(Conscious breathing calms the mind, reduces stress and tension, while strengthening the body.)
Rediscover the transformative power of your breath
Breathwork is a powerful practice that uses conscious, intentional breathing to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. It allows you to connect deeply with yourself, release built-up tension, and cultivate lasting well-being. Much more than a simple relaxation method, Breathwork is a journey toward greater self-awareness.
The origins of breathwork : ancient wisdom revisited
Breathwork has its roots in ancient traditions. In yoga, conscious breathing is known as pranayama, which means “control of vital energy” for thousands of years, it is considered a gateway between the body, mind and vital energy. In India, China and other ancient cultures, breathing has always been seen as a key to health and spiritual enlightenment.
- In the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali (II-49), Pranayama is defined as the cessation of automatic and unconscious breathing. Patanjali invites us to lengthen and refine the breath, paying deep attention to our breathing to stabilize the mind and body.
- In the Bhagavad Gita (4.29), Pranayama is seen as the union of Prana and Apana, two vital forces that regulate our energy and inner balance.
- In the Hatha Yogapradipika (Chapter 2, Verse 1), it is said that “to control the breath is to control the mind”. Pranayama allows us to go beyond simple physiological breathing to reach a state of stability and mental clarity.
- In Yoga Rahasya, the practice of Pranayama acts as a deep purification of the body and its energetic sheaths (the Koshas), thus facilitating the circulation and elevation of vital energy.
- In the Taittiriya Upanishad, this Vedic text addresses Pranayama as a bridge between the body and the mind and directly links breathing to lifespan and spiritual well-being. Breath is seen as the link between the material world and the absolute, making it a sacred practice for the soul.
These teachings remind us that breathing is much more than a simple reflex: it is a powerful tool to transform our yoga practice… and our daily lives.
In the 1960s, Breathwork was popularized in the West by figures such as Leonard Orr with the Rebirthing method, and Stanislav Grof who developed holotropic breathwork. These modern approaches combine elements of psychology and spirituality to encourage deep work, aimed at releasing buried traumas, exploring altered states of consciousness, and activating the body’s natural healing potential.
Today, Breathwork includes a wide variety of techniques from these ancient traditions and recent research in neurobiology and psychology. Whether you are looking to relieve daily stress, heal emotional wounds, improve your yoga postures, or explore your inner awareness, this practice is a powerful tool for every step of your personal journey.
The benefits of breathwork : a revitalised body and mind
Breathwork offers multiple and diverse benefits that can transform your daily life. Here are some of the main effects you can expect :
- Improved yoga practice
Breathwork plays a key role in improving flexibility, muscle relaxation and the body-mind connection. When used correctly, by synchronizing breathing and movement, it allows for deeper relaxation in postures, facilitates the opening of the body and promotes an essential letting go to progress with fluidity and ease.
- Reduced stress and anxiety
When we are stressed or anxious, our breathing often becomes superficial and irregular, amplifying our discomfort. Breathwork helps break this vicious circle by promoting deep and rhythmic breathing, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and rest. With regular practice, you will learn to better manage moments of tension and quickly return to a state of calm.
- Improved concentration and mental clarity
Breath is directly linked to concentration. By focusing on your breathing, you calm the mind and create a clear and centered mental space. This can help you solve problems more effectively, better manage your priorities and make decisions with more discernment.
- Emotional release
Breathwork allows you to release repressed emotions that may have been blocked in the body for years. Whether through rapid and energetic breaths or gentler and deeper cycles, you access deep layers of your being, facilitating the release of emotional tensions, fears or traumas.
- Improvement of physical health
Breathing fully improves the oxygenation of cells, strengthening the immune system and helping the body eliminate toxins. Good breathing also allows better blood circulation, thus promoting muscle recovery and relief of chronic pain.
- Expansion of consciousness
Certain forms of Breathwork, such as holotropic or conscious breathing, can bring you to altered states of consciousness. These experiences can be powerful tools to explore your subconscious, open doors to a better understanding of yourself and access deeper inner wisdom.
What is good breathing ?
Good breathing is not just about “breathing”. It is a conscious act, which engages the diaphragm and allows the lungs to be filled completely. In our modern society, we have often become accustomed to breathing superficially, with only the upper rib cage, which can cause fatigue, stress and tension.
Diaphragmatic breathing is the key to good breathing. It engages the diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle located under the lungs, to fill the lungs optimally. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and regeneration. Proper breathing reduces the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and relaxes tense muscles.
By learning to breathe correctly, you allow your body to find its natural balance, and you support your physical and emotional health. Breathwork is designed to help you find this healthy and deep breathing, by integrating simple but powerful exercises into your daily life.
When to practice breathwork ?
Breathwork is a flexible practice that can be adapted to different times of the day and to meet different needs. Here are some key moments to integrate this practice into your routine :
- Upon waking : A short Breathwork session can help you start the day with positive energy, clear your mind, and set an intention for the hours ahead.
- During stressful moments : If you feel pressure or anxiety during the day, a few minutes of conscious breathing can be enough to calm your nervous system and regain a state of serenity.
- Before or after physical activity : Breathing consciously before a sports or yoga session prepares your body for the effort, while Breathwork after training promotes muscle recovery and releases tension.
- Before sleeping : In the evening, calm and regular breathing helps you relax and facilitate restful sleep. This is especially useful if you have trouble “disconnecting” after a stressful day.
- During creative or meditative moments: If you are looking to awaken your creativity or deepen a meditation, Breathwork is a powerful tool to enter a state of deep and intuitive concentration.
Where to practice breathwork ?
Breathwork can be practiced almost anywhere, whether in a quiet environment at home, in a park in the countryside or even at the office during a break. To benefit from a guided and in-depth experience, you can participate in my Breathwork classes, which take place in person or online for those who prefer to practice remotely.
By joining these classes, you will be guided through sequences adapted to your needs, whether it is to reduce stress, release emotional blockages or deepen your self-awareness. Each session is designed to offer a caring environment, in which you can explore the benefits of Breathwork at your own pace.
Breathwork is an invitation to dive within yourself, to find natural breathing and to reconnect with the essential.
It is not only a technique, but an art of living.
Why practice breastwork with us ?
With fifteen years of experience as a yoga teacher and forty years of work on breathing techniques, I combine traditional approaches with modern methods to create a holistic and accessible practice. Whether you are a novice or an experienced practitioner, my workshops are designed to meet your expectations and support you in your personal development.
On the reading side, some references :
• Just breathe, Dan Brulé
• Breathe, The extraordinary power of breathing James Nestor
• One Simple Thing, Eddie Stern
• Light on pranayama, B.K.S Iyengar
• Breathing: Anatomy, breathing gesture, Blandine Calais-Germain
