Breathwork is a transformative practice that harnesses the power of conscious breathing to heal the mind, body, and spirit. In recent years, it has gained significant attention for its profound ability to unlock suppressed emotions, release physical tension, and restore balance to the nervous system. Through the intentional use of breath, individuals can tap into deep reservoirs of healing, accessing a higher state of self-awareness and emotional freedom. At Mystic Mag, we explore the remarkable potential of breathwork as a tool for personal growth and healing, offering insights into its ability to facilitate lasting transformation in one’s life.
Somatic Breathwork Instructor, Adam Carbary: “Breathwork Can Help Release Stuck Energy”
Adam Carbary, a Somatic Breathwork Instructor and Practitioner, explains how breathwork aids in releasing stored tension or trauma in the body:
“Breathwork, specifically Somatic Breathwork, can help tap into our body’s nervous system, where tension, stress, and trauma have become stuck. Somatic Breathwork utilizes two rounds of consciously connected breathing to help release this stuck energy and move it out of the body, allowing the body’s energy to flow freely once again.
In the first breathing phase, we utilize an accelerated mouth/belly breath that triggers the sympathetic, or fight/flight/freeze, side of our nervous system. It is from this state that the tension, stress, and trauma were first stored in the body, so it is from this state that we have to express it. Through somatic expression, we move that energy by allowing our body’s innate wisdom to complete the initial process it was not able to complete. For many, this looks like laughing, crying, yelling, shaking, or achieving deep relaxation.
We then slow things down in the second phase and switch to a more gentle style of nasal/belly breathing, triggering the parasympathetic, or rest and digest, side of the nervous system. Through this breathing, we bring the body back into regulation and can begin to reprogram our nervous system with how we would like to be and feel. Clients experience deep feelings of love, joy, purpose, gratitude, and connection through this phase.
In this way, we can use the power of our breath to bring our nervous system back into a state of wholeness.”
Holistic Counsellor, Debbie Mcintosh: “Your Breath Is Your Secret Weapon”
What role does breathwork play in enhancing physical health and energy levels? Debbie McIntosh, a Holistic Counsellor, reveals how it can dissolve stress, restore balance, and reignite vitality.
“The alarm blares. Another morning of dragging yourself out of bed, fueled by caffeine and wishful thinking. But what if I told you there’s a revolutionary healing tool right under your nose?
As a HeartMath Coach, I’ve witnessed something extraordinary: Our breath is our secret weapon of transformation It’s not just about oxygen; it’s about communication. Every intentional breath is a love letter to your body, a powerful signal that says, “I’m here. I’m healing. I’m strong.”
Stress doesn’t stand a chance against conscious breathing. When you breathe with purpose, something magical happens. Your nervous system downshifts from high alert to harmony, your stress hormones, begin to dissolve and your heart rhythm finds its natural, peaceful cadence.
Think of your breath as an internal pharmacy. With each mindful inhale and exhale, you’re:
- Rebuilding your immune defenses
- Balancing hormonal chaos
- Releasing deep-seated tension
- Generating natural, sustainable energy
- Reconnecting with your body’s innate wisdom
This isn’t some mystical promise. It’s a biological reality. Your body craves this connection—a simple, powerful conversation between your conscious mind and cellular intelligence.
I’ve seen executives transform panic into presence, athletes unlock peak performance, and individuals struggling with burnout rediscover their vitality. All through the most natural process imaginable: breathing.
You need no expensive equipment or years of training. All you need is you, your breath, and the willingness to pause and listen to your body’s wisdom.
Are you ready to breathe yourself back to life? Your next breath could be the first step toward total transformation.”
GPBA-certified practitioner, Mario Domig: “Breathwork Is Fascinating”
Looking to use breathwork for personal transformation? Mario Domig, a Breathwork Practitioner and GPBA-certified practitioner, highlights the critical role of working with skilled and experienced facilitators to unlock its full potential safely and effectively.
“Since time immemorial, breathing techniques have been used to achieve altered states of consciousness, relax, deal with anxiety and panic attacks, and concentrate or focus (e.g., in martial arts). Many different breathwork techniques serve various purposes. Breathwork is fascinating and can be hugely transformative.
I recommend that those who want to use breathwork for personal transformation choose carefully which trainers they work with.
