When I started teaching breathwork over 15 years ago, few people understood the benefits, and most were amazed that I was teaching people to breathe. So I can’t tell you how delighted I am today that the tentacles of breathwork are reaching deeper into society and the mainstream for people to experience.

I’m noticing a big rise in conscious connected breathwork being offered and promoted and there is quite a buzz surrounding it. For those who are not familiar with conscious connected breathwork, it is a self-healing technique that helps people to access the full potential of their breathing system for better physical, emotional and mental well-being. As human beings we hold onto tension within our bodies and in doing so create physical, mental and emotional blockages. This technique helps to release the blockages and transform your life and energy. It’s an incredibly healing modality when delivered by experienced and trained practitioners, and it’s a great thing for the world that more people can access it as a practice. But I have concerns when I see tendencies to fast-track training or even worse, not train at all, and yet still include conscious connected breathwork into classes without certification or insurance.

Conscious connected breathwork is deep work, and it’s imperative that practitioners know how to hold the space safely. Without doing so, there is a risk of re-traumatising clients. I don’t buy it when I observe people saying they simply trust spirit and the process. These are people’s lives; doors can not always be closed again once they are opened. Yes, this type of breathwork can take you to many places, reaching higher and altered states of consciousness, but it can also bring up deep trauma and emotional release that the practitioner must know how to manage.

People come to sessions with many issues; trauma left by physical, emotional, mental and sexual abuse, victims of sexual and physical violence, addiction, buried memories, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, major anxiety and grief. And when these come to the surface, they need to be held professionally and safely. 

In the way that people see doctors, therapists or psychiatrists safe in the knowledge they are trained professionals, the same must be the case for breathworkers. Breathworkers must be educated to check for contra-indications to ensure it is safe for the client to engage in conscious connected breathwork. Some conditions, e.g. high blood pressure, personality disorder, schizophrenia or other health issues, may make it dangerous to practice this work. 

Conscious connected breathwork is not about breathing well. It is a type of therapy that works with the subconscious body without the need for talking. To facilitate this requires in-depth training and a need for the breathworker to commit to doing their own ongoing work, learning and professional development. 

I highly recommend breathwork to everyone of all ages, and it is so inspiring to have children and families coming into my sessions. I love that I get to help spearhead getting the benefits of the breath out more widely into the world. There is something for everyone in breathwork; not everyone who accesses it will have trauma or major issues. But many people will; it’s a sad fact we live in a highly traumatised world. So my plea is this – if you are a breathworker looking to incorporate conscious connected breathwork into your offering, please DO complete the training and do NOT be tempted to fast track. This is a practice that takes years, not weeks, to master.  And if you are a client, when looking for a facilitator it’s advisable to check if their training is registered with ibfbreathwork.org (International Breathwork Foundation).  Some schools of CCB are psychotherapeutic. There are various schools of CCB including, but not limited to Rebirthing, Holotropic Breathwork, Integrative Breathwork, Shamanic Breathwork and Transformational Breath®. The emphasis placed on different components of the session, as well as different theoretical and spiritual frameworks, determines the distinctions among the various schools.

Personally, I always recommend you practice conscious connected breathing  with a trained practitioner 3-5 times before practising alone. I’m always happy to answer questions, so please contact me anytime if you have some concerns or want to learn more.