Somatic Breathwork

Are you feeling stuck?

If you’re reading this, odds are, you’re currently in therapy or have been in the past. And your therapist is or was amazing, but maybe you feel like there are things that you’re not able to reach and resolve through verbal expression and cognitive reform alone. Somatic Breathwork™ may be the missing puzzle piece you are searching for. You likely could benefit from getting out of your thinking brain, and into your feeling body.

We all feel anxious, depressed or stuck from time to time

Are you anxious, depressed, feel stuck, have repeating thoughts and tapes that play over and over in your head? Have you tried “all the things”? Have you been to therapy, read books, listened to podcasts, prayed, meditated, journaled, exercised, repeating positive affirmations etc. only to still feel stuck? It’s likely because you’ve only been in your psyche, and it’s time to get into your soma (your body). You can spend years doing “all the things,”but for many people, until you get out of your head and into your body, the highest version of yourself will not be discovered.

You may notice that you keep doing the same things that end up hurting you, or not getting you anywhere better. Often, we have an unconscious compulsion to repeat behaviors that are basically allowing some past trauma we have experienced to play out again and again (for example act a certain way that results in rejection). This is because the soma (body) & psyche (mind/brain) are seeking resolution. They are trying to give you another opportunity to choose a new adaptive pattern; except that we often have difficulty doing that.

Somatic Breathwork can help you get unstuck

You take 20,000 – 25,000 breaths a day without even thinking about it. It happens automatically, thanks to your body’s autonomic nervous system. Your nervous system is the electrical network of your being. Over time, unresolved trauma or chronic stress causes dysregulation of this network. When dysregulated, difficulties in your personal or professional life arise. Conscious connected breathing allows you to access that electrical network, to heal trauma and stress, in turn, heal your nervous system. Breathing is the symbol of life. You may as well use the breath to your advantage and breathe some life back into your life.

Our instinct reacts first, and often our feelings second, and thoughts third. So why are you only using your brain to try and resolve your traumas and chronic stress?  If your soma (body) is wounded, your psyche is going to be compelled to create stories about the world that justify the wound, and the defense systems it has chosen to protect itself. To liberate the psyche, to be free from survival stories, to have the capability to create beautiful new stories, we first must heal the soma.

Talk therapy alone can be stressful as a survivor, as it can trigger and hijack your limbic system – the part of our brain that’s involved in emotional and behavioral responses.  Somatic Breathwork™ engages the limbic system along with the autonomic nervous system to aid in self-regulation, creating emotional freedom and intelligence.

Somatic Breathwork™ gives you the opportunity to repattern and heal the original trauma, and stress that years of carrying it around has caused. You get to prove to your nervous system that you are safe. When you heal the nervous system, you can heal the emotional self, and your authentic self can emerge.

So what is Somatic Breathwork™?

Somatic Breathwork™ is an embodiment experience. It takes you out of your thinking mind and into your body’s electrical network. It allows you to release unneeded energy within this network caused by repeating thoughts, feelings, and old narratives, by discharging it out through your body.

It does this by utilizing the full power of your breath, employing circular connected breathing coupled with rhythmic music to produce a cathartic emotional release. This release may be in the form of moving, shaking, yelling, crying, or laughing. Using the breath, Heather Engler will guide you to engage your innate ability to heal and sweep out any defenses, blockages, restrictions, or pains that hold you back from who you are and how you want to show up in this world. All this will be done while you are laying down, in a very safe and comfortable space. Additionally, you do not need to talk during your journey nor share all of your life story to benefit from the experience.

Something magical happens when you have a safe, judgment free place designed to explore the edges of your expression. Give yourself permission to let go of the stories of your past. Allow yourself to expand your capacity to give and receive love. Somatic Breathwork™ is an invitation to come home to yourself; to your highest and true self. Learn more about our Somatic Breathwork experience options, or book a free consultation today.

You may still have questions about Somatic Breathwork…

I’m self-conscious about doing something so different, in front of someone I don’t know.

Having someone bear witness to your healing journey can be incredibly helpful. We pride ourselves in creating a safe and comfortable environment for you both physically and emotionally at Vivify Counseling and Wellness. It is our honor to hold a safe space for you to feel, in order for you to heal. We will only go at a pace you feel comfortable with.

Below are some of Heather’s favorite quotes from experts in the field of trauma treatment that will hopefully encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, and try something new on your journey to wellness. After all, if you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’re getting.

“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.” – Bessel van der Kolk, Author of The Body Keeps The Score.

“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” Dr. Peter Levine, Author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma.

Can it be painful or uncomfortable?

It is called breath WORK for a reason. The first half of the session does require you to engage physically. You will be taking deep inhales in and out of the mouth, which is a more active form of breathing. This is done with intention. Sometimes, as your body is releasing the stress or trauma it has been carrying, it can be uncomfortable. This will pass as you continue through the process. If you can allow yourself to trust the process, and let yourself fully engage, it will be worth the work. However, you are in control the entire time; if something doesn’t feel right for you, you have full permission to take your foot off the gas anytime.

Is this something I do instead of therapy?

Somatic Breathwork™ and therapy are a beautiful partnership. It is the ultimate connection of mind and body. The breathwork taps you into your body, where messages and insights often arise. You can then process those with your therapist. This is why Vivify Counseling and Wellness and Heather Engler, Somatic Breathwork Practitioner decided to collaborate. The approach of treating the client as a whole, holistically, and offering multiple modalities for healing is what we believe can move people along more effectively in their healing journey.

Am I required to see a therapist at Vivify Counseling and Wellness if I come for Somatic Breathwork?

No, you are welcome to come just for the Somatic Breathwork services. You do not have to be seeing an individual therapist anywhere. Likewise, if you are seeing a therapist elsewhere, that’s totally fine! We will not pressure you to change to one of our therapists.

How often do I need to go?

That all depends on what you have going on in your life.  Somatic Breathwork™ can safely be done weekly. If you are actively trying to work through something, biweekly or monthly would be helpful in your processing.  If you’re in more of a maintenance phase of life where you seek therapy to stay toned and healthy, every few months would be perfect. Life is always going to life. New things are always going to come up. Choosing to do a breathwork session, paired with an appointment with your therapist, is a recipe for success. You can also consider Heather’s Morning Meditations, which are about 15 minutes of breathwork and mindfulness to get you into your body, to set you up for a successful week. This short practice can easily be done at home when you need some somatic experiencing (checking in with your body).

What if I have difficulty breathing, or tend to hyperventilate or have panic attacks?

Breathing is the most innate and natural thing that we do. It’s not supposed to be difficult or cause stress. That’s where breathwork exercises are so helpful. You get to be in charge, with the assistance of a Somatic Breathwork practitioner, to show your body that you can use the breath to create safety and homeostasis. Breathing exercises are extremely beneficial for asthmatics, as well as those with anxiety. Heather uses helpful techniques that can help someone through or minimize anxiety and panic attacks.

Are there contraindications for doing breathwork?

Yes, there are contraindications to doing almost anything. Breathwork can result in intense physical and emotional release. Therefore, it is not advised for persons who are currently pregnant or who have a significant history of: cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, seizures, glaucoma, retinal detachment, osteoporosis, significant recent physical injuries or surgery, or severe mental illness. If you have any questions as to whether you should engage in a breathwork session, please reach out for a free consult.