BREATHWORK WITH NICOLE
“Be gentle with yourself and trust your body as you’re breathing.”
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What is Breathwork?
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Simply put, it is breathing with intention.
Our breath is unique in that it is the only system in our body that can be both unconscious/automatic and consciously controlled.
When we breathe in conscious & intentional ways we can create massive shifts in our mood, energy, emotions, physical health, and overall wellbeing.
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For me, breathwork has been a doorway into connecting with my body and emotions. Starting at a young age I repressed emotions as a survival strategy. Unfortunately, this strategy carried on into adulthood and I had a very hard time expressing my feelings. The emotions trapped inside were also wreaking havoc, creating physical manifestations such as anxiety and panic attacks. I would often cope and release through another strategy I learned in my young adulthood: binge drinking, which was also very problematic and shame-inducing for me.
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In my early 30's, while exploring different healing techniques to change my life, I experienced breathwork for the first time. I immediately knew it was a game-changer. I have been regularly practicing breathwork ever since and it helps me release stuck emotions so that those do not come out in unhealthy ways anymore.
Even doing a short session can be profound.
Breathwork has also been called a "gateway to meditation" because it helps cut through the mind-chatter and find stillness. This is 100% true for me!
After a breathwork session, I feel so connected, centered, clear, and calm.
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Intentional breathing includes a number of different breath patterns, techniques, and benefits.
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I am trained as a Trauma-informed facilitator through Pause Breathwork. “Trauma-informed” means that I do everything under the lens of trauma. The Pause approach includes a hybrid of multiple styles because breathwork is not a one-size-fits-all approach and safety comes first! It is crucial to slowly acclimate the body to the intensity of breathwork, and I teach techniques that are powerfully healing (no matter the intensity).
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My breathwork sessions are broken down into three main styles: Integrative, Meditative and Workshops.
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Integrative breathwork sessions are generally shorter and can be used to quickly help shift your mood, energy, & emotions (i.e. you want to calm and center yourself before an interview, open your heart and connect with loving energy before a difficult conversation, or bring in energy and clarity before work.) This type of session involves sustaining a breath pattern for less than 8 minutes at a time. Integrative breathwork is safe for use throughout the day.
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Meditative breathwork sessions are transformative and bring-up many different physical and emotional sensations. These sessions are typically one-hour long and involve sustaining certain breath patterns for over 8 minutes at a time. In doing so, the breather can access altered states of consciousness for a deep healing session.
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Meditative sessions can help release stuck energies and emotions from the body. It is best to do while lying down in a safe and comfortable position and guided by a trauma-informed facilitator. The process can feel intense at times and is meant to promote deeper healing and relaxation post-session. It is also advised to have ongoing support with a coach or therapist. Most of my clients book alternating breathwork and coaching sessions.
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Workshops can be either Integrative or Meditative and are offered to groups. My workshops follow specific themes such as Cultivating Confidence, Connecting with your Inner Child, Releasing Self-Doubt, etc. Workshops are typically 60-90 minutes long and may include additional meditation, journaling, or other exercises.
Sessions & workshops are offered virtually. In-person workshops by request. For questions, rates, and group facilitation inquiries, please reach out!
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
There's no single more powerful or simpler daily practice to further your health and wellbeing than breathwork.