Connect your in-breath to your out-breath…

…and your out-breath to your in-breath.

Conscious connected breathing is also known as circular breathing and originally coined as rebirthing. This technique of breathing is helpful in alleviating anxiety, headaches, pain, worry, improves self esteem, it deepens meditation, expands awareness and so much more.

It was whilst taking a bath back in the 1970s that Leonard Orr the founder of this technique, started spontaneously regressing to a state of feeling like a helpless infant and he couldn’t get out of the bath for 3 hours. He continued taking long baths and more prenatal and birth memories rose up. He then experimented by using a snorkel to breathe with his head immersed under water. Whilst using the snorkel he discovered how circular breathing is crucial to moving through a difficult experience. He found that under water he was forced to keep breathing and this was crucial to breathing through any experiences which came up. With the help of friends they got together and helped each other get through their own experiences whilst breathing in a hot tub and thus, wet rebirthing was born. Leonard realised that the emotional pain of birth experiences for some people were just too overwhelming, even with what we consider as a normal birth in a hospital.

At the time, Frank Leboyer’s book “Birth without violence” had been published and the long term impact of birth trauma on a person was beginning to be understood. Leonard realised it was better to start breathing sessions out of water, as this is more gentle and so dry rebirthing was born. During dry rebirthing sessions a person may uncover many other life incidents before they are ready to deal with birth.

Circular means that the inhalation merges with the exhalation and the exhalation merges with the inhalation. There was no pause in between breaths. This is the crucial component to breathing energy (prana or Chi) which moves around the body with the breath. Within the first few sessions the focus is initially on unblocking the breathing mechanism and releasing energy blocks which prevent the movement of energy through the body. This may be a discomfort in the body, a memory, a pain or a fear and no matter how difficult it may feel, the person is guided to breathe through the experience until they reach a state of relaxation. It is essential that person doesn’t get trapped in the drama of it, by continuing to breathe an energetic or emotional release occurs.

“I trained with Leonard. When I first unblocked my breathing mechanism it felt like a pressure valve popped and I felt instant relief. The struggle to breathe was gone! It was wonderful to feel what is was like to breathe full breaths again which were long and gentle. Everyone has different life experiences and so, no two sessions are the same. Your experience may be completely different to mine, so the blocks we have to breathing may be different. After I broke through this then the real work began – and I remember during sessions experiencing childhood situations, feel stuck and not wanting to move forward and be born. So much tension had been stored in my body. All kinds of feelings and sensations come up which can be difficult and I wanted to stop breathing but having the support of a breath worker guiding you helps you move through the experience rather than giving up. I was very cerebral when I first started, overthinking all the time I’ve now become more relaxed.”

As children when a difficult experience came up we often suppressed it or were told we’re not allowed to feel it. Breathing allows that feeling to go through to completion without being suppressed. It’s not easy and my mind played many tricks on me to try and make me stop, but I kept breathing through it and it was really worth it. Memories were shown to me and I felt pain in my body, by continuing to breathe the pain gave way to coming to a place of peace and serenity. Sometimes my body felt like it was floating, I felt light and free – not a care in the world.

Some people experience fear during their first few sessions when their body is miraculously being washed inside out with natural divine Energy – fears from the past or fear of new Life. With experience the fear dissolves into pleasure.

The most valuable thing you can know during your first session is that your natural divine Energy is washing away pain and tension. The physical sensations you may experience are not caused by the breathing rhythm nor your natural divine Energy, but by the pain and tension you are releasing. After we release our accumulated tension, we only feel gentle energy flows. There is no longer dramatic sensations. We can dissolve daily unpleasant energy concentrations which we accumulate from participating in the world with Connected Energy Breathing as well as bathing and other spiritual purification practices.

Whatever sensations or fears you may have in the middle of a session, as you keep breathing, they dissolve or recede as the breathing relaxes you. Many people experience the peace that passes all understanding for the first time in their lives. People often say after their first session, “I’m more relaxed than I have ever felt since I was born.”

Ten Rebirthing Breathwork sessions brings profound relaxation and release of stress and tension collected at any point in our life. Everyone has a big collection. Doing ten sessions heals or transforms our breathing mechanism so that we can breathe more freely and fully forever.

Most people need ten 1 to 2 hour sessions with a well trained Rebirther Breathworker in order to learn the skill of Intuitive Breathing.