The background is that breathing techniques are usually straightforward but can have an incredibly effective and intensive effect on the person breathing. And this is where the quality of the breathwork facilitator comes into play. As this is therapeutic, shamanic work, the personal training and capabilities of the facilitators are of central importance. Facilitators who have only undergone brief training themselves have not had the time to attend to their own personal processes thoroughly and are therefore not in a position to provide qualified support to other people when they get into deep processes or when old, painful traumas break out. Moreover, they are likely unable to provide a safe space for their clients because ethical, careful and respectful behaviour is something you can not learn quickly. Years of self-awareness and high-quality training are needed to deal with clients safely. Serious training takes at least two years with several hundred hours – and that is just the minimum, the beginning.
As there is no official global regulation for breathwork facilitators, anyone can claim to be a super breathworker, even those who have undergone only three weeks of training.
An old friend said that even a hairdresser needs years of training before they are qualified to cut other people’s hair, let alone a carpenter or electrician. So, how can the training standards for a breathwork facilitator – who will work with human beings on such a deep level – be any different? Think about it…. To learn more about breathwork and to find a qualified breathwork facilitator, look at GPBA and IBF.
The Global Professional Breathwork Association GPBA (www.breathworkalliance.com
IBF, the International Breathwork Foundation (www.ibfbreathwork.org), is a volunteer-run non-profit organization. The IBF website provides a wide range of information about breathwork and ethical standards, and you can also find a list of breathwork facilitators with detailed profiles (look especially for those facilitators with many years of experience, for those who have the „GPBA Certified“ label, and for those who have at least 400 training hours).”
Breathwork Mentor, Sharyn Coleman: “Coherence Breath Calms the Mind”
Sharyn Coleman, a Breathwork Mentor, shares how Coherence Breath fosters a deep connection with the body and helps reduce stress and anxiety:
“There is one breathwork that is effective for almost anything (except perhaps energizing and motivating) and that is Coherence Breath sometimes called Heart Rate Variability Breath. It is the simplest of breaths to remember, you can do it anywhere without anyone noticing, and you can use your body to help you encouraging a deeper connection to your body.
In its simplest form, you breath in an out through the nose for an equal amount of time. If you are just starting out, try with a count of 3. Inhale, two three. Exhale, two, three.
When this cycle feels comfortable to you, you can increase the count to 4, then 5 and even 6.
Where does the body connection come into it? Take one hand and tap each finger against your thumb one at a time for each count. I’ll demonstrate with a four count.
Inhale – tap the pinky finger against the thumb, two – tap the ring finger against the thumb, three- tap the middle finger, four – tap the index finger. Exhale doing the same in reverse. Exhale – tap the index finger, two – tap the middle finger, three – tap the ring finger, four – tap the pinky finger.
You’ve now signalled to your nervous system that all is well by breathing rhythmically and you’ve instigated a connection with your body, taking you out of the mind for a little while.
If you do this for just 3 rounds you will feel the benefit, but if you really want to impact your stress and anxiety, do this as a breathwork practice regularly.”
Breathwork Practitioner, Alannah Dance: “Breathwork Unlocks Suppressed Emotions”
Alannah Dance, a Breathwork Practitioner, explains how breathwork helps release trapped emotions, leading to greater self-awareness and healing:
“Have you ever felt trapped in patterns you can’t explain? Like you’re going through the motions of life, but nothing seems to be going the way you’d like? Often, the cause lies in suppressed emotions—unprocessed feelings we bury when it doesn’t feel safe to express our truth. These can come from childhood experiences, societal pressures, family dynamics, personal trauma, or even inherited traumas and ancestral patterns that might have been passed down through generations. While suppressing emotions may help us cope in the moment, these buried feelings remain stored in the body, creating tension, energetic blockages, and subconscious patterns that limit our growth and keep us from living fully.
Breathwork provides an easy and powerful way to release these trapped emotions and wounds to access deeper layers of yourself. Through conscious, intentional breathing, you bypass the analytical mind, allowing suppressed emotions to easily surface and release. Breathwork releases stagnant energy, activates the body’s natural healing processes, and creates a safe space for emotional expression. Tears, laughter, or other sensations may arise, showing us that old energy is finally being let go.
Pairing breathwork with energy healing elevates internal transformation further. This combination addresses the root causes at a quantum level, creating profound shifts that radiate through every aspect of your life.
As the layers are released, you’ll experience deeper self-awareness, uncover and reprogram hidden beliefs and patterns, reconnect with your authentic self, and gain the clarity to align your life with your highest potential.
