BREATHWORK
The Science of Breathwork
Breathwork engages the brain’s emotional processing centers, particularly the amygdala, which retrieves past experiences to create emotional responses to new stimuli. These responses are then evaluated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the decision-making center of the brain, providing an opportunity for healing and transformation.
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The main role of breathing is to transport the oxygen to the cells in your body and then clear out the resulting waste product, known as carbon dioxide.
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Yet its importance goes further; there is a growing body of evidence highlighting the role that breathing plays in cognitive function, emotional regulation and stress management.
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Breathing not only tells you what is happening in your body but also provides valuable insights into your current emotional state. Controlled and intentional breathing is an incredibly powerful way to change both your physical and psychological states.
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Deep breathing or ‘diaphragmatic breathing’ is a conscious style of breathing that involves deep, even breaths that fill the ribcage. Diaphragmatic breathing is well established as a valuable tool to down-regulate or calm the nervous system, improve the function of your heart and lungs, and increase feelings of mental and physical well-being.
Types of Breathwork I Offer
Conscious breathwork – a conscious breath, in and out through the mouth, with less stimulating music.
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Shamanic breathwork – the same breath, but more powerful music, invoking a journey
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Receptivity breathwork – created by my teacher, Burge Smith-Lyons, with mild heartfelt music, and a lot of (safe) physical touch, increasing your ability to receive.
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Rebirthing – this is a dry rebirthing (e.g., not in a pool/tub) where you are guided back to the womb, and your birth, uncovering/releasing patterns from your family of origin.
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Groups – my favorite! Grab some friends and let’s all breathe together!
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LightWeaving – I have been in the healing arts, with a full-time energy healing practice even before the breathwork training. As I did the breathwork sessions, a gift began to come through, where my hands intuitively move above your body. The guidance came through that this was called LightWeaving. Literally weaving strands of Light above and through your body. You can decline this if you’d like, but it is beautiful work and it makes me unique in my offerings.
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* Short of whether it is a group or individual, you don’t need to know what type of breathwork you want. We talk about all that at the beginning.
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NOTE: Some people have had difficult experiences with breathwork because the facilitator did not know how to keep the space clean, and toxic energies were around. I promise you that whatever space we work in will be pristine, as will every person who comes. This deep clearing of toxic energies is part of my healing work, and creates the most sacred and safe space possible.
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My Training
Many take a day of training and start right up, offering breathwork to clients. I took this six-month training from Master Teacher Burge Smith-Lyons, founder of Essence of Being and other workshops that I highly recommend. She studied with Sondra Ray, Leonard Orr and others. This was a very different kind of training.
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There was an entire online training, with dozens of individual modules to be completed. There was a self-assessment at the beginning and at the end. There was an exam and final assessment that was extensive. Only two of us were trained here in Atlanta, so we had extra time with her and the ability to ask anything we wanted. There were also students from Texas, so once a month we had a call with everyone. We were required to lead breathwork on people between the training sessions which was recorded and uploaded for her commentary and suggestions – we were required to do sessions on 10 men and 10 women, plus leading groups. We had to experience breathwork ourselves – 10 sessions.
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This was a deep, intense training where I learned so much. I am incredibly grateful to Burge for her gifts, and for this extensive training, far beyond anything else I’ve ever seen. People consistently tell me that this is very, very different than other breathwork they have experienced.
Why is Breathwork So Powerful?
Research supports the idea that breathwork acts as a critical switch in the mind-body connection. It helps shift us from heightened stress and tension to a state of relaxation and calmness, allowing the body and mind to reset and heal.
Does Breathwork Rewire the Brain?
Focused breathing techniques have been shown to impact the brain in at least four significant ways:
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Reducing anxiety arousal and reactivity
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Mitigating re-experiencing of past trauma
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Decreasing negative cognitive and emotional patterns
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Enhancing overall emotional regulation
This neurological shift helps individuals process trauma more effectively and maintain balance in daily life. 10 sessions are recommended but even one can create a magnificent shift.
Although controlled studies on breathwork are limited, anecdotal evidence highlights its profound psychological benefits. It has been successfully used to address depression, anxiety, addiction, burnout, trauma recovery, and even physical illnesses. Its non-verbal approach allows individuals to heal deeply, bypassing traditional cognitive barriers.
