Breathwork Class in Dayton, Ohio
Breathwork is the term used for the modern-day trend of breathing exercises. While it’s becoming more mainstream to take a breathwork class, it’s been around for thousands of years, particularly in the practices of yoga. Our ancient yoga ancestors knew the benefits of breathing exercises very well and now our western society has concrete evidence that suggests numerous health benefits to practicing various breathing modalities.
Breathwork is becoming an essential form of self-care, especially for those that want optimal health and well being. Many health seekers tend to focus on physical endeavors to change the aesthetics of their body, while breathwork focuses on energetic, respiratory health, and emotional well-being. It may not change how you look, but a breathwork class can certainly transform how you feel and how you feel about yourself.
Benefits of breathwork
The research on breathwork continues to grow and looks promising. Current research shows that breathwork exercises:
- improves circulation
- expands lung capacity
- reduces anxiety and stress
- boosts energy and immunity
- helps manage pain
- improves sleep
- helps process and heal trauma
- balances Ph levels in blood which can improve muscle tone
- improves digestion
- increased focus and creativity
Types of breathwork
Functional
Functional breathwork is what we typically use on a day-to-day basis and are techniques commonly found in yoga and meditation classes. These breathing techniques are more commonly known as pranayama and have been practiced for thousands of years for optimal health and well-being. Pranayama focuses on controlling the breath through various techniques. This can include slowing or speeding up the breath, holding the breath—known as kumbhaka or breath retention, focusing your attention to a specific part of the body while breathing, and doing various ratios of breathing. A mix of these techniques can also be employed to create a dynamic breathing practice. For instance, box breath, Sama Vrtti Pranayama, is a moderately-paced counted breath with a ratio of 4:4:4:4. You breathe in for 4 counts, retain (kumbhaka) for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, and retain again for 4 counts. To make the practice more challenging, increase the ratio/count.
In pranayama practices, what’s not accounted for is the amount of rigor incorporated into the various practices. This knowledge is gained as you learn the individual breathing techniques and their benefits, which can be taught by a seasoned breathwork or yoga practitioners, or over time through personal research and practice.
Types of pranayama and functional breathing practices include:
+ Diaphragmatic breath
+ Nadi Shodhana•alternate nostril breath
+ Viloma•interrupted breath
+ Kapalabhati•breath of fire
+ Bhastrika•bellows breath
Functional breathing supports in optimizing your internal regulatory system and your ability to process stimuli. Individuals who practice pranayama on a regular basis report being less reactive in stressful circumstances, have a higher tolerance for annoyances, and overall have increased peace and calm.
Functional breathwork sessions can be scheduled in 30 or 45-minute increments. If scheduled for 45-minutes, a meditation will be included.
Pricing for a functional breathwork session
PRIVATE SESSION: 30 MINUTES (starting at) $49
PRIVATE SESSION: 45 MINUTES (starting at) $65
Therapeutic
Therapeutic breathwork, also known as conscious connected breath or holotropic breath, is a modern modality of breathing that is used to enter altered states of healing. It is offered in medicinal doses by a trained therapeutic breathwork facilitator that supports your process.
Consciously connected breath stimulates our emotional brain (limbic system and brain stem) and interrupts our autonomic nervous system patterns to release stored emotion and trauma from the somatic body and brain. Discharge from the somatic body can manifest as things such as shaking, tremors, emotional release, euphoria and bliss. Over time this will support you in regulating your nervous system, expand your window of tolerance and create more freedom in your body.
A therapeutic breathwork class is typically done lying down in a comfortable position. Your breathwork facilitator is present to first teach you the conscious connected breathing method, and then guide you verbally and with music as you move into altered states of consciousness. As your breathing session comes to an end, you’re then provided ample space to process individually and/or with your facilitator. It’s a safe space for those that desire deep healing and transformative work.
Pricing for therapeutic breathwork
INTRO SESSION: 90 MINUTES $99
STANDARD SESSION: 75 MINUTES $147
SESSION PACKAGE: 3 SESSIONS $399
