Preparing for your online session
Create a calm, comfortable space in a room or space that you feel safe in.
Lying on the floor is the best way to connect with your spine, a yoga mat with some blankets is ideal. Make sure you can lie with your your legs flat and spread your arms to the sides. Surround yourself with pillows, blankets, cushions, anything soft, warm and cosy.
Wear comfortable clothes. Loose clothing, no buttons, zips or tight straps and ideally no make-up as it’s important to see your skin tone. If possible please wear a top with horizontal stripes or a checked top and avoid wearing black. This is to make it easier to see the movement of your breath.
Be seen. A side view from your head to feet, including your hands — or at least one! They are a first indicator of hyperventilation. Note: if it is due to get dark, the ability to see might change.
Keep warm. Prepare to stay warm, maybe you have a warm belly bag or a hot water bottle (these can double up as a weight to place on parts of the body during the breathing session). An electric blanket to lie on or lay over you is ideal. Warm socks are a must — your body temperature can drop suddenly. People tend to forget this one!
Drink plenty of water. Or herbal drinks from 48 hours before our session and avoid caffeine and alcohol, and have a drink to hand for after the session.
Interruption free. Make sure that there will be no interruptions. Phones off and a note on the door saying no knocking or bell ringing; deliveries happen just when you are settling down!
A bottle top. A plastic bottle top, cut round the top, a good inch from the spout, to pop in your mouth to help you open your jaw.
An eye mask. To block out the light. If you don't have one a scarf will do just as well.
Tissues. And a bowl to spit in might be necessary.
Zoom. On a laptop or similar is perfect, phones are not really ideal due to their screen size.
After our session. You might like to arrange a quiet evening. You will be processing and integrating for 48 hours afterwards. It will be beneficial to take it really easy!
Technology failures. If the internet connection fails, it may be momentary, in which case you can move into child’s pose or stay as you are keeping the breath connected till the call is resumed. If we lose connection completely then it is best to log off and come back on again. Please make sure power is fully charged up and that Zoom is downloaded onto the device you will be using.
Safety Measures. Feel free to share a next of kin contact number. This a comforting precaution, especially if you fall asleep at the end of a session! Please read the contraindications below and ensure you are fully aware of them. In any session, if there is any sense of something not feeling right or an instruction that doesn’t resonate, please speak up.
What to expect if you’re new to Breathwork
We don’t recommend people new to breathwork launch themselves into conscious connected breathwork on their own for any length of time - it may induce altered states of consciousness. A held space in a 1 to 1 or workshop will give clarity on how to calm the nervous system and manage the breath if strong emotions come up. Please be aware that this might happen and keep yourself in your comfortable bandwidth of releasing what ever comes up for you. Moving into child’s pose or lying on your front and or reverting to a nose instead of mouth breath is an option.
What might happen with a conscious connected breath?
— tingling
— dizziness or light headed
— trembling or shaking of limbs or parts of the body or whole body
— other physical sensations
— temperature shifts, to hot or cold (hence warm socks!)
— emotions surface
It is possible to go unconscious, typically on an exhale, then consciousness resumed on an inhale. This is very normal /safe and can even be a blissful experience for some people.
Every session is different, so it is important not to judge good or bad. Integration takes up to 3 days after the session. It is typical to start processing from the time the decision is made to make an appointment for a session or book a workshop.
Contraindications for online sessions
Breathwork results in certain specific physiological and psychological changes. The work that we are doing is designed to give you the tools to manage every day stresses and can also unearth deeply held trauma.
As a precaution, the following conditions are contraindicated, please understand your limitations if you have any of the following:
— Pregnancy
— Detached Retina
— Glaucoma
— High Blood Pressure (not controlled with medication)
— Cardiovascular disease including angina, previous heart attack or stroke
— Diagnosis of aneurysm in the brain or abdomen
— Uncontrolled thyroid conditions and diabetes
— Asthma; if the client is asthmatic, ask them to bring their inhaler to the session
— Epilepsy
— Prior diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or previous psychiatric condition
— Hospitalisation for any psychiatric condition or emotional crisis within the last 10 years
— Any other medical, psychiatric or physical conditions which would impair or affect ability to engage in any activities that involve intense physical and/or emotional release
Take the breathwork very gently and consider if it is best for you to be lying down or sitting up as you practice breathwork. You take full responsibility for your own health and wellbeing.