Breathwork: Cultivating our Inner Haven
Sister…
Just Breathe!
I am so happy to welcome the March special guest and breathwork expert, Holly Pickerel, to teach us all about how we can cultivate our inner haven through breathwork.
Have you ever felt as though your outer, surface world — doesn’t truly reflect what is UNDER the surface? We’ve ALL been there. Maybe it’s…
Smiling although we’re internally anguished?
“Keeping it together” because it doesn’t feel safe to fall apart?
Or checking all the ritualistic boxes, although internally, we may feel deeply stressed and overwhelmed?
While our emotions are never meant to govern our lives - they do need a healthy outlet to be expressed because of the role they play in our physical bodies and mental health.
—enter Somatic Release Breathwork!
As a Holistic Life Coach and SRBW practitioner, my journey with breathwork (rhythmic breathing patterns as a tool to alleviate stress or improve performance) actually began many years ago as a client.
A trusted friend and counselor shared a 4-4-8 breathing practice with me (check it out here! https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck9m9nJAsNv/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= ) years ago during an especially stressful season of my life - I was hooked! I began using it for everything…to calm my mind before I said my prayers, to ease performance anxiety before a speaking engagement, or unwind into sleep at night. Later, I taught it to my children to help them process big emotions like anger or frustration.
Over the next 6 years, two things happened:
I curiously explored many different styles of breathwork, and
I began my own life coaching practice and discovered a common theme among my clients:
Just like a former version of me — many had a habit of building lives that looked good on paper, and “checked all the boxes,” but didn’t always FEEL GOOD when they laid their heads down at night. What they truly needed wasn’t to “do” more - it was to feel more and BE more. ❤️
In that place, I realized God led me to Somatic Release Breathwork not just for me, but for them. Breathwork helps you answer the question — who is God inviting me to BE?
You can learn about this particular style of Breathwork in detail here https://www.hollypickerelcoaching.com/breathwork — but in the meantime, check this out:
4 Ways Somatic Release Breathwork builds your INNER Haven:
1. Physically
— during a session, rhythmic breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system. This is known as your “rest + digest” system and is responsible for healing, recovery, improved digestion, immune strength, stronger lungs, and so much more.
2. Mentally
— rooted in connection and co-regulation from client to practitioner, SRBW supports positive mental health through community and significantly increasing your own self-awareness.
3. Emotionally
— neuro-linguistic verbal cues are used within sessions to spark emotional freedom. As a trauma-informed practitioner speaks phrases like, “it’s safe to feel,” or “you don’t have to carry that anymore,” powerful permission to express emotion is deeply felt by clients. Many experience cathartic release that allows you to move from your head into your heart, healing trauma + relieving stress in the process.
4. spiritually
— regardless of your spiritual background, breath is a universal language deeply connected to soul-work across cultures. As the first and last thing you’ll do upon entering and leaving this world, “be still and know” often means doing one thing only: breathing. Many clients feel a deep sense of spiritual connection, surrender, and beauty post-breathwork session.
Here, https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cdf7v1TAMt1/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= , you’ll find a tutorial for a 1-3 minute Breathwork practice you can weave into your morning or evening routine for greater inner peace and fortitude.
“Be still and know,” my friend — all of you is welcome here.
I’m rooting for you,
Holly P.
Thank you for landing here and a big thank you to Holly for sharing all of her breath work wisdom with us.
I would love for you to come back soon sister!