Understanding the Work

A Breath of Wellness is a trauma-informed practice specializing in integrative breathwork, Rebirthing, Breath Therapy, integrative coaching and embodied practices.

At the center of the work is a simple idea: your breath can tell you a great deal about how you are experiencing your life.

Some practices focus on breathing mechanics and everyday regulation. Others use Conscious Connected Breathwork as a deeper experiential practice, creating space to explore sensation, emotion, awareness and the relationship between your body and lived experience.

The work can be physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Rather than prescribing one way to breathe or one path toward healing, sessions invite curiosity about what is happening within you and what may support you moving forward.

Breathwork is an umbrella term for practices that intentionally bring awareness to or change the way we breathe.

At A Breath of Wellness, that can range from gentle observation and functional breathing rhythms to the three-part Conscious Connected Breath used in Integrative Breathwork and Rebirthing.

Unlike practices that primarily observe thoughts in stillness, active breathwork gives the mind and body something intentional to participate in. For some people, this can create a deeply reflective or altered experience and bring greater awareness to sensations, emotions, thoughts and patterns.

The breath is not something we are trying to perfect. It becomes a way of noticing, experiencing and relating to ourselves differently.

Integrative Breathwork and Rebirthing use a continuous, connected breathing pattern with little or no pause between the inhale and exhale.

Sessions create space to explore what arises through the breath—physical sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts, imagery or simply a different experience of being in your body.

Rather than assuming what a particular experience means, we approach what arises with curiosity. Integration afterward helps you explore what felt meaningful and how that awareness may relate to your life beyond the session.

Breath Therapy focuses more specifically on how you breathe.

Together, we observe breathing mechanics, patterns, pace, rhythm and areas of restriction or compensation. You then learn individualized breathing practices that can support greater breathing efficiency, ease, regulation, recovery, energy or performance.

Breath Therapy is especially useful for people who want to understand their breathing patterns and develop practical tools they can use throughout everyday life.

And this gives us a really important distinction:

Breath Therapy helps you understand and work with how you breathe. Integrative Breathwork helps you explore what you experience through the breath.

Integration Coaching is the process of exploring what you noticed, experienced or learned and considering how it relates to your everyday life.

Insight during a session is one thing. Living differently because of what you've noticed is another.

Through conversation, reflection and practical experimentation, integration helps translate awareness into choices, practices and ways of responding that can continue beyond the session.

Instead of “What are the benefits?”, I'd deliberately use What might I experience?

People describe a wide range of experiences during and following breathwork. These may include:

• a greater sense of relaxation or openness

• awareness of tension or constriction in the body

• emotions such as joy, sadness, gratitude, anger or grief

• greater awareness of habitual thoughts or patterns

• feelings of connection or clarity

• imagery, memories or personal insights

• shifts in energy or sensation

• periods of stillness or deep reflection

• a sense of spiritual connection or expanded awareness

And sometimes the experience is much quieter.

There is no particular feeling, breakthrough or outcome you are supposed to have. Each session—and each person—is different.

Every session begins by arriving.

We may start with seated stillness, orientation or simple breath awareness, giving you time to transition from whatever came before into the space you're in now.

We'll check in, talk about what's happening in your life and body, and establish an intention or direction for the session.

Depending on the type of work, you may sit, stand, move or lie down. Sessions can incorporate guided breathing rhythms, Conscious Connected Breathwork, movement, music, sound, meditation or other integrative practices.

Active breathing may last approximately 30–40 minutes during some sessions, followed by rest and integration.

We close by talking about what you noticed and identifying anything you may want to continue exploring or practicing afterward.

No two breathwork sessions need to look or feel exactly the same.

Come curious rather than expecting a particular outcome.

Breathwork can be subtle or powerful. You may experience physical sensations, emotion, resistance, stillness, insight, imagery—or very little at all.

You remain in choice throughout the practice. You can change your breathing, move, rest, pause or stop.

The purpose isn't to manufacture an experience. It's to develop a deeper relationship with your breath, body and awareness and discover what becomes possible when you pay attention.

Yes.

Erin K. Bishop, M.A. is a trained Breath Therapist and Rebirthing Practitioner whose breathwork education includes training recognized within professional breathwork organizations, including the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance and International Breathwork Foundation.

The information provided by A Breath of Wellness is educational and experiential in nature and does not constitute medical or mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Breathwork and related services are not substitutes for appropriate medical or mental health care.

Training Standards for GPBA Certification

GPBA Ethical Standards for Breathworkers and Process for Addressing a Breach of Ethics

If you're curious about the work or aren't sure where to start, begin with a 30-minute Curiosity Session. You'll have space to ask questions, experience a little of the work and explore what kind of support may be appropriate.

If you're ready to begin working directly with your breath, a New Client Breath Assessment + Session or the Breath Therapy Intensive provides a more comprehensive starting point.