Posted On March 27, 2023

This is a question that I get a lot. I mainly get these questions from students in The Breath of Gold Breathwork Facilitator Program or students that have been practicing breathwork for years. 

In the beginning of someone’s journey with practicing breathwork, a few single breathwork sessions could change their entire lives. It’s not always the case that people go less deep over time but it certainly can happen. 

Is it that they’ve already released all of their trauma? They may have already released a LOT of it. But healing happens in layers and often things from the past resurface when another layer of healing is ready. 

Is it that it no longer works for them? No, breathwork still works. Here are some suggestions to deepen your breathwork experience. 

TYPES OF BREATHWORK FOR EMOTIONAL RELEASE

There are many types of breathwork. Circular connected breathwork and three-part breathwork are both POWERFUL breathwork styles to support releasing energetic blocks, past trauma, and limiting beliefs.

Best Styles of Breathwork for Emotional Release (Author’s Choice)

• Circular Connected Breathwork
• Three-Part Breathwork

NOT GETTING THE RELEASE YOU WANT FROM CIRCULAR CONNECTED BREATHWORK?

• Do The Pre-Work - Journal in depth about your intention, make sure you are well-rested before the session, share your intention out loud with a facilitator
• Adjust to Your Body - Everybody is different. Some people may need a longer session to have the emotional release they are looking for. 
• Trust Your Body - I truly believe that everyone gets exactly what they most need from breath work, if your body needs rest & sleep most of all--you may just fall asleep during a session

SHIFTS TO MAKE IN BREATHWORK TO GO DEEPER

• Assess Your Breathing - Have a certified breathwork facilitator give you feedback on your breathing so that you can see if your exhales are too forceful or if you're breathing deeply enough
• Have an In-Person Session - The energy that can be brought up in a breathwork session is powerful. Sometimes people feel safer to go deeper in an in-person session
• Be Patient - It's common for frequent breathworkers to go through years or months without having "as big of experiences" as they did before. That's okay. You don't always need to have a huge catharsis. Trust that your body knows what you need and what you're ready for.

HOW TO GO DEEPER IN BREATHWORK

• Practice Safety First - Going "deeper" isn't always better. It isn't always better to breathe deeper. It's best to listen to your body's cues. (Inform yourself of the contraindications of certain types of breathwork)
• Have a 1:1 Session - One-on-one breathwork sessions are very different from group sessions or online sessions. They often are more like an alternative "therapy session" where talking is involved to support you in releasing
• Find a Local Group - In-person breathwork can sometimes take you deeper because you feel the room's energy and hear the sounds of deep breathing around you, encouraging you to breathe deeper. 
• Change it Up - Some people don't go as deep in Circular Connected Breath. Wim-hof or 3-Part Breath may support you in going deeper. Everybody is different.

I hope this blog article provides insights into how to get the most out of your breathwork practice. 

Sometimes what our body is needing isn't necessarily a big emotional release, it might actually be to slow down and do other styles of breathwork that activate the parasympathetic nervous system. 

All in all, trust yourself. Trust your breath. Be patient with yourself. 

Interested in 1:1 Breathwork?

It can be a way to sometimes go deeper. Send an email to adrienne@adriennerivera.com if you're curious about 1:1 Breathwork.