By Kate Kirrane
Until recently, breathwork in the West has generally been experienced as part of an activity such as yoga or meditation. However, with increasing research proving its incredible healing benefits, this ancient practice is currently enjoying a rise in popularity in mainstream wellness as a stand-alone discipline.
As a yoga teacher, I understand the power of the breath to help rebalance a dysregulated nervous system and thus improve health and wellbeing. So, when I met Caroline Boyle, Seed’s Breath Guide, and learned about her breathwork classes, I was intrigued to experience a session for myself.
So, what is breathwork?
Breathwork means taking conscious control of your breathing pattern to improve your physical, mental and emotional state. It encompasses a variety of breathing techniques, from simple breathing patterns such as box breathing though to fully guided sessions.
Carolines journey to becoming a breath guide began during her treatment for breast cancer. Said Caroline “Following my diagnosis and faced with a treatment plan which included 16 rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, I felt totally out of control. I knew I needed to do something to support myself through this challenging period. I began to practice breathwork each morning and the change in every part of my being was incredible, I began to feel calm, connected and positive.
“When my treatment was finished I booked myself into a 5 day breathwork retreat in Sweden, where I was blown away by the power of full transformational breathwork. I went on to train in Sweden with The Hale Centre who ran the retreat, to become a qualified breath guide so i could bring this incredible healing tool to others.”
Caroline offers 6 different breathwork sessions, for beginners right through to advanced breathers. These include: Introduction, Base, Heal, Elixir, Power and Resilience. Each session delivers a different experience using different breathing techniques such as deep circular breathing, breath retention and breath holds. The introductory session includes a chat about the science and benefits of breathwork.
Said Caroline, “Through conscious breathing techniques, we can begin to move stuck energy in the body. The physical act of breathing deeply signals to our nervous systems that it is safe to let go, encouraging the release of tension in both body and mind. It creates a safe non-judgemental space for tears, memories and even anger to be expressed.”
I began with the introductory session where we practiced continual circular breathing and breath holds, over 5 rounds, eventually holding at the end of the exhale for 2 minutes. The following week I attended the Elixir session, which featured three rounds of circular breath with alternate breath holds on the retention and inhale. During each session, we lay down on a comfortable mat with a pillow, an eye mask and lots of blankets at hand for comfort and finished with a 10-minute relaxation to allow the work to integrate into our systems.
In summary, I really loved the experience. I was surprised at how easily I managed the breath holds. Particularly on the exhale, it felt weirdly serene, comfortable and even restful to hold there for a while. At the end of each session, on opening my eyes and coming back into the world, I felt like I had gone on some kind of inner journey. I felt profoundly cleansed, calm and relaxed and I literally floated out of the room.
I can see how this discipline can be deeply transformative, enabling the deep release of old hurts and traumas being held in the body and mind. I felt lighter, more energised and ready to face the day.
As well as offering in-person classes and one to one sessions, Caroline also runs large weekly online guided sessions for UK cancer charity, Penny Brohn.
Physical benefits of breathwork include:
- Reduced stress / anxiety
- Improved respiratory function
- Enhanced immune function
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved cardiovascular function
- Enhanced athletic performance and endurance
- Improved pain management
- Improved digestion
- Improved sleep
Caroline Boyle is a Breath Guide offering classes in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire as well as online. Caroline also runs large weekly online guided sessions for UK cancer charity, Penny Brohn.
For more info or to book a session, visit www.seedwellness.co.uk/carolineboyle.
