In today’s interview, Mystic Mag had the chance to talk with Svenja Tasler, a certified breathwork facilitator and coach, who offers a range of courses and services to help individuals overcome anxiety, enhance their well-being, and unlock their full potential.
Inspired by personal experience, Svenja is passionate about sharing the life-changing benefits of breathwork with others. Join us as we delve into the world of conscious breathing and explore how it can transform your life.
What sparked your interest in breathwork?
My journey with breathwork began quite unexpectedly in Brighton, England, in 2018. I stumbled upon a workshop at my local yoga studio, intrigued by the promise of experiencing “a new state of consciousness without any external substances – just using the power of your breath.” Without knowing what I was getting into, I decided to give it a try.
That first session was one of the most emotionally powerful experiences of my life. For 60 minutes, we practiced conscious connected breathing while lying on yoga mats. I lost all sense of time, space, and even my own identity. The session was a whirlwind of sensations – heat, cold, tension in my limbs, vivid colors, and intense emotions.
When it was over, I felt completely transformed – confused yet light and relaxed. During the sharing circle afterward, I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions that seemed to come from nowhere. I left with an incredible sense of calm and balance, feeling held, seen, and safe in a way I’d rarely experienced before.
That day, I knew I’d discovered a powerful tool that would accompany me for the rest of my life. It sparked a passion in me to learn more about breathwork and eventually share its transformative power with others.
How did breathwork help you overcome anxiety?
To be honest, I wouldn’t say that breathwork has completely eliminated my anxiety – it’s still something I struggle with at times. However, it has given me a powerful tool to manage and soothe anxiety when it becomes overwhelming.
Breathwork has taught me that my breath is always with me as a companion. There are specific breathing exercises that can help reduce anxiety in the moment.
But what’s important for me is that we don’t just use these exercises to bypass the symptoms. It’s important to also look at the root causes of our anxiety.
My journey into the world of breathwork led me to explore other modalities, like Somatic Experiencing, which I’m now trained in. This exploration encouraged me to start therapy, which has been incredibly helpful in addressing the underlying causes of my anxiety.
For me, breathwork is one tool in a larger toolbox for mental health and personal growth. The combination of different tools and approaches is what has helped me the most on my journey. Breathwork provides immediate relief and a way to connect with my body, while therapy and other practices help me understand and work through the deeper issues.
What courses do you offer and who are they for?
I offer a variety of courses and services for German-speaking individuals at different stages of their breathwork journey:
- “Take a Breath” is a free introductory course for anyone curious about breathwork and wanting to get a first taste.
- “Let’s Breathe” is a 10-week self-paced online course for those looking to deepen their personal breathwork practice.
- I’ve got a 12-month Online Breathwork Facilitator and Coach Training for those who want to bring breathwork into the world and work with others.
- I offer 1:1 Breathwork Coaching, which is a combination of breathwork and coaching with a trauma-sensitive approach.
- And finally, I also run Online Group Breathwork Sessions for those who want to experience the transformative power of breathwork in a group setting.
These offerings cater to everyone from complete beginners to those looking to make breathwork a part of their professional life. My goal is to create accessible entry points for people to discover the power of breath, as well as provide deeper, more comprehensive training for those who want to take their practice further.
What challenges do people face with breathwork, and how do you help them?
Many people face initial challenges when starting with breathwork. Some common issues include difficulty in maintaining the connected breath pattern, feeling overwhelmed by physical sensations or emotions that arise, being worried about “doing it right” or expecting specific experiences or even having trouble integrating breathwork into daily life.
To support people with these challenges, I take a gentle, trauma-sensitive approach. I emphasize creating a safe space where people can explore at their own pace. I guide them to stay connected with their bodies and encourage them to honor their own experience, whatever it may be.
I also teach people to recognize and work with their nervous system responses. This helps them stay grounded and prevents overwhelm. Additionally, I provide practical tips for incorporating breathwork into daily routines, making it more accessible and less intimidating.
My approach is about empowering individuals to develop a relationship with their breath that feels safe, nurturing, and sustainable for them.
Can you share a transformation story from breathwork?
One of the most powerful breathwork experiences I’ve had was during my second live session in Brighton. The invitation was to meet our own shadows during the session. I went in with the intention of processing a traumatic experience from my youth.
During the breathwork, I felt an immense amount of shame related to this experience gathering in my belly. It became increasingly difficult to breathe. At the peak of the journey, the facilitator invited us to really feel into the intense emotions present.
At that moment, a support facilitator placed their hand on my belly, exactly where I was feeling the shame so intensely. This touch allowed the shame to spread and finally dissolve. It was a magical experience like no other.
After this session, I felt incredibly free and unburdened.
This experience was a turning point. It allowed me to begin speaking about the experiences I had as a teenager and to truly heal other related aspects of my life. It showed me the profound power of breathwork when combined with safe touch and a supportive environment.
This transformation wasn’t just about processing one event; it opened up a new level of freedom and self-acceptance in my life. It’s experiences like these that fuel my passion for sharing breathwork with others.
How do you see breathwork impacting people’s lives in the future?
I believe breathwork is a powerful tool that can help us reconnect – with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. In my view, breathwork today is like yoga was 20 years ago. It’s gradually gaining more recognition and I expect it to become more “mainstream” over time.
I’m convinced that breathwork is a tool that can help humanity as a whole reconnect and find our way back to a healthier path. It has the potential to help us face many of the global and local challenges we’re currently dealing with.
Breathwork can help us develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. As more people incorporate it into their lives, I envision a ripple effect of positive change. It can lead to more mindful decision-making, improved mental health, and stronger, more authentic connections between people.
In a world that often feels disconnected and overwhelming, breathwork offers a way to come back to ourselves and find inner calm and clarity. It’s a practice that’s accessible to almost everyone, requiring no special equipment or abilities.
As breathwork becomes more widely recognized and studied, I expect to see it incorporated into various fields – from healthcare and education to corporate wellness programs. The key is for us to be open and willing to explore these connections and the potential that lies within our own breath.
Ultimately, I believe that each conscious breath brings us closer to a world filled with more love, peace, and understanding. Breathwork has the power to transform not just individual lives, but our collective experience as human beings.
To learn more about Svenja and her work, please visit https://svenjatasler.com/
