What is Somatic Breathwork & How Can it Help Me Heal?

Somatic breathwork involves an intricate approach to conscious breathing that can support elevated energy, stress and anxiety reduction, pain alleviation, enhanced concentration, and improved relaxation and sleep quality.

‘Soma’, meaning ‘body’ in greek, is referring to the activation of the nervous system to stimulate an energetic and emotional release from the body in breathwork, a form of ‘bottom-up’ therapy. Somatic discharge can manifest as movement such as tremoring, undulating, and shaking, with a wide range of emotion depending on what the body is ready to release.

By using the breath in a concentrated, medicinal dose we create a container for unresolved emotional wounding and trauma to be expressed and processed.

"Like most good things in life, I like to think this work found me, and not the other way around."

With the support of a certified professional, breathwork and somatic release promotes healing and bolsters resilience to life's obstacles by creating a more resilient and regulated nervous system over time.

By regulating our nervous system’s response to external stimuli, we naturally reshape our perceptions and experiences. When we feel safe and connected our nervous system responds with a sense of calm and ease, triggering a cascade of positive physiological and emotional responses.

By learning to tune into our body and understand its signals, we can begin to cultivate greater awareness and regulation, empowering ourselves to respond to life’s challenges with resilience and grace.

How did I become interested in somatic breathwork?

Like most good things in life, I like to think this work found me, and not the other way around. A beautiful example of divine intervention.

I was born and raised in a highly conservative religious organization, and made the incredibly difficult decision to step away from the church when I was 19.

Because of the extreme nature of this religion, my decision to leave required me to start my life over from scratch, losing everyone and everything I knew. This transition was the catalyst to my healing journey.

As I began to rebuild my life and my perception of it, I knew that the only way I was going to make it was if I sought out help. I immersed myself in modalities like talk therapy, holistic healing and yoga, which all became a fundamental part of my life. In 2017 I became a certified yoga teacher.

Before breathwork, yoga was an important tool in my healing journey.

A few years into my teaching career I was offered a job at a regenerative bio boutique located in downtown Dayton, OH. This was a space that combined cutting edge technology with ancient healing modalities to remove trauma from the body. It was here that I gained a plethora of knowledge and firsthand experience with somatic release, and was referred to my now teacher Tim Morrison, a highly sought after, world class breathwork facilitator.

Now 29, I have had the pleasure of becoming certified in breathwork and somatic release, helping countless people heal the relationship that they have with themselves, their body, and their past, making space for them to rewrite their future and grow into their best self.

It is the reason why I decided to create Inner Alchemy, and continue to share this work with as many people as I can.

Who is somatic breathwork beneficial for?

Breathwork serves as an incredibly potent support system for individuals on the journey of healing from trauma and nervous system dysregulation. It creates space to cultivate heightened awareness and energy levels, enhanced emotional and physical health, deeply-explored spirituality, resilience in social environments, and self-empowerment.

Nonetheless, it's crucial to highlight that this practice should be approached with the utmost respect and mindfulness, under the supervision of trained professionals. There are contraindications to breathwork, so it may not be appropriate for everyone, especially those with certain health issues.

Today breathwork is an important part of my daily life.

Before venturing into breathwork and somatic healing, consultation with a healthcare provider and a certified breathwork practitioner is recommended to understand its suitability for one's particular needs and situations.

If you’re interested in working with me, follow the scheduling link to book an in-person or virtual breathwork session. For questions, reach out with specifics using my contact form.

I look forward to helping you release and reconnect to the ancient wisdom of your body with somatic breathwork.