After we have learned it, we are able to maintain the connected breathing rhythm for at least an hour without supervision. We can then consciously breathe divine Energy every day or whenever we like.

Connect your in-breath to your out-breath…

…and your out-breath to your in-breath.

Conscious connected breathing is also known as circular breathing and originally coined as rebirthing. This technique of breathing is helpful in alleviating anxiety, headaches, pain, worry, improves self esteem, it deepens meditation, expands awareness and so much more.

It was whilst taking a bath back in the 1970s that Leonard Orr the founder of this technique, started spontaneously regressing to a state of feeling like a helpless infant and he couldn’t get out of the bath for 3 hours. He continued taking long baths and more prenatal and birth memories rose up. He then experimented by using a snorkel to breathe with his head immersed under water. Whilst using the snorkel he discovered how circular breathing is crucial to moving through a difficult experience. He found that under water he was forced to keep breathing and this was crucial to breathing through any experiences which came up. With the help of friends they got together and helped each other get through their own experiences whilst breathing in a hot tub and thus, wet rebirthing was born. Leonard realised that the emotional pain of birth experiences for some people were just too overwhelming, even with what we consider as a normal birth in a hospital.

At the time, Frank Leboyer’s book “Birth without violence” had been published and the long term impact of birth trauma on a person was beginning to be understood. Leonard realised it was better to start breathing sessions out of water, as this is more gentle and so dry rebirthing was born. During dry rebirthing sessions a person may uncover many other life incidents before they are ready to deal with birth.

Circular means that the inhalation merges with the exhalation and the exhalation merges with the inhalation. There was no pause in between breaths. This is the crucial component to breathing energy (prana or Chi) which moves around the body with the breath. Within the first few sessions the focus is initially on unblocking the breathing mechanism and releasing energy blocks which prevent the movement of energy through the body. This may be a discomfort in the body, a memory, a pain or a fear and no matter how difficult it may feel, the person is guided to breathe through the experience until they reach a state of relaxation. It is essential that person doesn’t get trapped in the drama of it, by continuing to breathe an energetic or emotional release occurs.

“I trained with Leonard. When I first unblocked my breathing mechanism it felt like a pressure valve popped and I felt instant relief. The struggle to breathe was gone! It was wonderful to feel what is was like to breathe full breaths again which were long and gentle. Everyone has different life experiences and so, no two sessions are the same. Your experience may be completely different to mine, so the blocks we have to breathing may be different. After I broke through this then the real work began – and I remember during sessions experiencing childhood situations, feel stuck and not wanting to move forward and be born. So much tension had been stored in my body. All kinds of feelings and sensations come up which can be difficult and I wanted to stop breathing but having the support of a breath worker guiding you helps you move through the experience rather than giving up. I was very cerebral when I first started, overthinking all the time I’ve now become more relaxed.”

As children when a difficult experience came up we often suppressed it or were told we’re not allowed to feel it. Breathing allows that feeling to go through to completion without being suppressed. It’s not easy and my mind played many tricks on me to try and make me stop, but I kept breathing through it and it was really worth it. Memories were shown to me and I felt pain in my body, by continuing to breathe the pain gave way to coming to a place of peace and serenity. Sometimes my body felt like it was floating, I felt light and free – not a care in the world.

Rebirthing is not only about the BREATH

We take a wholistic approach – you embark on a journey to understand the whole of who you are. The ultimate aim is to Master your Life…

Establishing Trust and Consent for a Breathwork Session

Trusting your Breathworker is essential, and is an important component of your Breathwork journey. Particularly, during in-person sessions when touch may be offered by your Breathworker.

Trust is essential when you’re having a Breathwork session, you’re in an altered state of consciousness and vulnerable to suggestion and touch. All ethical Breathworkers know this. For this reason, it is really important that your Breathworker discusses what kind of touch will be happening in the session with you. Some Breathworkers won’t even touch clients.

Before you start a session make sure you are clear about:

• Whether you have difficulty being touched

• Is there anywhere on your body that is particularly sensitive to touch

• You’re not really sure!

• Check if you are being honest with yourself about being touched.

It is never acceptable for your Breathworker to touch your breasts, backside or genital area. Sexual caressing or touch is not acceptable. Neither has it ever been acceptable to have sexual relations with your Breathworker.

