Breathwork is one of the simplest yet most transformative practices available to us. By intentionally working with the breath, we can access deep states of healing, emotional release, and spiritual connection. While breathing is automatic, when practiced with intention, it becomes a powerful tool for bypassing the ego mind and reconnecting to the truest, highest part of ourselves—the inner healer.
For anyone curious about exploring breathwork, finding a skilled facilitator or joining a guided class is invaluable. A good guide creates a safe space for you to navigate the depths of your emotions and body, allowing you to fully surrender to the experience and reap its many benefits.
What Breathwork Does to the Mind and Body
Breathwork impacts us on multiple levels, from rewiring the brain’s neurochemicals to releasing stored tension in the body. Its effects are as scientific as they are mystical, bridging the gap between our physical and emotional selves.
Rewiring Neurochemicals
Breathwork directly influences the brain, creating shifts in neurochemistry:
Reduces Cortisol: Controlled breathing reduces stress hormones, helping the body move from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.”
Boosts Serotonin and Dopamine: Breathwork stimulates the release of these mood-enhancing chemicals, promoting a sense of calm and joy.
Triggers Endorphins: Emotional release during breathwork often floods the body with feel-good endorphins, leading to euphoria and relief.
Enhances Oxygen Flow: By bringing more oxygen to the brain, breathwork sharpens focus, improves cognitive function, and supports overall mental clarity.
Calming the Ego Mind
One of the most remarkable aspects of breathwork is its ability to quiet the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain’s chatterbox responsible for overthinking and self-referential thoughts. This shift helps bypass the ego—the part of us driven by fear, judgment, and control—and creates space for deeper connection.
In this state, you’re no longer “thinking” about emotions; you’re feeling them. You’re no longer analyzing pain; you’re moving through it. This is where transformation happens—when the breath invites you to meet the part of yourself that knows how to heal.
The Inner Healer: Your Deepest, Highest Self
Your inner healer is the wisest, most intuitive part of you. It’s the part that knows how to release what no longer serves you, how to face what feels overwhelming, and how to guide you back to balance and peace. Breathwork is a direct pathway to this part of yourself.
During a session, your breath creates a bridge between your body and soul, giving you access to emotions, insights, and sensations that may have been buried for years. It’s not uncommon to experience profound clarity, physical release, or even spiritual connection.
My Personal Journey with Breathwork
I’ll never forget my first guided breathwork session with Patricia at The Hub in West Los Angeles. She led us through a three-part breath pattern rooted in David Elliott’s style—two inhales (one into the belly, one into the chest), followed by a full exhale through the mouth.
At the start of the session, Patricia explained, “Your body is wise. It knows where you’re holding tension and what you need to release. The breath will take you there. Just stay with it.” She also mentioned that physical sensations like tingling in the hands and feet, tightness in the jaw, or even “lobster claws” (when the hands clench into a claw-like shape) could arise, often signaling areas where energy was blocked.
At first, I was skeptical. But as I settled into the breath, something extraordinary happened.
Unlocking Grief
About 15 minutes in, I felt a heaviness in my chest—a sensation I hadn’t been aware of before. As I continued to breathe, it grew into a wave of emotion that rose from deep inside me. Suddenly, I was crying—gut-wrenching sobs that seemed to come from a place far beyond my conscious awareness.
This grief wasn’t fresh. It was ancient, raw, and powerful. I hadn’t known it was there, but my body had been holding onto it for years.
As I breathed, my hands tightened into lobster claws, and my jaw felt locked. Patricia had explained these sensations, assuring us they were the body’s way of revealing blockages and moving energy. Trusting the process, I stayed with the breath.
What followed was one of the most profound releases I’ve ever experienced. It wasn’t just a letting go of grief—it was a reclaiming of myself.
From Grief to Bliss
After that session, I committed to regular breathwork practice. At first, each session brought up more layers of emotion—grief, anger, even joy—that I hadn’t fully processed. But over time, something shifted.
The grief became lighter. My body stopped clenching. And one day, as I lay on the mat, the experience transformed into something entirely different: bliss.
The breath that had once unearthed pain now carried me to states of pure peace and joy. It felt as though I was connecting to something bigger than myself—a sense of wholeness and oneness that words can barely describe.
Why You Should Find a Facilitator or Class
If you’re new to breathwork, having a skilled guide is invaluable. Breathwork can be intense, especially when emotions and sensations arise, and a facilitator creates the safety and structure you need to surrender fully to the process.
Why a Facilitator Matters
Safety and Support: A facilitator ensures you feel held and supported, helping you navigate challenging moments.
Guidance: They provide cues and encouragement, helping you stay with the breath and go deeper into the experience.
Integration: After the session, they can help you process and make sense of what you’ve experienced, ensuring lasting impact.
Whether in a private session or a group class, having a guide allows you to relax into the practice, knowing you’re in capable hands.
The Benefits of Breathwork
Breathwork offers benefits for your entire being:
1. Emotional Release
Breathwork allows you to access and release emotions stored in the body, creating space for healing and clarity.
2. Stress Reduction
By calming the nervous system and reducing cortisol, breathwork brings your body into a state of relaxation and balance.
3. Enhanced Mental Clarity
Increased oxygen flow and a quieted mind lead to sharper focus, creativity, and awareness.
4. Spiritual Connection
Many people experience profound spiritual insights or a sense of connection to something greater.
5. Joy and Bliss
With regular practice, breathwork becomes a source of deep peace and joy, carrying you into states of euphoria and lightness.
Your Breath is the Key
Breathwork is more than just a practice—it’s a transformative journey to your truest, most healed self. Each breath invites you to let go of the noise, bypass the ego, and connect with the part of you that knows how to heal and grow. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Whether you’re seeking emotional release, clarity, or a sense of peace, breathwork is your guide. And with each session, you’re reminded that everything you need is already within you—your breath is the key to unlocking it.
Pro Tips for a Powerful Breathwork Session
Create a Comfortable Space: Choose a quiet, safe spot where you won’t be disturbed. Lie down on a yoga mat or soft surface to fully relax.
Use an Eye Pillow: Blocking out light can help you go deeper into the practice. An eye pillow or scarf works perfectly.
Stay Cozy: Your body temperature can change dramatically during breathwork. Keep a blanket nearby, and consider wearing warm socks to stay comfortable.
Play Music: Breathwork pairs beautifully with music. Check out curated breathwork playlists on Spotify for tracks that match the rhythm and flow of your practice. Music can amplify emotional release and help guide your breath.
Hydrate Before and After: Your body may release a lot during breathwork—emotionally and physically. Drink water to stay grounded and replenished.
End with Quiet Savasana: After your breathwork session, take at least 5–10 minutes to lie still in quiet savasana. This time allows your body to integrate the experience and settle into a state of deep relaxation. It’s a necessary pause to honor the work you’ve done and let the benefits sink in.
Take the First Step
If you’re new to breathwork, start with a short session or join a guided class. Having a facilitator or using a playlist can make the experience feel supportive and structured, especially when emotions arise.
Remember: your breath is your greatest ally. It’s there for you in every moment, ready to guide you toward healing, peace, and connection. Trust it, lean into it, and let it carry you home.
Are you ready to take that first breath?