Immediate stress relief, reduction in anxiety, and deep relaxation

Increases energy, mental clarity, and cognitive performance

Emotional & nervous system regulation

Releases trauma and stuck emotional energy

Connecting to your inner wisdom and intuition 

Access to expanded states of consciousness

Like doing anything new, you may experience some discomfort as you get used to the technique.  Real change happens outside your comfort zone. Working through resistance is part of the process for change that lasts. During a session, you may get some of these symptoms which I assure you are totally normal and harmless. 

Dizziness, light headed

Tingling sensation in your hands, feet, and face. 

Muscle tightness in the hands and jaw. This is called Tetany and is a common (but harmless) physical response when our muscles involuntarily contract. You'll be guided through it, and it will subside as you build resilience.

Emotional release. This breathing pattern stimulates the limbic system in our brain which stores memories and emotions. This may include laughing, crying, intense feelings of love and joy, or screaming or yelling. It's all normal and welcome in this space. You may experience nothing at all. The key is to trust whatever experience you're meant to have, will happen. 

Vivid memories and/or visions

Altered states, a deeper sense of connection to self, and self love.

Like most types of therapy, this style of breathwork isn't appropriate for everyone. It can result in an intense physical & emotional release, therefore, it's not advised for persons with a history of the following :

Cardiovascular issues

High blood pressure

Recent surgery or injury

Anyone on heavy medication

Glaucoma

Pregnancy

Osteoporosis

Severe mental illness or psychosis

Frequent dizziness or vertigo

Aneurysms, epilepsy, seizures, or angina

Here's what happens to your body during controlled breathing:

Your cells receive a higher amount of oxygen, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress.

Your ego dissolves by reducing activity in the prefrontal cortex, where our inner critic and sense of self live. This results in feeling less attached to our thoughts and quieting the noise of the mind.

Simply put, controlled breathing practices like the conscious connected technique can regulate the nervous system, quiet your inner critic, calm the monkey mind, get you out of fight or flight (yes, please!), balance your mood, and promote a deep sense of inner peace. 

You are able to override your "thinking" mind (ego) and tap into a deeper sense of knowing (intuition) due to "transient hypofrontality".  

Your nervous system responds by activating your parasympathetic (rest & digest) response, bringing a sense of calm and your brain produces more alpha waves, which are associated with feelings of relaxation.

There's never been a negative incident reported from this technique when done with proper facilitation. The technique is done lying down on your back, never in water or driving. Why? Because it's powerful and can create an altered state. 
*All breathing techniques are applied through a trauma informed lens and with consideration of both the clients history and current state. A trained facilitator (myself) will hold a safe container, support and encourage you to pause and adjust as needed. This process is part of titration as we slowly expand the nervous systems capacity to hold and process emotions.

The short answer is YES. If you don't have any major health problems and you're willing to bring an open mind and effort, somatic work is for you. 

Now. Don't overthink it or rationalize your way out. It doesn't matter where you're at in your life, now is the best time to start. All you need is the ability to move, breathe, a dose of curiosity, and to trust the process.

1:1 coaching creates a relational container for you to build emotional & nervous system regulation, develop an embodied understanding of your patterns, & move towards agency & choice with self compassion. In sessions, we integrate multiple somatic modalities including movement, breath practices, yoga, mobility, meditation, verbal processing, sound & more. 

The science is in.  The body keeps the score, even when the mind doesn't recall. Trauma isn't the event that happened per se, but the emotional wound left inside of you. Unprocessed trauma leads to disconnection from self & dis-ease in the body. Over time, it manifests in our physiology as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, addiction, disease & more. To heal, we have to get to the root, by reconnecting our minds & bodies as the one system they are. We have to "feel it to heal it". When we heal emotional wounds, our physiology follows suit. Because most of us were not taught nor felt safe to feel our emotions, this work is about creating a place to do just that. If you're experiencing any of the above issues, autoimmune, chronic overwhelm & stress, or stuck in your life, there's a good chance your subconscious stories, beliefs & unresolved trauma are still driving the bus. All you need to bring is an open mind & sense of curiosity. What have you got to lose?

How do I know if it will help me?

What Does Trauma Informed mean?

Internationally accredited organizations (like the ICF) for trauma informed certifications are important credentials for facilitators working with trauma. In addition to  coach/client confidentiality, three main concepts of applying & honoring coaching through a trauma informed lens are:
1. Nervous System Safety
2. Invitational & Compassionate Approach
3. Titration & Window Of Tolerance

(clickable links)