Breathing and Breathwork 

I came across Breathwork in 2018, I’d never tried it before and had no expectations. My first experience was a group session.

The teacher, Nicola Price founder of www.inspirationalbreathing.com. bounded over to greet me. She was full of a wonderful energy and

I loved her instantly. I couldn’t help but feel excited before we started.

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The session began with some ecstatic dance. Feeling rather self-conscious I joined in with the 14 members of the group slowly letting go and moving with the rhythm. It felt wonderful! Nicola then guided us through a breathing practise known as ‘conscious connected breathing’. It’s

a continuous flow of breath where the out-breath connects to the in-breath with no pauses. It’s much like a baby’s continuous breathing, which is often what Nicola refers to when explaining this practise.

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The group soon got into the rhythm of their breathing. Most were in the foetal position bringing their breath all the way down into the belly and into the chest  and creating what’s described as a ‘barrel breath’. In other words using your whole torso to breath in and out in a barrel like shape: in for two and out for one consciously connecting the breath without any pauses. The continuous flow of breath begins to take you into a state of ease allowing the body to start releasing unwanted and buried feelings giving way to a feeling of joy,

new energy and behaviour patterns.

 

It just wasn’t working for me, as I lay there surrounded by others getting into their flow. All I could feel was rising frustration and anger with myself. Little did I know, this was the breathing at work. Feelings were rising and needing release, but I didn’t see that at first.

I had a desperate and distracting urge to pee. I tried to resist it for as long as possible, but in the end I raised my hand and began to sit up. Nicola rushed over to me warning me not to stand too quickly. I was a little startled, then soon understood why.

My whole body felt tingly and light. I’d never felt like this before.

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A moment later, out of nowhere, as Nicola supported me walking to the bathroom the deepest and most raw release of sadness came out.

I let out the most enormous sob from so deep down and I couldn’t stop it! Nicola, being all too familiar with the response, held me tightly and reassured me over and over that I was safe to let go and that all was well. The sobs just kept on coming and did so for the next half hour. I had no control. This was my trauma and grief from recent events going out, emotions that had made me ill!

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I can only describe how I felt after as pure joy and exhilaration. I felt so much support and love throughout the session, I honestly felt like a different person by the end and that was the beginning of my breathwork journey and my body beginning to finally heal itself.

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I now practise breathwork on a regular basis as part of a group online as well as workshops and other group sessions in person and sometimes one to one sessions. It has made such a positive difference to my life and given me the confidence that I can have so much more control over emotional wellbeing. If you would like to know more, you can visit Nicola’s website as above or I’ll be happy to chat

more about it. So please, do get in touch with me.

 

One of the best books I've read about breath is simply called 'Breath'. It's a complete revelation!

Check it out at https://www.mrjamesnestor.com

Listen to James Nestor talking to another breath expert Patrick McKeown at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl4J2LMXcx8

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