Trauma-Informed Somatic Breathwork

What it is

Somatic means "of the body." Somatic breathwork is a practice of working with your breath — deliberately, and with attention — to notice and release what your body has been holding. After trauma, the nervous system often stays braced for danger even when the danger has passed: shallow breath, a tight jaw, a startle you can't explain. Breathwork gives that system a way to feel safe in the present moment, because the breath is the one part of your stress response you can meet directly. It isn't talk therapy and it isn't a workout. You stay dressed, you stay aware, and you keep your say at every step.

What it entails

A private session runs 60 to 90 minutes, in person or virtual. We begin by talking about where you are right now — no need to retell the worst of it unless you want to. Then we agree on what the hour will hold: guided breathing patterns, slow somatic movement or stretching, shaking or sound if the body wants them, stillness, and touch only if you ask for it. Afterward we make space for whatever surfaced and for a small practice you can carry into your week. Group breathwork circles follow the same care in a shared room.

The process

1. 1

   Arrive and settle — a few minutes to talk, take off your shoes, and get comfortable on a mat with a blanket.

2. 2

   Name your intention — one sentence on what you're hoping for. It can be as small as "I'd like to sleep better."

3. 3

   Breathe — guided patterns at your pace, with pauses whenever you need them. Eyes closed or open, your choice.

4. 4

   Let the body move — stretching, shaking, sound, or simply lying still while your nervous system downshifts.

5. 5

   Rest and integrate — quiet time, water, and a few words about what you noticed. No analysis required.

6. 6

   Leave with something — a short practice, a phrase, or a journal prompt that keeps the door open between sessions.

What to expect

Come as you are, in comfortable clothes. Many people feel tired, tender, or deeply sleepy after a session; some feel lighter and clearer right away. Both are normal. You may dream vividly, yawn a lot, or notice small things you'd stopped noticing — signs the body is settling, not that anything went wrong. Strong emotions can surface days later, which is why I stay reachable between sessions. If you're pregnant, have a heart condition, a seizure disorder, recent surgery, or a history of dissociation or panic, tell me beforehand so I can adapt the practice. Nothing happens in a session that you haven't agreed to, and "I'd like to stop" is always welcome.