Breathwork is the practice of using your breath consciously to support your body, mind and nervous system. It is an umbrella term for any technique that uses a deliberate breathing pattern, such as a set rhythm, speed, depth or pause. We breathe around 20,000 times a day, mostly without noticing, yet how we breathe is proven to shape how we feel.

Author and journalist James Nestor explores this in his book Breath. He describes how the way we breathe, including through the nose or mouth, how fast, how fully and how habitually, can influence our sleep, stress, energy and overall wellbeing.

Many of us have lived through something that felt like too much. Something overwhelming, something traumatic, something we’d rather not look at again. When that happens, the breath is often the first thing to change.

You might have noticed your breath feels shallow, tight, or stuck high in your chest. Maybe you catch yourself holding it, or only take a full breath when you sigh. None of that means something is wrong with you. It’s information, and a very good place to begin.

Before any deeper work, it helps to understand what an easeful, supportive breath feels like in your body. Functional breathing is the foundation, and it’s something you can carry into everyday life, long after a session ends.

Many of us have lived through something that felt like too much. Something overwhelming, something traumatic, something we’d rather not look at again. When that happens, the breath is often the first thing to change.

My specialism:

Conscious Connected Breathwork

Conscious connected breathwork is the style I love to guide. Sessions typically last from 45 minutes to an hour or more, and are usually done lying down with my supportive guidance from start to finish. The breathing pattern consists of a continuous, circular rhythm, flowing in and out like a wave.

This steady, unbroken pattern is what makes the practice distinctive. As the rhythm settles, many people find that the mind quietens and the body begins to release tension, and feelings and sensations that were tucked away can come to the surface.

For me, that quiet is the heart of it. My thoughts rarely slow down, and breathwork is the one place where they do. Once the breath finds its rhythm, the chatter fades and I settle into what I describe as a floaty stillness. It’s not an empty or uncomfortable place, but a rare chance to rest from my own mind.

People come to breathwork for different reasons. Many report that regular practice helps them to:

• Feel more grounded and connected to themselves, others & nature

• Feel calmer and manage everyday stress

• Process emotions with more compassion

• Create a stronger sense of safety

• Be more present in daily life

• Feel more focused and clear-headed

• Release tension held in the body

• Sleep better