Stress – it’s a pain right? But it’s not just ‘stress’…
It’s the stressor causing the stress,
The stress response that is physically happening in your body.
It’s the sensations and feelings that occur because of that response and the behaviour that follows as well as the story you tell yourself about what’s happening.
It’s a lot deeper than ‘I’m just stressed’.
Stress lives in your body, it impacts your nervous system… It’s a cycle that will keep going around and around until you finally process it.
That’s why, you can’t think your way out of stress and that’s where Somatic release breathwork slides straight in.
What is Somatic Release Breathwork?
Somatic Release Breathwork – let’s break it down. Somatic = soma, the Greek word meaning body. It’s how we use the body and body based techniques to connect in, heal and process within the body. Breathwork – you guessed it, it’s using your breath as the tool to process.
When we talk about somatic release breathwork, it’s using the breath, sound, movement, touch, visualisation, expression to go inwards, connect with sensations, feeling and emotions and allow them to be felt to support mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
How Somatic Release Breathwork Works in the Body
Breathwork is an umbrella term. There are many different styles of breathwork and many different techniques within those styles. But my Somatic Release Breathwork Sessions allow us to change our physiology, our brain waves and the gas levels in our body. They can take us to an altered state of consciousness, meaning it quietens the noise on the pre frontal cortex, (the thinker, the rational mind) and allows us to connect deeper to emotional processing and memory retrieval by using parts of our brain that we wouldn’t usually use day to day. That’s why we can create new perceptions, give ourselves permission to feel and release tension in our body.
These sessions are a journey where our usual protective mechanisms are less active and we can connect with our subconscious.
But there’s also breathwork that moves your body out of fight or flight, activates that rest and digest branch of the nervous system, tones your vagus nerve and lets your body know you’re safe.
80% of information goes from body to brain, and only 20% from brain to body – so you use your breath to intercept and let the body know that you are safe. The nervous system is always scanning for a threat so we use the body to send the signal of safety and let the mind follow.
Signs You Might Be Carrying Stress in the Body
Do you recognise any of these?
Tension in the body – jaw, shoulders being very common, poor sleep, shallow breathing, unhealthy eating habits, teeth grinding, fatigue, headaches, restlessness, being on edge, inflammation in the body, gut issues, feeling wired but tired, unexplained pain in the body, hypervigilance, rush mentality, anxiety, overwhelm… to name just a few.
What to Expect in a Somatic Release Breathwork Session
These breathwork sessions are a journey, together. There’s a full explanation of what to expect, how the session will run, breathing techniques we will use, space to ask questions, to discuss what’s happening for you at the moment, curated music playlist, intention setting and visualisation.
There’s space for you to be seen and heard.
We welcome tears, laughter, anger, excitement, frustration, all without judgement.
We allow for lightbulb moments, new perspectives, realisations all without expectations.
We trust that your body will guide you to where it needs to go.
Real Life Benefits of Somatic Release Breathwork
Every breathwork session is different depending on where you are currently in your mind and body. Take a look at these 3 testimonials from 3 different women.
‘It’s taken me a little while to find the words to describe my experience with Clare because it was so incredibly profound and transformative. From the very beginning of our 1:1 breathwork session, I felt completely held. Clare created such a safe, calm, and nurturing space that allowed me to fully relax and surrender. I felt so seen, so supported & so grounded, even though I had been feeling nervous beforehand. There was a part of me that was scared, I knew there might be some deeply buried emotions that could come to the surface & that felt vulnerable. But Clare guided me through it with such care, compassion, and presence. It was the perfect blend of deep emotional release and peaceful stillness. I cried, I let go, I breathed through old guilt and shame I hadn’t even realised I was still carrying. And I came out the other side feeling lighter, freer, and more connected to myself than I have in a long time. What I experienced was beyond just breathwork. I reconnected with parts of myself I didn’t even know were missing. I touched places within me that had been numb or silenced for years. And since our session I’ve felt a powerful energetic shift not only emotionally, but spiritually too. It feels like something opened up within me. I’ve been experiencing so many synchronicities and beautiful moments in the energetic realm since then & I truly believe this session was the beginning of it all. Clare, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You are incredibly gifted, and what you facilitate is so much more than just a session. It’s a journey home to yourself. It was exactly what I needed and so much more than I ever expected. I just wish I did it sooner!’
‘I had never heard of breathwork along with being sceptical about stuff that sounds a bit mumbo-jumbo. With a kind of vague intention of motivation I didn’t have much hope of the session. But, I have been impressed – it worked for me. I have spent weeks with loads to do and doing nothing. Since the session I have got everything done and am actually ahead of myself. Thinking about and doing things with breathing is very odd but Clare made it really meaningful and useful. The experience made my head fizz – I have no idea if this is what others feel. But I am still motivated by whatever this was a week later!’
‘Clare created the perfect breathwork session. The music was so powerful and the way she guided the session gave me chance to process and release emotions that had been weighing heavily. I came out of the session feeling physically lighter and less stressed, emotionally I feel empowered to handle anything and I’ve gained some interesting insight into ways I can connect even more deeply to myself moving forwards. It was perfect and I can’t wait for another session – thank you Clare!’
How Somatic Release Breathwork Supports Long Term Stress Management
Stress isn’t going anywhere. Like I’ve said, you can’t think your way out of stress. You can only ignore and push through for so long until sickness, disease and burnout take over.
Breathwork is that somatic release that allows you to process and notice what’s happening underneath. It’s about taking that step to trust and know that you deserve to feel, you deserve to give yourself the space and time and to connect in below the building stress.
Is Somatic Release Breathwork Right for You?
Are you tired of feeling tired?
Exhausted by the constant feeling of being switched on?
You’re fed up with feeling guilty for snapping at your partner.
You’re tired of trying your best, but it is not feeling like enough.
You’re done with looking like you’re thriving on the outside but on the inside, slowly feeling less and less like yourself.
Somatic Release Breathwork is a key part of UNBOUND the mind and body recalibration to process your stress and come back to yourself.
Blended with somatic stress release sessions, mindset coaching, breathwork audios and nervous system education it’s a combination of somatic stress management techniques that starts to change everything for you.