The Healing Power of the Breath: Exploring Somatic Healing
When I think about what it means to be well or to encompass well-being, I envision a profound sense of peace and tranquility in who I am and whatever I face. I feel aligned with where I am in life and how I am showing up in this world. I am anchored by deeply rooted values that worldly trends or limited perspectives cannot sway. I feel hopeful, optimistic, and delightfully satisfied now. Ultimately, I feel blessed.
My journey towards well-being doesn’t have a clear starting point, as it’s an ongoing process with no definitive beginning or end. We are forever evolving. For me, a significant turning point was in 2018 when I left a toxic, unfulfilled situation in my life. That decision opened up more space in my life for goodness to flow. I started a job I loved, focused on getting my body in the best shape ever, and developed a spiritual routine that included prayer, meditation, and exercise. I began engaging in community more than ever before, finding fulfillment in music, dance, community, and connection. This journey led me to explore wellness in all its forms, and my spiritual connection deepened as I embraced various ways of connecting with God through influences like Abraham Hicks and Michael Beckwith. I created vision boards and led vision board sessions, realizing their power. Five years later, I can see how much I’ve grown and how deeply I’ve connected with myself. Well-being has expanded, and I am not who I was five years ago. I am deeply appreciative of this growth, and my wellness practices have evolved accordingly.
Well-being is an ever-evolving journey, continuously unfolding. What brings balance, joy, or wellness at one point may not serve the same purpose at another. It’s crucial not to remain static or fixed but to continually re-evaluate what you are doing for yourself to maintain your desired state of well-being.
This past weekend, I decided to experience a new technique to support healing and well-being called Somatic Breathwork. As someone who has practiced various styles of mindfulness, yoga, meditation, art, and creative therapies, I was eager to explore something new.
Somatic Breathwork involves conscious, mindful breathing with numerous benefits, including releasing subconscious trauma, tension, and pent-up energy in the body, reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep and mood, and deepening spiritual connection.
On the morning of my session I was greeted by Nairobi Vision, Registered Herbalist and Founder of Elemental Notes, and Certified Breathwork Facilitator who has been practicing the power of breath for healing for many years. She shared her journey of healing through this ancient technique that connects mind and body, supports the movement of energy throughout.
This practice involves a significant amount of guided, instructional breathing. Being new to it, I was initially concerned about the breathing patterns and rhythms, and whether I was doing it right. Lying beside my sister on comfortable, pillowed mats with blankets, we were directed to cover our eyes with eye masks. As darkness became intentional, my breath deepened. We spent an hour breathing and feeling, with emotions and physical sensations intertwined. The experience was transformative, as my breath centered me and I felt spiritually transported to another place. My body released pent-up tensions, and I was moved to move both physically and spiritually.
During the session, insights surfaced. I envisioned myself in places that ignited feelings of liberation. It was as if my breath had transported me to another dimension. Beyond the immediate feelings, I felt alignment in body, mind, and soul. I felt in complete control of my mind, refreshed, relaxed, and reconnected to my source. There was a newfound clarity and depth of understanding. Nairobi Vision’s soft affirmations, mantras, and intentions filled our psyches with desires for prosperity, well-being, and ultimate fulfillment.
It was beautiful to hear how this session resonated with each participant in unique ways. Many of us were moved to tears, experiencing a profound sense of release and relief. This session revealed to me the immense power of breath and its potential to transform our inner world when we become more attuned to it. While this is just one of many practices you can adopt for well-being, I encourage you to venture beyond your comfort zone to discover the multitude of channels to wellness and healing.
Ultimately, well-being is a personal journey and definition. It is fleeting, fragile, ever-changing, and fluid. The goal is to integrate well-being into your daily life, making it a significant part of your existence. Your definition of well-being should evolve with your experiences and growth. What I love about the journey of well-being is its dynamic nature. As we encounter more in life, our perspectives broaden, and so does our quest for well-being.
You can follow or connect with Nairobi Vision, Registered Herbalist and Founder Elemental Notes to learn more and participate in one of her sessions.
Website https://elementalnotes.ca/somatic-breath-work
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elementalnotes.ca/