Instances When a Breathworker May Ask to Touch You

• If you are not breathing sufficiently into your chest/diaphragm your Breathworker may ask to place their hand appropriately on this area. This does not involve fondling or massaging.

• Your Breathworker may ask to hold your ankles to keep you grounded.

• Your Breathworker may offer a comforting touch by placing their hand on your shoulder softly or hold your hand.

• In some types of Breathwork your Breathworker may ask to touch energy points on your body.

Consent is Crucial

Feeling safe during a Breathwork session is of paramount importance. You can request that the session is recorded. Inform your Breathworker if you have a serious mental health problem, learning disability or a head injury. These affect your ability to make and communicate a decision.

Before your Breathworker touches you, it is best practice for them to ask you first. In doing this, they are gaining consent. Trauma informed Breathworkers will also ask you more about how being touched affects you, because they understand the impact trauma has on a person.

“Consent is like a cup of tea. Your may offered you a cup of tea, but you don’t have to accept it or even drink it.”

– Thames Valley Police #ConsentIsEverything Campaign

http://www.consentiseverything.com/

A clear affirmative freely-given “yes” indicates consent.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time during your Breathwork session.

Learning to be truly honest with yourself is part of your Breathwork journey because sometimes you may say yes, but you mean no.

Instances when you say yes, but don’t really mean yes include:

• You may want to please your Breathworker by saying yes, but actually you don’t want it.

• You don’t want to cause a fuss.

• You don’t want to be judged.

• You don’t want to say no to an authority figure (your Breathworker)

• You don’t say anything because you want to be liked.

If any of these apply to you during a session then tell your Breathworker. It is important to understand that your Breathworker will not get annoyed with you because you don’t want to be touched.

Just Say No

If you don’t want to be touched, it is your absolute right to say no. Irrespective of how experienced or popular your Breathworker is, it is vital that you speak up. An ethical Breathworker will be understanding, and will not be persistent.

If you have experienced trauma and for whatever reason you kept silent, then you may have difficulty speaking up. A trauma informed Breathworker will notice that you don’t want to be touched and won’t push you. No means NO, silence or absence of a no – does not mean yes.

It is important that you mention any trauma you have experienced, in your induction interview.

Difficult Reactions to Touch

When you are in a vulnerable state you may regress to feelings from when you were younger. Breathworkers are aware of this. Difficult reactions include:

• Your body freezes and it feels like you can’t move

• You feel like you can’t speak

• You writhe

• You flinch

• You scrunch your face up

• You are startled

• You defensively move your arm to protect yourself

• You feel anxious, angry or sad

If you agree to be touched and then you feel uncomfortable when your Breathworker touches you, let your Breathworker know. Tell them, “can you stop touching me” It is always ok to change your mind.

Breathworkers understand that during a session – you are in an altered state of consciousness and even if you agree to be touched it may not be what you want.

Trauma informed Breathworkers understand that it takes time to for some people to develop trust. Not everyone is able to speak up if they have had traumatic experiences. Your Breathworker will be observing your reaction and will check with you make sure you’re ok. It is always evident to a Breathworker if you freeze and when you can’t speak or move. They will ask you, “can you respond to me?” or “can you tell me what is happening?”

Physical Abuse

Many people have experienced physical assault or trauma and may writhe when being touched. Ethical Breathworkers understand that writhing may happen even when they offer a comforting touch. When we’ve been attacked by another person, it can be hard to know whom we can trust—especially if we were caught off guard. People who have been subject to physical abuse tend to blame themselves for the trauma. If necessary, your Breathworker may refer you to specialised therapist.

Sexual Abuse

One in three women and one in six men will experience some form of sexual assault in their lifetime. However, research has indicated that sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes. There are many reasons that account for underreporting, including the guilt and stigma. Again, people who have been subject to sexual abuse tend to blame themselves for the trauma.

Touch Sensitivity

Touch sensitivity is commonly reported by children or adults who experience sensory processing differences. Sensory integration trained occupational therapists would usually call this tactile sensory issue ‘tactile defensiveness‘. Sometimes they may use the term ‘over-responsivity to touch’ or touch sensitivity but the terms mean the same thing. To date, there is no confirmed cause of tactile sensitivity but it is frequently reported by autistic individuals. Your Breathworker may refer you to an Occupational Therapist for expert advice.