Breathwork Online

1. Don’t eat beforehand:  A full stomach will siphon off the energy and leave you with a lack-luster experience. Try not to eat for several hours leading up to a Breathwork, and any meals should be very light.
2. Pee first!:  Even if you don’t think you need to, go to the bathroom.  In the middle of a session, it can be hard to operate heavy machinery like your hands and feet.
3. Be Confident: You are in control.  If you force the exhale and start to hyperventilate, you will get cramping in your hands and feet. It hurts. Don’t fight it. Relax into the muscle cramps and breathe normally.  After your body calms down, come back to the breath. If you want to get deeper into the experience, then stay with the breath the whole time. If it starts to get too intense, just breathe normally. The breath is both the gas and the break.

It is a short list of things that you are going to want:

1. Yoga mat (if you are practicing at home you can lay on your bed): you are going to be laying in one place for an hour or so. Depending on the hardness of your floor, use appropriate padding.
2. Thin Pillow: you want something to cushion the back of your head while not elevating it.
3. Lightweight Blanket: your temperature can vary wildly when on a Breathwork Journey. Keep a blanket on hand even if you don't think you'll need one.
4. Bolster: especially if you suffer from lower back pain, something under your knees will take a lot of stress off your lower back.
5. Eye Mask/Cover: you want to block out as much light as possible. It enhances and deepens the experience exponentially. The darker the better.
6. +/- Socks: if you tend to run cold, wear socks. Just keep in mind that it is harder to take off socks than it is to toss off a blanket.

Once you set yourself up, this will almost feel like a slumber party. Bear in mind that in the midst of a breathwork it can be hard to operate heavy equipment such as hands and feet. Try to cut down on any unnecessary fumbling in advance.

There will always be things beyond your control. The neighbor's barking dog, screaming neighbors, and random sirens are sometimes just a fact of life.  But there are many things you can control.

• Privacy: pick a space with a door that you can shut. If you have pets, namely cats and dogs, put them on the other side of it. They will inevitably want to cuddle when you are doing Breathwork. The same is true for partners or roommates wanting to have a conversation.
• Darkness: pull the drapes, lower the blinds, and shut out as much light as you can. Even with a good eye mask, you want to consider the environment that you will be waking up to.
• Ambiance: beyond dimming the lights, consider a fountain or essential oil diffuser to help create a special atmosphere for your practice. Please don't leave candles burning during a Breathwork. We don't want a house fire.
• Energy: try to use a space that already has good energy. Do you already have a meditation or yoga space somewhere in your home? Use that same space. My groups are held in an office that is already used for healing. The energy is amazing.
• Other Beings: plants and animals bring their own positive energy to a space. Some house plants or an aquarium in your space will add to the experience. Just remember that you don't want to be disturbed.
• Amplification: put together a small group of friends for a group practice. More people means more energy to work with.