Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a general question about breathwork or cold training or what I offer, maybe I’ve answered it in an FAQ below. Don’t see your question below, or still unsure? Contact me
Beforehand
Ensure you're well hydrated on the day.
Avoid (or limit) caffeine 3 hours prior.
Smokers; for in-person sessions please stop 60 mins prior and refresh your breath beforehand.
Please don't eat a large meal 1-2 hours prior (breathing with a full belly isn't fun).
If you're under the influence of non-prescription drugs or alcohol you will be not be allowed to participate (no refund will be provided under these circumstances).
As you may be moving around and to facilitate any bodywork, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing e.g. loose pants/leggings and t-shirt/top (please do not wear jeans or a dress/skirt).
If this is your first session, please arrive 15 mins prior to complete intake paperwork.
If possible, arrive 5-10 mins prior to allow yourself to relax & ground.
If you have any cold or flu-like symptoms, however mild, please do not attend the session (we can swap to online).
Afterward
You will leave the session feeling balanced, however your nervous system will still be adjusting, so go slow and be gentle with yourself in the hours after the session.
As your internal world may be heightened, I recommend being mindful of what you watch/listen to/engage with (probably don't watch that horror movie).
Aim to get good sleep the night of your session.
Integration & Between-Session Support
As much as this is a practitioner-client setup and I am here for support, I ask you to develop integration practices that allow you to develop deeper self-dependence.
Understand everyone is different and it may take longer for some to fully integrate than it does for others (days or even weeks).
Below are some advised integration tools:
Slowing down
Grounding exercises (get barefoot on the grass!)
Mindful breathing
Engaging your senses; Sight, Hearing, Touch, Voice & Smell
Journaling & artistic expression
Meditation
Hold a significant object
Yin Yoga or Yoga Nidra
Connect to your 'felt sense'
Connect to your internal & external resources
Don’t make big decisions...Just yet
Refrain from drugs, alcohol & poor diet choices
For questions or if you require further support, please contact me.
Important Reminder:
These sessions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of these sessions.
For life-threatening or urgent situation:
In Australia - Triple Zero (000)
Mobile, worldwide - One One Two (112)
For crisis and suicide support (within Australia):
Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
Headspace - 1800 650 890
Common sense should always prevail in determining what modalities you participate in, but there are a few conditions that are not good matches to the intensity that can come with this modality. Those in the following groups should abstain from BBTRS® entirely:
Those under 18 years of age.
People under the influence of recreational drugs or alcohol.
Pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, as the release associated with deep breathwork should be avoided.
Those who suffer from asthma, unless it is very mild (please consult a doctor).
Severe heart disease, epilepsy, or a history of seizures.
Mental illness, especially schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and any condition that includes psychosis.
Severe diabetes, although some people with very mild diabetes, and who are proactive with diet and medication, might tolerate BBTRS® (please consult a doctor).
Acute physical injuries can be exacerbated by some of the autonomic movements in BBTRS®. Please consult with a doctor or physical therapist and your BBTRS® facilitator to determine if your level of healing is sufficient to participate.
​ If you have specific questions relating to your health, please contact me.
When signing up for a multiple session offering, all sessions are booked at once. While this may sound strange, putting everything in your calendar helps create momentum & commitment to the process.
I recommend leaving no more than 2 weeks between sessions.
You'll receive a booking confirmation email and then reminders 24 hours and 1 hour prior. The booking software is very user friendly and you can reschedule your bookings with just a few clicks.
Everyone is arriving for this journey with their own life experience and with their own goals & desires for this work. The Biodynamic Breathwork approach is to work systematically to gently release psychological & somatic defence mechanisms, layer by layer. For many, somatic breathwork is an entirely new modality, so it can take a few sessions to begin to develop your felt sense and get into the practice.
For these reasons, there are several offerings available.
From my own experience, the full 8-session journey was needed to really start to tune in to the physical & emotional sensations within my body. I look at this work as a layer-by-layer journey, working with each of the 7 'Belts of Tension' each time, to fully explore each new layer.
The integration period for everybody is different. It's a vital part of the journey to give yourself time to process what you experience during your sessions. For this reason, I don't recommend more than one session per week. Fortnightly is my suggested frequency, but we can discuss this together.
Group work is not currently offered for my Biodynamic Breathwork sessions. In a similar way that people largely attend therapy individually, a Biodynamic Breathwork session is no different. Part of creating a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment for expression is to hold sessions only one-on-one.
(And I've only got 2 hands for bodywork!)
All online sessions will be facilitated by video call.
Please be in front of a computer or mobile phone, ideally with headphones, with your camera positioned so I can clearly see from your head to your hips.
You can either be seated or lying down.
Ensure you're in safe environment, indoors, with enough room to move freely.
To help with any potential emotional expression, please be in a location where you're able to talk, cry etc. openly.
I recommend keeping pets (and children if possible) out of the room.
To fully honor the work you're doing, I strongly encourage you to ask people to not disturb you during your session.
Ensure any mobile phones and smart watches are on airplane mode (I recommend removing your smart watch).
Please have water, tissues, notebook & pen nearby.
If you're lying down, I recommend using a yoga mat, blanket and small pillow.
No. Most current 'transformational' style breathwork techniques (e.g. Conscious Connected Breathwork, Rebirthing, Holotropic Breathwork) focus primarily on altered states of consciousness, which for some can trigger dissociation (or even lead to retraumatisation).
Biodynamic Breathwork adds a crucial embodied somatic element, combining a conscious connected breath with movement & therapeutic touch. Additionally, BBTRS® uses the tools of pendulation, titration, discharge & regulation to help clients safely & slowly work on releasing stored tension and trauma from the body.
Pendulation - shifting between feelings of safety and discomfort in a balanced way.
Titration - gradually working with small amounts of tension to avoid overwhelming the nervous system.
Discharge - releasing stored physical tension in the body through movement or activity.
Regulation - the process of learning to self-regulate the nervous system and manage physical sensations & emotions.
With it's strong emphasis on releasing trauma stored in the body, via the body, BBTRS® is especially effective for those working through deep-seated emotional issues.
Learn what makes BBTRS® so unique & transformative.
No. Biodynamic Breathwork is not talk therapy. These sessions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or therapeutic advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of these sessions.
The training to become a fully certified Biodynamic Breathwork practitioner is one of the most comprehensive breathworker trainings globally, consisting of 500+ hours of study and taking between 18-24 months.
The training is broken down into 4 modules. At the end of each one, including the first one, we're permitted to begin seeing clients, to help develop our skills as a facilitator. During this period we required to let clients know we're a BBTRS® Practitioner ‘In Training’.
Please be assured that I am committed to:
Always providing a service I am confident in;
Delivering that service to the highest ethical standards; and
Continuing my own personal & professional development, including beyond the BBTRS® curriculum.
Please contact me with any further queries or visit the BBTRS® website.
Working at this level on your personal growth & healing is vulnerable. It's as much about the resonance between facilitator and client and the space that's created, as it is the modality itself. Having interacted with many therapists over time, I would have really appreciated a chat prior to see if we're a good fit.... so that's what I offer. Simply reach out and we'll organise a call together. Contact me
