What Exactly Is a Breathwork Journey?
A breathwork journey is a guided experience that uses rhythmic, conscious breathing patterns to access non-ordinary states of consciousness. These sessions typically last between 30 to 90 minutes and are done lying down, often accompanied by music, sound healing, energy work, and verbal guidance.
Unlike meditation, which focuses on quieting the mind, or Pranayama, which emphasizes breath control and retention, a breathwork journey invites you to surrender. It’s a powerful somatic healing modality that activates your body’s inner intelligence, your inner healer or “inner shaman”- helping to release stored emotions, energy blocks, and even ancestral trauma.
My First Experience With Breathwork
Seven years ago, I traveled to Bali to become a certified Breathwork Facilitator. I showed up thinking, “This is going to be easy, I’ve got years of yoga, meditation, pranayama, and a spiritual Cuban upbringing under my belt. I’ve got this.” My ego had other plans and big lessons to teach me.
In those first sessions, I either fell asleep or dropped into a quiet but uneventful meditative state. Meanwhile, my classmates were having emotional breakthroughs and powerful visions. Frustrated, I eventually committed to releasing my expectations and fully surrendering to the breath.
And then... BOOM.
I was taken into an experience so powerful and unique, it cracked me open in a way I’d never felt before. (Maybe I’ll tell you about it in person one day 😉). What I can say is that I knew in that moment: this work is real. And it’s meant to be shared.
I share this because one of the most important lessons breathwork teaches us is to let go of expectation and trust the breath.
What Happens During a Breathwork Session?
Every breathwork journey is different, so I won’t pretend I can tell you exactly what will happen; that is completely up to you and what your breath is ready to reveal. Some feel like deep meditations, others like emotional releases or spiritual awakenings.
Here's a taste of what you might experience:
Physical sensations: tingling, warmth, numbness, or waves of energy
Emotional release: crying, laughter, unexpected grief or joy
Mental clarity: insights, inner stillness, or breakthroughs
Spiritual connection: unity, transcendence, or inner guidance
Not every session is intense. Sometimes, the most profound healing comes from the gentlest experiences.
How Does Breathwork Actually Work?
Breathwork activates the autonomic nervous system, shifting you out of “thinking mode” and into deeper layers of the subconscious. It bypasses the analytical mind and directly engages the emotional and energetic body.
On a physiological level, conscious breathing increases oxygen intake and lowers carbon dioxide, creating a shift in brainwave activity and body chemistry, similar to meditation or plant medicine, but without substances.
“One breathwork session is equivalent to about two years of psychotherapy.”
— Henry Rohrberg, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
What Are the Benefits of Breathwork?
Breathwork isn’t just a trend; it’s a cellular healing tool. Below are some of its most powerful physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits:
Physical Benefits
Detoxifies the body (70% of toxins are eliminated through breath!)
Oxygenates and alkalizes the blood
Regulates the nervous system
Improves sleep, digestion, and immune response
Increases clarity, energy, and focus
Emotional & Mental Benefits
Releases stored trauma and suppressed emotions
Reduces anxiety and stress
Breaks unproductive thought patterns
Supports emotional clarity and inner peace
Spiritual Benefits
Facilitates connection to your higher self or spiritual guidance
Accesses repressed memories and ancestral imprints
Awakens intuition, creativity, and deep emotional wisdom
Breathwork vs. Meditation vs. Pranayama
While meditation focuses on stillness and Pranayama uses structured breath control, breathwork journeys are about surrender and energetic movement.
In our Sacred Breath Method, we inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth, traveling the breath from root to crown. This stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), promoting deep release and integration.
Many traditional breathwork styles use only mouth breathing, which activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). Our method creates a safer, more balanced experience for deeper healing.
Beyond the Mind: Healing Trauma Stored in the Body
While talk therapy is powerful, it often targets the mind. But trauma lives in the body, sometimes passed down across up to 14 generations.
Breathwork reaches the cellular level. It helps release grief, anger, fear, and inherited emotional patterns that become “stuck” when unprocessed.
This practice is the opposite of spiritual bypassing. It’s not about “good vibes only”- it’s about feeling what’s real, moving through it, and releasing it so it no longer calcifies in the body.
Who Is Breathwork For?
Breathwork is for everyone- executives, artists, caregivers, skeptics, seekers. Whether you're:
Feeling emotionally stuck
Looking for clarity
Processing grief or change
Exploring consciousness
Or simply needing a reset
...this work can meet you where you are.
Important Note: Breathwork is generally safe but should be approached with care if you are pregnant, have cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, or are navigating mental health challenges. A trained, trauma-informed facilitator will help adapt the practice to your needs.
A Journey Back to the Self
Breathwork isn’t about fixing, it’s about remembering.
It helps you return to yourself, your body, your intuition.
Whether you're a creative seeking inspiration, a leader needing clarity, or simply a human ready to exhale, breathwork can be a profound ally in your journey.
We would love to continue the conversation and set up a discovery call with you today!