Are you ready to be free of old limitations and step into a life filled with empowerment and ease? Contact Alannah at https://www.pathwaytofreedom.co/ to begin your journey. Let’s breathe together and unlock the empowered, authentic version of you.”
Certified Breathwork Facilitator Clare Drury: “Breathwork Brings Presence and Grounding”
Clare Drury, a certified breathwork facilitator and teacher explains what breathwork techniques are recommended for grounding and staying present:
“Countless breathwork techniques help to ground and bring presence. My favored technique utilizes visualization in concert with the breath which brings focus to observe what is happening physically within the body.
Most of the time we breathe in and out without a second thought. Breathwork practices make you aware of your breath. Bringing focus into our bodies to observe our breath is grounding, whilst focusing on how we are breathing at any given time brings presence.
My favored practice is to find a moment of stillness to become aware of my body, to observe the breath, and then to breathe in deeply through the nose and with the exhale extending awareness downwards in my body. You can use the chakra system to help visualize sending energy downwards to the feet. With the next exhale extending awareness beyond the feet into the ground beneath. I like to visualize roots extending down from the feet into the ground. When I use that visualization I like to feel a flow up and down that synchronizes with the breath. With the exhale sending awareness down into the Earth and the inhale sending focus up through the body drawing the breath in like a thirsty tree draws up moisture and nutrients from the soil.
Focus on the breath with visualization brings presence. To maintain and stay present I would recommend checking in with the breath in the body periodically during the day – and simply taking some slow mindful breaths that ensure connection to the ground.”
Breathwork Practitioner, Hunter Flournoy: “How we breathe is how we feel”
Hunter Flournoy, a Breathwork Practitioner answers how breathwork strengthens the connection between emotional well-being and physical vitality:
“How we breathe is how we feel, and how we feel is how we live! The breath connects and regulates every aspect of our being, including our nervous system, cardiopulmonary system, metabolism, and immune system – and in turn, it directly reflects all of those systems.
As a trauma and recovery coach, I have spent the last thirty years watching people breathe, and I have witnessed firsthand the powerful relationship between breathing, emotions, and physical vitality. It’s not possible to shut down any of our emotions without shutting down our very experience of being alive. Every time we encounter an uncomfortable emotion, we go into a neurophysiological threat response, triggering agitation, aggression, freezing, or collapse, all of which are immediately reflected in the breath; we begin breathing rapidly or forcefully, or we begin to breathe in a shallow, constricted, or lethargic manner.
These patterns become chronic, and we wonder why our sense of aliveness and vitality are so diminished. Over time, these patterns give rise to stress-related illnesses, chronic pain, and autoimmune responses. Fortunately, we aren’t doomed to live out these patterns! Conscious Breathing can help us to become aware of our dysfunctional breathing patterns, understand the underlying emotional motivations for those patterns, unwind those coping responses in our nervous systems, develop new and more effective strategies, and reclaim our capacity to meet our lives with an open, healthy breath, an open heart, and a profound sense of curiosity, joy, and vitality.”
Breathwork Teacher & Practitioner, Pete Warnock: “Build Breath Awareness”
Pete Warnock, a Breathwork Teacher & Practitioner, explains how to integrate Breathwork into everyday life for long-term benefits:
“Breath is the ultimate state changer. Breathwork isn’t just for sessions or workshops – it’s a powerful set of tools we can weave into daily life for more energy, resilience, and calm. And it all starts with one simple thing: awareness.
Most of us breathe unconsciously, shallowly, and in ways that keep us in low-level stress. The first step in transforming our breath is noticing it.
Step 1: Build Breath Awareness
Try this (not while driving, operating machinery, or if you have a serious illness):
Hold your breath. Notice how quickly discomfort and panic arise. Then, when you breathe again, feel the relief as your breath returns. This shows how vital breath is and how quickly stress builds when we restrict it. Poor breathing creates long-term low-level stress.
Now, let’s consciously breathe better. Instead of just breathing into the chest, expand the breath:
- Down into the low belly, low back, and sides of the ribs
- Then up into the back, sides and chest
Breathe in slowly through the nose and out even slower through the mouth. The longer the exhale, the more your nervous system relaxes.
Step 2: Daily Breathing Habits for Long-Term Change
- Morning reset – 5 minutes of slow, deep belly and back breathing.
