People ask me this more than anything else. Usually right before they book, sometimes right before we start breathing.
Fair question. You're about to lie down and breathe in a way you never have, on purpose, for close to an hour. You should know what you're getting into.
So here's the honest answer from someone who does this work and has been on the mat himself.
The short answer
For most healthy adults, yes, breathwork is safe. It's also active. The style I guide is a connected breathing pattern. Inhale into the belly, then chest/heart, exhale. That's what makes it powerful, and it's also why it isn't for everyone, every time.
Safe doesn't mean easy. It means you know what's normal, you know when to sit one out, and you have someone guiding you who knows the difference.
What's normal during a session
The first time you feel some of this, it can be confronting. All of it is common and it passes when you go back to normal breathing:
Tingling or buzzing in your hands, feet, or face.
Tightness in the hands or mouth. Your fingers may curl a little. It looks strange and it goes away.
Feeling light-headed or like you're floating.
Heat, cold, or waves of energy moving through the body.
Emotion. Crying, laughing, anger, grief, sometimes all in ten minutes. This is the point, not a problem.
Memories or images that come up out of nowhere.
Deep stillness. Some people feel almost nothing dramatic, just quiet. That counts too.
None of this means something is wrong. It means your body is doing something different than it does all day. And you're in control the whole time. It's your breath. Slow it down and most of these sensations fade within a minute or two.
Who should check with a doctor first
This is the part I don't skip, and neither should you. Talk to your doctor before an active breathwork session if you:
Are pregnant
Have a heart condition or high blood pressure
Have epilepsy or a history of seizures
Have glaucoma or a detached retina
Had a recent surgery or injury
Have a history of psychosis or a severe mental health condition
If anything on that list applies, it doesn't automatically mean no. It means get the green light first, and tell me. I can adjust the session or skip the intense breathing and work in a gentler way.
And if you're in crisis right now, breathwork isn't the next step. Reach out to a licensed professional or call or text 988.
Two rules for doing breathwork on your own
A lot of people try breathwork from an app or a YouTube video first. That's fine. Two rules, no exceptions:
Never do it in or near water. No bathtubs, no pools.
Never do it while driving or doing anything where feeling light-headed could hurt you.
Lie down somewhere safe. Go slower than you think you need to.
Is breathwork the same as therapy?
No. Breathwork and coaching are not therapy or medical care, and I won't pretend they are.
What breathwork does is get you out of your head and into your body. A lot of the people I work with have done the talking. They've done therapy, read the books, can explain exactly why they are the way they are. And something still won't move. That's where breathwork can open a door that talking hasn't. Plenty of people do both, and that's often the best combination.
How to prepare for your first session
Eat light. Skip a big meal for a couple of hours before.
Skip alcohol and other substances that day.
Wear comfortable clothes and have a blanket. Your temperature can swing.
Use headphones if you're joining on Zoom, and find a private space where you can lie down and make noise.
Drink water before and after.
Give yourself time after. Don't schedule a big meeting right after your session. Let it land.
What a session with me looks like
A 1:1 breathwork session with me runs 60 to 70 minutes. We start with a check-in about where you are and what you want to open up or let go of. I teach you the breath before we begin. Then you breathe to music with my voice guiding you the whole way. We finish with time to slow down, land, and talk about what came up.
Sessions are in person in Delray Beach, close to Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach, or on Zoom from anywhere.
I'm a certified breathwork healer. I trained in New Mexico, and breathwork has been the most powerful healing experience of my own life. I'm not reading from a script. I've been where you're about to go.
Ready to try it?
If you've done the work and something is still sitting in your chest, this might be what moves it.
Book 1:1 Breathwork Session, or if you want to go deeper, apply for The Rebuild, my 8-week coaching program where sessions include breathwork.
