformational Breathwork Facilitator Training.”
I did not like that first session of breathwork at all and was afraid to do it again. But something deep within me knew… I had to sign up for this. With no intention of ever teaching it, I wanted to spend the next few months getting to know myself better.
As much as I didn’t want to do this and purposely dig up my internal mud, I knew it was exactly what I needed.
So here I am, sitting in a circle on the floor with 20 other people.. Looking around thinking “What the heck am I doing here? What did I sign up for?”
Well, I signed up for the transformation of a LIFETIME.
I received a breathwork session once a week, as well as facilitated one, and also took my practice home. Breathing every day by myself through the training.
I looked at parts of myself and my childhood I didn't even know affected my psyche.
I cried and cleared out all the mud that I held within me, consciously and unconsciously.
I laughed and felt joy like never before.
I felt more connected to myself and the world than I ever knew was possible.
Breathwork is nothing short of amazing and transformational.
I ended up teaching Breathwork, but not without teaching myself WAY more than I learned in that classroom.
I loved my training so much and will forever cherish the wisdom and information I gained.
There was a lot of grounded knowledge missing, though. Which I needed to adequately serve my clients on all levels of being.
Here are 3 things I wish I learned in my Breathwork Training:
1) Tetany
(When your hands cramp up into crab claws, or you feel tingling in your hands and feet)
What I did learn: It is a state of control and we must learn to let go and let God lead us through.
What I didn't learn: The experience of tetany is due to a lack of something our body needs. This is a sign of needing more calcium or magnesium in your diet. Or that there is an underlying thyroid condition.
I had no idea there was something more going on in our body, other than the metaphysical and mental/emotional reasoning! The power of affirmation works, no doubt. But we also must nourish our bodies, balancing the physical aspects of ourselves so that we may experience full alignment and optimal health.
No matter how many affirmations you say about letting go of control, you will still experience tetany if you aren’t giving your body the vitamins it needs to operate properly.
2) Contraindications
What I did learn: Contraindications don’t exist! Breathwork is for everyone because, well, we all breathe!
What I didn’t learn: Yes this is true, we all breathe of course. But that doesn’t mean that it is safe for everyone to experience this type of breathing for an extended length of time. For example, Diabetics and women in pregnancy should NOT do breathwork. (I will make a post further explaining these contraindications plus many more soon).
Taking on any breathwork practice is a practice because it's not our “normal” style of breathing. Different breath styles alter your state of mind and physiological state. When there is an underlying health condition, that condition needs to be taken into account.
Good news: These contraindications don’t mean you can’t experience breathwork at all. The session must be altered for you so as to only provide benefits and not any harm. Such as a lighter breath style, or shorter length of time focused in a different area of the body
I can’t stress enough why it is so important to find a knowledgeable Breath Practitioner!
3) Breath-Holds
What I did learn: To guide my client through an inhale breath-hold to help integrate the energy coming through and take a “break.”
What I didn’t learn: How powerful an exhale breath-hold is! That if you are an athlete or a “hardcore” person, this is the most beneficial way for you. Exhale breath holds are harder because your lungs are empty but you increase your lung stamina quicker this way.
There is so much more I could expand on with this topic and each of the 3 examples, but I’m going to start with this for you all.
The new age practices have their benefits and will help you in certain ways, but if there is no grounded facts, knowledge, or guidance, then you could very easily cause harm as well.
As I have dived into learning more and more about the physiological aspects of breathwork over the past few years, it continues to inspire me to add more to my programs. Especially the 6-month Container: Relationship with self. Creating even deeper connections with self through nutritional knowledge based on what your body is showing during the breath sessions. Because all healthy relationships start with a healthy internal relationship. On all levels of being.
Check out the Breathwork Services I offer for you
