How to Best Prepare for Online Transformational Breathwork Sessions
If you plan on joining one of our deep dive sessions, make sure to read this resource. It contains essential information for all participants and it is specifically relevant if you are a first-timer.
Preparation is an important part of a Transformational Breathwork journey.
Here at Breathwork Alchemy, we work trauma- and nervous system-informed and we put a lot of thought and consideration into every aspect of the experience for you.
To make sure you get the most out of the session, we recommend you follow out recommendations.
Let’s go - here is how to best prepare:
🔥 THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS
1. Don’t Eat a Big Meal Just Before Breathing.
Some people find that it is helpful not to eat anything at least two hours or even longer before the session.
If you are breathing in the morning, it can be helpful to postpone your breakfast until after you breathe.
You can play with this and see what works for you, everybody is a bit different…but it is more difficult to drop into the Expanded State of Awareness if your stomach is overloaded and all of your internal energy is focused on digestion.
However, you may want to prepare ahead of time a healthy and nourishing snack or meal for when you are finished with the breathwork session.
2. Choosing, Creating, and Preparing Your Space.
It is best to do the session lying down on a yoga mat on the floor, your couch or bed.
If you are laying down, please make sure to have enough space around you so that if you move around that you do not bang into anything, especially around your head area.
Dim lights or close curtains / shades. We also don’t recommend using candles for safety.
Consider that you may want to sing, cry or release through loud sounds. Does your space allow you to do this comfortably?
3. Make Yourself Comfortable
Prioritize comfort by wearing loose fitting clothes and layers that can be easily taken on and off.
4. Optimize Your Sound Quality
We want the music to be good quality and quite loud.
Over the ear headphones are ideal, earbuds also work. If you have a computer with great sound and the neighbors don’t mind loud music, that is fine also.
If you use your mobile phone, earbuds or earphones will be a necessity to get good sound quality.
Make sure your laptop or mobile device is fully charged or plugged in for it to last the entire session.
5. Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Good and Stable
If it isn’t, it might be annoying if the audio cuts out as you’re breathing.
The better the internet connection, the better the sound quality will be.
If you are planning on using a mobile phone please make sure to install the Zoom app (available in the app store) before the session.
If you are in a space with others who use the same network, ask them to limit streaming and network use during your journey.
6. Make Sure You Will Not Be Disturbed During the Session
Turn off your phone, put a “do not disturb” sign on your door if there are other people in your house or apartment, etc.
Coordinate with family, housemates, and others to ensure an uninterrupted space where you will not disturb others. If you have close neighbors you can let them know you may make a little noise.
7. Use a Blindfold or Sleeping Mask
You will need a blindfold or you can just close your eyes if you prefer but using a blindfold is strongly recommended as that will generally support you in dropping more deeply into the process.
If you continue with this work, the blindfold I recommend is called a Mindfold Sleep and Relaxation Mask which can purchased on Amazon but any blindfold will do.
8. No Drugs and Alcohol
We ask that you agree not to mix mind-expanding drugs and/or alcohol with breathwork.
Breathwork is meant to stand on its own and part of the benefit of the experience is that you start to gain more confidence that you have all of the answers within and do not need substances to access this wonderful inner guidance that everybody has.
9. Recommended to Have Nearby:
Lip balm to prevent your mouth from getting dry
Kleenex tissues
A bottle of water
A blanket and pillows
Maybe a cup in case you have to spit, etc.
A journal and pen or other tools for taking notes and creative creative expression
Also:
Feel free to bring anything that helps you feel grounded and centered (eg. a special blanket or pillow, gemstone, candle, or anything else)
ARRIVAL + START
I will open the Zoom room about 10 minutes before the official start time.
Please arrive a few minutes before to get settled and to make sure we can start on time. We won’t wait for latecomers.
THE FLOW OF THE WORKSHOP
Here is what’s going to happen during the two hour workshop:
Arrival and grounding
Introductory talk
Preparing to get ready to breathe and answering final questions
50-minute Breathwork journey using the conscious connected breathing technique
Integration sharing circle and Q+A
These deep dive sessions are live experiences, which means they will NOT be recorded in order to guarantee a safe and trauma-sensitive space and to integrate together after the breathing journey.
🛑 CONTRAINDICATIONS
As a reminder: there are certain medical conditions for which it is not considered safe to participate in this type of breathwork.
It is important that you do not breathe or contact us first if you have any of the following contraindications.
If You Are Under age of 18 you may not participate in this breathwork session without written parental consent
Pregnancy
High Blood Pressure that is not controlled with medication.
Cardiovascular disease and/or irregularities including prior heart attack
Aneurysms – if either you have had an aneurysm or if more than one person in your
immediate family (parents, siblings, children) has had one
History of strokes, seizures or TIAs.
If you’re taking prescription blood thinning/anti-clotting medications such as Coumadin
Epilepsy
Detached Retina
Glaucoma
Osteoporosis that is serious enough whereby moving around actively could cause
physical damage to your body.
Prior diagnosis by a health professional of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Hospitalisation for any psychiatric condition or serious emotional crisis in past 10 years
such as an attempted suicide, nervous breakdown or psychotic break.
PTSD - If you currently have symptoms of severe PTSD, please check in with us before breathing.
If you have asthma, you are welcome to breathe, but you must have your inhaler available.
Prior physical injuries that are not fully healed and could be re-injured through intense movement.
Any other medical, psychiatric or physical conditions which would impair or affect ability to engage in activities involving intense physical and/or emotional release.
If you’re not sure if these apply to you, please hold off from participating in today’s session, an email us for clarification at mail@breathworkalchemy.coo
AFTER THE SESSION
Sharing circle
After the session, there is time for participants to share their experiences if they choose to and I stay on the call long enough to answer whatever questions people have about their experiences. You can of course leave on time or hang on until everyone is complete.
Leave enough time for integration after the session
The integration process after your breathwork experience is also very important. So we encourage you to set aside some extra time afterwards for eg. journaling, a nature walk, a warm bath..
If you are unsettled or feel incomplete after your session
We request that you either stay on the Zoom call and get support from me, if not, to e-mail us as soon as possible after the session at mail@breathworkalchemy.co
We will either e-mail back or, if necessary, set up a one-on-one Zoom call to support you.
On Setting Intentions and Expectation Management
Setting intentions can greatly enhance your experience as well as the potential to integrate growth and healing into your life.
To create an intention you may meditate, reflect, journal or talk with a therapist, friend, or supportive person in your life.
Your intention is most simply, "What is motivating me to participate in the breathwork journey?”
A few additional questions that may be helpful in setting your intention:
Where in your life do you feel most powerful, most alive? Where do you feel energized? Drained of energy?
Where in your life do you feel the most need for change?
What’s working for you? What’s not working? What’s missing? What’s next?
What are your biggest strengths and gifts?
What energy are you working with or would you like to work with?
Create a simple, short, concise “I am…” statement of the energy or healing you are inviting in. Ex: “I am whole.” “I am love.” “I am open to receiving healing.”
Trust, Expectations, and the Unknown
Your experience may be unexpected, uncomfortable, or hard to understand. You may not have much of the experience that your rational mind was anticipating.
Try to be aware of your expectations which may cause resistance to where the breathwork journey is naturally leading you. If you hold your intention lightly it will help you to work with whatever experience may come during the journey.
You may trust that what is coming up for you is part of the natural progression of a journey, and that all journeys will resolve with time.
I’m looking forward to breathe with you!