Stepping back to witness thoughts from a distance and discern inner truth from everyday chatter is not easy. Meditation is excellent, but it takes time to become skillful at paying attention, noticing our thoughts in the present moment without judgment and parsing out the real gems from the constant stream. We spend a lot of time in our heads, and let's be honest; all the thinking and analysis is a source of much of our suffering.

 

Its brilliance is its capacity to quiet the default mode network, which Author, Journalist, and experiential researcher Michael Pollan, in his book How to Change Your Mind (2018), referred to as the “me” network. Its about self-identity and the ego. Breathwork activates another network that nudges the ego out of the way and produces an expanded, compassionate witnessing awareness along with creative solutions. It also integrates new insights into old stories, revealing inner truths that allow us to see a way through from that 30,000-foot perspective.

 

 

An Integrative Breathwork session lasts about 90 minutes. By breathing more deeply, at a slightly faster rate without pausing, you will feel your body tingle and your chatter subside within about 10 to 20 minutes. Most people experience a deep, dreamy relaxation while important images, emotions, and insights emerge as new neural pathways light up. Personal growth has a lot to do with creating new habits and neural pathways in the brain instead of relying on old ways of being that do not serve our evolution.

You know how good you feel when you've slept well, received an invigorating massage, or entered a deep state of meditation. Breathwork sessions create a balanced, calm, clear state in your body and mind.

• Saves time
• Low-tech
• No thinking required
• Quiets your typical default mode
• Builds new healthy neural pathways
• Not reliant on a therapeutic intervention