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By integrating these elements, breathwork offers a holistic pathway to relaxation, emotional release, and spiritual awakening, making it a cornerstone of self-healing and personal growth.
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Personally I was afraid that fast breathing would be hyperventilation, and would throw me into a panic attack. It is most definitely not that. It is full oxygenation of every cell in your body, which honestly, you’ve probably never really experienced.
Safety is the foundation of deep healing. When clients feel safe, they can fully engage in their breathwork practice, allowing suppressed emotions and unconscious patterns to surface and integrate. A safe space is physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual, ensuring clients feel supported in their process. I am very intentional about creating safe and sacred space where you can lay down your armor and receive/release.​​
Most Commonly Experienced Benefits of Breathwork
The Evidence
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Increased clarity, joy and vitality through releasing everyday stress and tension
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Deep relaxation and calm, nervous system regulation
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Gentle yet powerful release of trauma and suppressed emotions that compromise health and hold us back
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Understanding and releasing early childhood and birth imprints, patterns and memories
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Deep insights and intuitive guidance from the inside
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Connecting with the deepest parts of ourselves and the Divine - the Oneness experience
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Moving through energetic and physical blocks
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Liberating the breathing mechanism from shallow, inhibited breathing patterns
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Super-oxygenating the body and alkalizing the blood
Breath as Energy and Healer
This breathwork, also known as Intuitive Energy Breathing or Conscious Energy Breathing, is the practice of breathing not just air but also life force energy. It is the art of breathing from the Breath Itself—a process that taps into our innate self-healing abilities. Relaxation is at the core of healing, and each conscious breath brings relaxation to the body. Since disease and relaxation cannot coexist, breathing becomes the most fundamental and natural healer.
Conscious Energy Breathing merges the inhale and exhale in a smooth, intuitive rhythm that fills the body with Divine Energy, fostering deep healing and balance. In this altered state of consciousness, the mind and body feel safe, enabling unresolved emotions and memories to surface for gentle release. As energy moves through the breath, sensations and feelings transform, often culminating in a profound sense of peace, clarity, and well-being.
Unraveling the Birth-Death Cycle
Rebirthing is also a process of transcending the birth-death cycle, integrating the body and mind into the conscious awareness of the Eternal Spirit. This journey involves healing deep-seated traumas, including:
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Birth trauma
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Parental disapproval syndrome
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The misuse of the power of the mind (negative thought patterns)
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The unconscious death urge
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Karma from past lives
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Religious conditioning
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School-related trauma
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The effects of aging (senility)
By addressing these core traumas, individuals align more fully with their true essence as conscious expressions of the Eternal Spirit.
HOW IT WORKS
Mobile Breathwork
It is difficult to rent space for breathwork because the music is loud, and the emotional releases can be loud. Thus I will come to you, within a reasonable distance in Atlanta. Breathwork is always done on the ground, not on a massage table. If you are unable to get up and down from the ground, we can talk about other options.
What You Need
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A mat or blanket for each person to lay on
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A pillow for each person, and a flat pillow for me to use if you have hardwood floors
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A blanket or two to cover up in – people have a tendency to get cold during breathwork
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Space, especially in a group. I must have space between people to get to their side. I must have space by the head as much time is spent there
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Low lighting. Some spaces are just bright and sunny, or there are no dimmers for the lights. Have a mask or bandana ready. I also have clean black out masks.
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Tissues
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Water
Pricing
Individual breathwork:
$111 per session
$995 for package of 10
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Group breathwork:
Two people, $97 each
Three people, $77 each
Four or more people, $67 each
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Sessions include prep/intention setting, about 45 or 50 minutes of breathwork, and another 15 – 20 minutes of processing/integration
Payment Methods
Booking
Breathwork sessions are available only on evenings or weekends.
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Please book breathwork sessions by contacting me at ilgatlanta@gmail.com. Use the word 'Breathwork' in your subject. They cannot be booked through the 'Book Now' page. This is only for the hhcollectivewellness bookings - my other work.
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Do not pay me until we have scheduled. Cancellations require a 48 hour timeframe.
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You can learn about all other healing work at www.hhcollectivewellness.com/Debbie