Question 1

What is breathwork?

Accepted Answer

Breathwork is a broad term for conscious, controlled breathing practices — that influence how your body and nervous system function — for relaxation, meditation, therapeutic, performance or spiritual purposes.

Some approaches focus on improving everyday breathing habits, while others work more deeply with patterns held in the body.

Question 2

I’m new to breathwork, how do I get started?

Accepted Answer

There’s a lot of breathwork content out there, so it can be confusing to know where to begin. I recommend visiting my blog:
Articles to get you started
My top breathwork content

Question 3

Is the Functional Breathing Reset suitable for everyone?

Accepted Answer

The program is suitable for most people. However, please get in touch before booking if any of the following apply:Pregnancy or trying to conceiveSignificant respiratory conditions (such as COPD)Severe cardiovascular conditions (including recent heart attack or stroke)Mental health conditions involving psychosis (including schizophrenia or bipolar disorder)Recent surgery or acute physical injuryIf you're unsure, contact me before booking and we can discuss whether the program is appropriate or whether a different starting point would be more suitable.

Question 4

How do I know which type of breathwork is right for me?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you’re looking for.
If your focus is sleep, energy, or stress, functional breathwork is often a good place to start.
If you’re working with deeper patterns or reactivity, somatic breathwork may be more relevant.
If you’re unsure, a short consult call can help clarify.

Question 5

Is breathwork safe?

Accepted Answer

When guided appropriately and using techniques matched to the individual, breathwork is generally safe. Certain techniques have health contraindications, so the key is working with someone who understands respiratory physiology, practice context, and importantly how to adapt the approach.

Read: 5 Qualities to Look for in a Breathwork Facilitator

Question 6

Is breathwork suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

Breathing exercises are a fantastic way to empower children of all ages to self-regulate. They can help with increasing focus & concentration, regulating strong emotions, responding better to their environment, improving sleep and boosting their overall mental wellbeing. There are also incredible physical health benefits to children learning to breathe better including managing respiratory conditions like asthma and lowering their likelihood of needing corrective dentistry.

However, as children's respiratory system isn't fully developed, and their internal awareness and focus skills are not the same as an adult, it's important to use age-appropriate techniques.

Here's some articles to get you started:
Breathing Exercises for Parents and Children
My Top Breathing Resources for Parents
 
Note: While I have a limit of +18 years at my public workshops, I'm happy to discuss, on a case-by-case basis, teaching those under 18 at private workshops under supervision of a parent or legal guardian. I do not teach children under the age of 13.

Question 7

What happens in a breathwork session?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the approach.
Some sessions, like Functional Breathwork, are structured and technique-based, and use clinical assessments to focus on how you breathe.
Others, like Somatic Breathwork, use an activating breathing technique and are more guided and exploratory, working with what arises in the body.
In both cases, the aim is to help your system shift in a way that’s useful and sustainable.

Question 8

My fingers tighten up during the breathing - what is happening?

Accepted Answer

TL;DR High-ventilation breathing techniques increases nerve cell activity which can cause muscles to contract spontaneously, most noticeably in the hands and feet.
 
During intense breathwork sessions you may experience involuntary muscle contraction (initially felt as a tingling sensation) in your hands or feet, known as ‘tetany’. Intensified breathing causes a decrease in CO2 within the blood (respiratory alkalosis), starting a cascade of ionization changes and leading to increased nerve cell sensitivity. These cells then require less excitation to cause a muscle response, to the point where the muscles can contract spontaneously. The effects are typically expressed most distinctly in the hands and feet, but can extend across the entire body.
 
Barring any pre-existing medical conditions, this phenomenon is entirely harmless, and the effects dissipate within minutes following the breathing session. Over time it may no longer occur at all.  
 
Note:
If your whole body is seizing up (not just hands and feet), significantly decrease your breathing intensity and the length of any breath holds. If it continues to occur, please contact me to discuss ways to adjust your technique, as repeatedly doing this is not healthy or helpful
If the sensation is painful, please stop and consult a medical professional

Question 9

I feel lightheaded or I have fainted during the breathing exercise. Is this dangerous?

Accepted Answer

TL;DR No it’s not, but it’s also not the objective (or healthy) to repeatedly have either happen. Decrease your breathing intensity and focus on a slower inhale.
 
Lightheadedness
High-ventilation (a.k.a. fast) breathing techniques can cause a decrease in CO2 within the blood (respiratory alkalosis), which can increase blood pressure and reduce oxygen delivery. For some people, this change in blood pressure causes them to feel lightheaded. In this case, the recommendation is to decrease your breathing intensity and focus on a less forceful exhale (think "equal air in and out"). If the lightheadedness persists, stop and speak with a medical professional.
 
Fainting
By lowering your CO2 levels during the breathing, you’re able to extend the length of time you can hold your breath. Ordinarily, a rise in CO2 during a breath hold would trigger you to take a breath, however, there may be instances when your blood oxygen levels become too low before this has occurred, causing you to faint.
 
This is why we recommend you practice breathwork, especially intense breathing techniques, in a safe location; on a flat, stable surface, with plenty of space around you. You should not practice in or near water, while sitting or standing, or while undertaking any activity where fainting or loss of consciousness could be dangerous.

Question 10

My ears are ringing during or after an intense breathing session - is this normal?

Accepted Answer

It’s important to distinguish between short term, ‘ear ringing’ and the more long term, tinnitus, which has a number of different causes (the mechanism of which is still debated).
 
People seem to fall into one of three categories when it comes to ear ringing sensations;
No ringing sensations (vast majority of people)
Short period of ringing sensations, which generally goes away after 5-30 minutes
Long period of ringing sensations afterward, which may become more intense with continued practice and take longer to disappear (very small minority of people)
 
There are potentially several physiological reasons that trigger the ringing sensation (again, there’s no scientific consensus here);
Temporary blood pressure increase within the inner ear
Temporary decrease in oxygen saturation (hypoxia) within the cochlear 
Increase neural activity in the auditory brainstem, causing auditory nerve cells to become over-excited
An underlying condition that is triggered or exacerbated by the breathing technique (potentially by one of the above reasons)
 
From my experience, there appear to potentially be several technique related triggers;
New to high-intensity breathwork or new to breathwork in general (within the first few months)
Breathing too intensely, leading to very low oxygen saturation during the breath hold
Pressurisation of the head (mainly during the recovery breath) creating a significant increase in cranial blood pressure (this is why I do not recommend people “squeeze to the head” when breathing or holding)

Breathwork in Adelaide

What Breathwork Is (And Isn’t)

The Changes People Often Notice

Understanding the Different Approaches

Somatic Breathwork

Functional Breatwork

Breathwork COACHING

How I Work

What People say

How to Know What’s Right for You

Choosing a Breathwork Facilitator

Explore Breathwork in Adelaide

Understand the Work

FAQs