What is Breathexperience — Breathexperience Canada

“To our ordinary consciousness, breathing only serves to maintain our body. But if we go beyond our mind, breathing can open up a completely new foundation for our life.”

1. What is Breathexperience?

Breathexperience is a somatic practice that is based on the allowed breath – the breath that comes and goes on its own without interference. Breath reflects every aspect of our life, on all levels of being – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. When we participate consciously in sensing breath movement without control, we access inner resources which support balance, health and vitality. Breath becomes our teacher and healer.

2. How does this happen?

We sense the movements in our body that are initiated by breath… breath that comes and goes on its own in an ever-continuing act of filling and emptying, receiving and giving, creating our individual breath rhythm.

In Breath & Movement classes, we practice simple movements that heighten awareness of breath moving throughout the whole body. This makes us aware of the reality that we are a 3-dimensional, substantial, moving, breathing body.

Teachers provide offers and not direction. You are invited to honour your experience, and therefore are not expected to soldier through any discomfort. If you are tired, pause. If you want to stand, stand. If you need to move, move.

Our Three Guiding Principles are:

Allowing – letting the breath come and go on its own
Sensing – sensing the movement of breath
Presence – participating fully in sensing the movement

3. How do I participate?

We offer group and private Breath & Movement classes, as well as Breath Dialogue sessions.

Your first introductory class is free. We’ll introduce you to the principles, guide you through a breath exploration, and answer any questions you may have. Email alisa@breathexperience.ca to schedule your session

4. What is breath dialogue?

In hands-on sessions, the client lies on a low padded table. This practice is called Breath Dialogue because the practitioner listens to the movements of the client’s breath through their hands. Through subtle stretches, the client receives “questions” posed to the breath. These questions invite breath to develop throughout the whole body and being. The process is inspired by listening and responding, rather than directed by a concept planned by the practitioner.

5. Who is Breathexperience for?

We’ve worked with therapists, poets, business leaders, singers, nurses, writers, parents, actors, politicians, dancers, teachers, somatic practitioners, scientists, home makers, doctors, landscape artists, homeopaths, instrumentalists, and athletes.

We know that it’s quite a list, but in summary: this work is for the curious and for those who have a desire to find ease and vitality in their lives.

6. What is the goal of this work? What will I get out of it?

This work is about living life fully. If we were to express a specific goal, it would be awareness -- specifically, awareness of the movement of your breath, and how that movement gives you access to your inner resources.

When we speak of your ‘inner resources’, we are referring to your capacity for: creativity, mental clarity, emotional awareness, physical vitality, and authentic/meaningful relationships with others. This awareness extends past the studio into your work and private life.

7. Is this a meditation or mindfulness technique?

Yes, there is a formal meditation structure that is part of the work, but this work is less about quieting your thoughts and more about developing an awareness of the way breath movement travels through your whole body.

You learn to follow and be carried by that movement, moment-to-moment. When you sense your allowed breath in this way, life takes on a meditative quality.

8. How is this different from other forms of breath work?

In many forms of breath work, the breath is managed by counting, directing, or holding.

Instead of managing, we allow the breath to come and go on its own without interference. We believe that the allowed breath holds a healing intelligence that is greater than our opinion, judgement, or management. When we notice the movement of that allowed breath, we give ourselves access to that healing intelligence.

**9. What does it mean to ‘let your breath come and go on its own’? Don’t I already do this?**

Yes, you probably do this in some way or another, but often we don’t notice. The practice is in noticing what is; noticing the movement.

We tend to think that a good breath is an even, long, deep breath, and that this perfect breath should repeat in exactly the same way.

But our breath in its natural state is constantly responding to a myriad of stimuli both internal and external. That responsiveness is expressed by the variability of breath -- no two breath cycles are ever the same when we let the breath come and go on its own.

Tremendous freedom can come with the realization that you don’t need to fix anything. You can be with yourself exactly as you are, moment-to-moment.

10. I’m nervous about attending my first class.
What should I expect?

When in the studio, we generally sit on a stool to begin. There will be cushions available so that you can adjust your stool the appropriate height (knees should be slightly lower than your hips). At the end of a process, you will be invited to talk about your experience, but speaking is not required.

When online, we recommend that you find a space that gives you freedom to move. You’ll need a flat bottomed chair (like a kitchen or office chair).

Being nervous is part of living and trying new things, and it is an opportunity to practice a foundational element of our work: which is to offer ourselves the generosity of being with ourselves the way we are.

11. What do I need to wear or bring?

Wear clothing that is nonrestrictive and that you can move around in. You will be barefoot; we recommend socks. You don’t need to bring anything specific with you.