- Stress dissolver – Take 3 fast, full breaths, then 5 long slow breaths (repeat 3x).
- Breath movement – When walking or running, breathe through your nose. Every 5 minutes, hold your breath for a few steps, then return to nose breathing.
- Bed time – 5 minutes of deep breathing with long exhalations 30 mins before bed and again when in bed improves sleep.
The more we regulate our breath, the more we expand our ability to handle stress, and elevated emotion.”
Creator of Breath of Bliss, Christabel Zamor: “We Connect With the Love That We Are”
Christabel Zamor, the creator of Breath of Bliss, shares her insights on the importance of rhythmic breathing in harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit.
“Rhythmic breathing is the golden bridge between our everyday surface mind and the limitless depths of God consciousness. In the Breath of Bliss journey, we honor the breath as a sacred doorway to self-realization—a gentle yet powerful invitation to slow down, tune in, and feel the radiant currents of life surging within.
By consciously guiding each inhale and exhale, we transcend the mental chatter that so often clouds our perception, awakening our awareness to the vast miracle of being alive. We discover through direct experience that we are indeed a soul having a human experience. Breath of Bliss offers a flash of insight that we are what we seek—whole and holy, pure, good, and enough.
Through rhythmic breathing, we connect with the Love that we are, allowing stagnant emotions to dissolve and fresh energy to flow. We explore psychedelic voyages into multidimensional realms that defy logical explanation. We realize that we are not confined to the physical form or limited by the surface mind; rather, we are luminous beings dancing in unity with the Divine pulse of all creation. We come together and breathe to remember that in the silent, spacious center of our being, there is only one of us.”
Certified Breathologist Ayo Handy-Kendi: “Breath is Life”
Ayo Handy-Kendi, Certified Breathologist and Founder of Optimum Life Breathology (OLB), explains how to overcome a key obstacle when starting a Breathology/Breathwork practice.
“I began exploring breath techniques at 19, and now, at 73, I continue learning from the way I breathe. Breathwork has helped me age with clarity, energy, and purpose, and I’ve shared its benefits with millions. However, the biggest obstacle for many people is that breathwork seems too simple to be powerful. Many dismiss its impact, only noticing their breath when struggling with health or stress.
Breath is life. It’s the first thing we do when we enter this world and the last when we leave. Yet, most of us breathe unconsciously—about 20,000 times a day—without realizing its impact on our health, emotions, and mental clarity. Studies show that 9 out of 10 people breathe inefficiently, numbing pain, dulling presence, and limiting their full potential.
At OLB, we teach people to “Relearn How to Breathe™.” Awareness is the first step—observing how we breathe and how it affects our body, mind, and emotions. Simple techniques, like placing one hand on the chest and another on the belly, help identify breath patterns. Adjusting our breath can shift our state—reducing stress, sharpening focus, and deepening spiritual awareness.
Mindful breathing shifts us from automatic survival to conscious living. As we breathe more freely, we feel lighter, more optimistic, and emotionally balanced. Our intuition strengthens, our spiritual connection deepens, and we gain greater control over our well-being.
If you’re considering a Breathology practice, start with awareness. Mastering the breath is the foundation for mastering life.”
Conclusion:
Incorporating breathwork into your routine can lead to profound shifts in your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By engaging in conscious breathing, individuals can unlock hidden emotions, clear stagnant energy, and experience greater clarity and purpose in their lives. Whether you’re seeking to relieve stress, heal past trauma, or connect with your authentic self, breathwork offers a simple yet powerful path to transformation. Start your journey toward deeper self-awareness and healing today, and explore the power of breath to create lasting change and alignment with your true potential.
CREDITS:
Adam Carbary | Embrance and Expand | www.embraceandexpand.com
Debbie McIntosh | Heart Core | www.heartcore.uk
Mario Domig | Atem Therapeut | www.atem-therapeut.ch
Sharyn Coleman | Sharyn With A Why | www.sharyn-with-a-why.co.uk
Alannah Dance | Pathway to Freedom | www.pathwaytofreedom.co
Clare Drury | Clare Drury | www.claredrury.com
Hunter Flournoy | Hunter Flournoy | www.hunterflournoy.com
Pete Warnock | Naturally Ecstatic | www.naturally-ecstatic.com
Christabel Zamor | Breath of Bliss | www.BreathofBliss.com
Ayo Handy-Kendi | PositivEnergyWorks | www.positivenergyworks.com
