What Happens During a Breathwork Session? A Beginner's Guide

If you've found yourself here, there's a good chance you're curious about breathwork but not entirely sure what it involves. Perhaps a friend has recommended it, you've heard someone talking about it on a podcast, or maybe you've reached a point in life where you're looking for something that helps you feel more like yourself again.

Whatever brought you here, you're probably wondering the same thing I hear almost every week: What actually happens?

The truth is, most people don't come to breathwork because they know exactly what they're looking for. They come because something in life feels a little out of balance. They might be navigating change, carrying grief, feeling overwhelmed, questioning what's next or simply noticing they've become disconnected from themselves. You don't need to have the perfect words for it, and you certainly don't need to have everything figured out before you arrive.

Every session begins with a conversation. We'll spend time talking about how you're arriving, what's happening in your life and anything you'd like to explore. There isn't an agenda beyond yours, and there's no expectation that you need to know where the session will lead. From there, I'll guide you through a simple three-part breathing pattern while you rest comfortably, allowing your mind and body to settle into the experience together.

Music plays a huge part in every session. I've spent years carefully curating playlists because I believe music has the ability to take us somewhere words often can't. Together, the breath and the music create space for whatever needs to unfold. For some people that's a profound sense of calm, for others it's clarity, emotion or simply the feeling of finally taking a full breath after holding everything together for a very long time. No two sessions are ever the same because no two people are the same.

Do I need experience?

Not at all.

Many of the people I work with have never tried breathwork before. You don't need to know how to breathe "properly", you don't need to meditate, and you certainly don't need to think of yourself as someone who's into wellness. You simply need to arrive with a little curiosity and a willingness to meet yourself where you are.

Is breathwork scary?

It's a question I'm always happy to answer because I understand where it comes from. We spend so much of our lives moving from one thing to the next that the idea of slowing down and really paying attention to ourselves can feel unfamiliar.

My approach isn't about pushing people into intense experiences or encouraging emotional overwhelm. Quite the opposite. It's about creating a space where your nervous system feels safe enough to soften at its own pace. You're always in control, and if at any point you want to slow your breathing, pause or simply rest, you can. Every experience is an invitation, never an expectation.

Online or in person?

People are often surprised when I tell them that online sessions can be every bit as powerful as those we share in person. In fact, some people find them even easier because they're already in their own environment, wrapped in their favourite blanket with nowhere to rush off to afterwards. There's something incredibly comforting about being able to close your laptop at the end of the session and simply stay exactly where you are.

If you join me in person, you'll be welcomed into my garden studio or one of the beautiful venues where I hold group experiences. Stepping away from everyday life and giving yourself a dedicated space can feel incredibly nourishing. Neither experience is better than the other; they're simply different, and together we'll find what feels right for you.

Who is breathwork for?

One of the biggest misconceptions about breathwork is that you have to be in crisis before it's worth exploring. That really isn't the case.

The people I work with come from all walks of life. Some are navigating significant life changes, while others are simply noticing that somewhere along the way they've become disconnected from themselves. Many are thoughtful, capable people who spend much of their lives caring for everyone else and rarely pause long enough to ask themselves how they're really doing.

You don't need to arrive with a problem to solve. Sometimes the greatest gift of giving yourself this time is remembering that you don't have to earn rest, connection or compassion. They're already available to you.

What might I leave with?

Every session is different, so I can't promise exactly what you'll experience. What I do know is that people often leave feeling lighter, calmer and more connected to themselves. They describe having greater clarity, more self-compassion or a renewed sense of perspective. Sometimes they leave with answers; sometimes they leave with better questions. Often, the most meaningful shifts happen not during the breathing itself but in the days and weeks afterwards, as something quietly continues to unfold.

That's one of the reasons I love this work so much. A breathwork session isn't about creating a dramatic moment or chasing a particular outcome. It's about creating the conditions for you to reconnect with yourself, because I believe that beneath the noise, the striving and the stories we carry, there's already a quieter, wiser part of us that knows the way home.

If you'd like to experience this for yourself, you can begin with my free 15-minute guided practice, join me at Breathe Love, or explore Your Season