Conscious Connected Breathwork for Beginners: Get Ready for Your First Session 🌬️

A few weeks ago, I was part of a team of seven assisting and co-facilitating a breathwork circle led by a fellow breathworker at the vibrant Happy Spirit Days festival. We were all so energised by the incredible atmosphere in the festival tent and the participants’ responses that I felt inspired to write and share more about breathwork in this month’s blog – especially for those who’ve never tried it before.

Breathwork is a powerful tool for transformation – one that can open doors to deeper self-awareness, healing, and personal growth. As breathwork gains popularity, you might be curious but also feel a bit apprehensive about trying it for the first time. It’s natural to feel both intrigued and unsure when exploring something unfamiliar. A common question I hear is, “What’s the point? Don’t I breathe every day already?” While it’s true that breathing is a natural, automatic function, conscious breathwork is about so much more. It’s an intentional practice that helps you reconnect with your full energetic potential, allowing you to take up the space you deserve – both physically and energetically – instead of unconsciously holding yourself back. At The Essence of Presence, I guide you through this journey, and together we explore ways to open up, broaden your capacity, and expand your sense of space. Whether you’re dealing with stress, burnout, or simply looking to explore a deeper connection with yourself, your first breathwork session is a meaningful step towards greater well-being.

Setting the Stage: Preparation

Preparing for your first breathwork session is about creating the right mental and physical space to fully engage with the breath. Breath awareness is the foundation of all breathwork practices, so even before the session begins, start observing your breath without trying to change it. This simple practice can help centre you and set the stage for a deeper experience. Consistency in your practice is key; even brief moments of conscious breathing throughout the day can help integrate the benefits of breathwork into your daily life.

I personally use a simple timer app on my phone that discreetly goes off every hour, giving me the opportunity to do a quick check-in: What’s my posture like? Am I unintentionally holding one of my shoulders up or clenching my jaw? How is my breathing, and where do I feel it in my body?

Understanding Your Breath

Most of us go through life using only a fraction of our breathing capacity. Conscious breathwork is about reclaiming the full power of your breath. Focus on not just the inhale, but also the exhale, allowing yourself to fully release each breath. This can help in letting go of tension and stored emotions. As you start paying attention to your breath, notice its depth, rhythm, and flow. This awareness will help you during the session as you begin to harness your breath for deeper healing and transformation, bringing you into a more present and grounded state.

Approach with Openness and Courage

Breathwork is a journey of exploration, and like any journey, it can have its challenging moments. It’s important to approach it with openness and trust in the process. Surrendering to the breath, rather than trying to control the outcome, can lead to profound insights and healing. This process allows us to access and integrate unresolved emotions, enabling us to move from a reactive state to a more balanced and empowered state of being.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem hesitant to truly breathe deeply, as if they’re holding back from fully living? Breathwork invites you to let go of that hesitation and embrace life more fully, one breath at a time.

What to Expect: Navigating Your First Session

Your breathwork journey begins with an open conversation to tailor the session to your unique needs, ensuring a safe and supportive experience. We’ll discuss any health considerations to ensure the session is both effective and safe. Eventually, we’ll move into connected breathing – a continuous, rhythmic pattern designed to help you explore deeper layers of tension and emotion. As you breathe, I apply touch to specific areas of your body to help release tension and encourage a fuller, freer breath. It’s normal to experience physical sensations or mental resistance. These responses are part of your body’s natural reaction, bringing awareness to areas where tension or emotions may be held. Allowing these emotions to surface without judgment is key to integrating and transforming them.

The Power of Breathwork: What It Can Do for You

Breathwork can be a powerful tool for emotional regulation, helping you manage and release emotions that may be stored in the body. By consciously connecting with your breath, you can ease breathing challenges, expand your lung capacity, and connect deeply with your emotions, allowing for meaningful release and healing. Align your body, mind, and soulfor a sense of deep inner harmony, boost your energy levels, and activate your body’s natural healing powers. Incorporating breathwork as a regular practice can help you maintain these benefits long after your session ends.

Setting an Intention and Riding the Wave

As you prepare for your session, consider setting a personal intention. What quality or feeling would you like to breathe into during your breathwork? This intention should be a simple, positive statement formulated in the present tense, as if it’s already true.

“I create space within myself to welcome growth.”

“I allow myself to release worries and embrace the present moment.”

Your intention serves as an anchor, helping you maintain focus as you navigate the breathwork experience. By engaging with your breath, you allow emotions to surface, integrate, and transform into a deeper sense of presence and calm.