Breathwork encompasses a variety of breathing exercises and techniques used for therapeutic, meditative, and spiritual purposes. At its essence, it involves deliberately altering your breathing patterns to impact your mental, emotional, and physical states. Practitioners believe in the powerful link between breath and mind, suggesting that by changing how we breathe, we can enhance our overall well-being.
Breathwork methods can range from calming practices that help reduce stress and anxiety, to more intense methods designed to unlock spiritual insights and emotional release. Common features across these practices include controlled inhalations, exhalations, and breath retention, typically performed in a structured way either under guidance or independently.
The benefits of breathwork are numerous, including better emotional regulation, reduced stress, enhanced concentration and mindfulness, increased energy, and a deeper sense of inner peace. Many people also turn to breathwork to support personal growth, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening. New trends in breathwork focus on boosting sports performance, inspired by Wim Hof’s techniques and breathwork with cold exposure.
A History of Breathwork
Breathwork has ancient roots across diverse cultures and traditions. The practice of consciously controlling breath to achieve specific outcomes is as old as civilization itself, with early mentions in Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian texts.
In Hinduism, Pranayama—meaning “extension of the life force”—is a well- documented breath control technique that is an essential part of yoga.
Descriptions of Pranayama can be found in classic texts like the “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali,” dating back to around 400 CE, where it’s depicted as a method to achieve higher states of awareness. Buddhist traditions also stress the importance of breath in meditation. Anapanasati, or mindfulness of breathing, is a technique taught by the Buddha to cultivate mindfulness and concentration, ultimately leading to enlightenment.
In Chinese culture, Qigong combines movement, meditation, and breath control to balance and enhance the flow of Qi (life energy) in the body, which is believed to be crucial for health and vitality.
In the West, modern breathwork began developing in the late 20th century, drawing from ancient practices and integrating new psychological and therapeutic insights. Pioneers like Wilhelm Reich, who explored the connection between bodily tension and emotional well-being, and Alexander Lowen, who expanded on Reich’s work through bioenergetics, laid the
groundwork for contemporary breathwork techniques.
Interest in breathwork is increasing in the 21st century, driven by a growing acceptance of holistic wellness practices. As scientific research supports the benefits of meditation and mindful breathing, breathwork is being integrated into mental health therapies and wellness programs, blending ancient wisdom with modern understanding.
Breathwork demonstrates the enduring belief in the power of breath—an easily accessible yet profound tool that can lead to significant health benefits and spiritual enlightenment.
In Christian texts, particularly the Bible, there are frequent calls to meditate and contemplate, with some types of prayer focusing on bringing the mind into the heart to discover the being of Christ and His nature of loving compassion. This journey led me from the church and my work as a scientist to join a contemplative monastery. Over 35 years of contemplation deeply
transformed me, helping me become more embracing, loving, and compassionate toward myself and others.
Heart-Centered Breathwork, the modality in which I am trained, resonates deeply with my life as a Contemplative. Our hearts contain neurons just as our brains do. So it’s not surprising that when we align our minds with our hearts, our heart’s wisdom positively transforms our brains.
The breath is the vehicle to enter this transformative paradigm. I’ve had the privilege to work as a breathwork practitioner with many people, from young individuals stressed by life’s challenges, witnessing them connect with their inner wisdom to find personal healing, to facilitating spaces for women over 40 to heal from their pasts and rediscover their inner
drive, passion, purpose, and vitality.
My experience with breathwork has been one of profound healing, shifting from life struggles to discovering joy and embracing a new way of being. I am honored to have found this gentle yet impactful modality that has brought
about deep personal transformation. My passion lies in helping others navigate the ever-changing landscape of Life, empowering them to reconnect with their creativity and live boldly, and as Brene Brown encourages us to, “Dare Greatly.”
I look forward to supporting other women on this exhilarating journey, one breath at a time!