Breathwork

Conscious breathing and breathwork can help process and release the experiences of trauma. Just as breathwork has many positive effects on alleviating anxiety and managing stress, breathwork for trauma can help heal, release, restore aspects of ourselves that are impacted by traumatic events.

Trauma is a human experience – at some point everyone experiences it. One study shows that about 70% of people worldwide have experienced at least one type of traumatic event in their lifetime. Often categorized as either a “Big T” trauma like sexual abuse, natural disaster, and war or a “Little T” trauma like a breakup, or prolonged stress, or financial trouble—all traumas have an impact on our bodies and subconscious minds. Over time, these impacts can compound and become further internalized, manifesting as physical or emotional symptoms.

What is Trauma Breathwork?

Trauma breathwork is conscious and intentional breathing that releases trauma stored in the body. Intentional trauma breathwork helps with trauma processing and healing by bypassing the conscious mind, deactivating the sympathetic nervous system, and having a restorative effect on its practitioners.

Breathwork for trauma is a therapeutic technique that brings practitioners into non-ordinary states of consciousness. It works by creating a safe space for deep relaxation, where one can feel uninhabited and free to express any emotions or physical movements that come up during a session. Ultimately, breathing techniques for trauma are designed to facilitate self-healing through connection to breath—permitting whatever comes up to be expressed, processed, and released.

The connection between breathwork and trauma release……

Breathwork and trauma release are deeply connected. By creating a space for expression and processing, breathwork for trauma invokes a deep relaxation and a trance-like state, allowing for suppressed thoughts and stores emotions from trauma to more easily move towards the surface and be released.

Trauma breathwork promotes emotional catharsis and integration, processing stores memories within the subconscious. Breathwork for trauma also encounters the physical effects of trauma, deactivating the fight-or-flight response which is switched on when undergoing a traumatic event. Evidence is not anecdotal either, as studies have shown that breathing based meditation helps decrease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”).

Important to Note: Trauma breathwork can often be an intense and deep process both emotionally and physically. Because of its powerful affect and vigorous nature, practicing trauma breathwork may not be for everyone. Here are 5 contraindications to consider before practicing breathwork techniques for trauma.

• High Blood Pressure
• History of panic attacks or psychosis
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Epilepsy
• Pregnant Women

This list is not exhaustive and it is recommended that you research or consult a physician before practicing any breathwork for trauma release technique.

Please read complete contraindication list in the information tab above.