My Own Personal Breathing Experience

As with all practical things you can read or hear about them but if you want to benefit from them you have to actually try it. I was a little nervous when I first went to a breath workshop as I was unsure quite how the whole thing would work.

As I settled down on my mat for a session and tried to relax whilst breathing intensely, I wondered "what on earth am I doing here?".

Some time passed and I began to hear others around me who seemed to be experiencing all sorts of emotions and insights and yet here I was wondering "am I doing it right?". 

Eventually I stopped worrying, decided that this was just going to be like a meditation and relaxed. As soon as I gave up trying, suddenly I found myself overcome with some intense emotions which had been sparked by the sound of a child laughing. It was close to the end of the first session and so I was encouraged to "let it go for now" and bring my attention back to the room.  However, the strength of feeling and curiosity it had generated in me were not so easy to let go of and I felt very sad.

In the afternoon I had another session and suddenly found the insight I was looking for. As a child I had been extremely frightened on at least one occasion by an individual close to me. I can only have been around five or six years old. as I look back as an adult the situation I recalled was not so terrible but of course to a small child it was petrifying and had caused me to stay locked in that fear, colouring my adult judgement on relationships.

The joy of Breathwork is that the practitioner guides you through this process and I was able to literally breathe the fear away, it released a pain in my back and my legs and I felt like a burden had been lifted. As it happens I needed another two sessions to really get to the bottom of all that I had been holding onto. I have since had some very "blissful" experiences also.

From my own personal experience I can tell you that it can be a little scary, as although you set your intention for the session you do not always know what will pop up. But, it is also exciting,  I do know that it is a rich learning experience and has brought release and a shift in my life which had not been brought about by other techniques I have tried.

Now, following my own training, as I guide people through their sessions I feel so privileged to share in their experiences. I am amazed at the kind of things that can happen to us through life and the way in which we survive and grow. It is both fascinating and sad that these events colour and determine how we view life. People carry heavy loads sometimes and to see them "blow those away" is wonderful.

You cannot always tell by looking at someone their life story, so treat those around you lovingly and gently. Also know that if you are thinking of trying this or other techniques trust your judgement. If it does not sound or feel right for you then leave it alone. You will instinctively be drawn to what is right for you when the right opportunity and time arises.

Copyright © 2006 aplacefortheheart.co.uk - All rights reserved