When Noma reached out to me about being on Wellness around the World I jumped at the chance of a breathwork session. It’s an area I’ve heard so much about, but not really practiced myself. I’ve used some of the apps but never fully connected to the practice of breathwork, despite knowing how powerful it can be. Then I had a session with Noma, and I was blown away by how I felt after. Safe to say I will now be exploring breathwork and adding it to my healing toolbox. Following my session with Noma, we sat down for a chat all about breathwork. Here’s some interesting things I’d love to share…
Breathwork helps you redirect your energy
"The psyche is like a house with different rooms. Many of us have that one room that's locked shut and you don’t go into. There’s stuff in there collecting dust and every so often you’ll notice things knocking and creaking around. Did you know that keeping this door locked actually uses up energy. Holding down whatever is in that room, is metabolically using up your energy. It’s one of the reasons people who suffer from depression are tired and have little energy. Breathwork helps you open those doors and integrate all parts of you. Imagine freeing up that energy to put into other areas of your life."
Your body knows what to do
Noma works with a practice called Conscious Connected Breathwork. Conscious means it’s a manipulated controlled breath. Connected means no pause between inhale and exhale. This closes any gaps for the mind to start coming in and weaving stories. Because it’s not our natural way of breathing it builds a charge in your body and you become more oxygenated. You might experience tingling and other physical sensations. It’s possible to build up this charge very high, and this is when your body starts to open up to everything you’ve been numbing and pushing down. Things start to move around in your body. The body starts to let go. The body has its own wisdom and your mind may not be fully aware of what is happening. This is where you start to build a new relationship with your body and respect it has its own unique ecosystem.
The link between trauma, chronic illness and breathwork
Noma started practicing breathwork because of her endometriosis. “The endometriosis is very extensive, all the way up to my chest cavity.” Managing pain was a huge thing for Noma, as the pain was often so bad she couldn’t even move. But it wasn’t just about managing pain. She also wanted to manage the underlying trauma. It’s been proven that there’s a strong link between chronic illness and trauma. That pushing down and numbing of experiences and emotions has a long term effect on our body. The suppressed energy starts to become its own entity and grow unhealthy cells.
All this brought Noma to breathwork to help heal herself. “It’s absolutely helped with my pain management. And I honestly think I’m not growing the unhealthy cells at the rate I was before. I can’t prove it medically, but I can feel it in my body. I feel the difference in my energy – I'm now able to create and circulate energy rather than struggling to cope on a massive deficit." Noma also outlined the emotional benefits. “I don’t think I would have spoken so openly about sexual abuse and trauma before I started practicing breathwork. It freed my body from shame in a way that only somatic work can. I don’t think I could have just ‘talked’ myself out of this.”
Breathwork for self-love
"A lot of people are afraid of themselves and what is in there. It’s upsetting to see how many people think they are monsters. So many people think there is a part of them that is so undesirable, unlovable, unworthy - and they don’t want to bring that part up. Once that part gets unearthed life is completely different. It can be scary but that’s why you shouldn’t do it alone. Once people get over the fact that it's a normal human condition to feel this way they can stop feeling like they need to hide parts of themselves. Having all of yourself to work with is a very powerful thing."
The magic of working with a breathwork coach
"The breathwork apps are great. Breathwork is a practice and like anything we have to keep using it or our body does forget, leading us back into that sluggishness. So having self practice is so important. But there is something special about being witnessed during breathwork- there's an energy that's created. Difficult things can come up and it’s good to have someone there to support you. Breathwork coaches can help you integrate what’s come up. It’s not enough to just breathe and you’re ‘fixed’ - integration is vital. The breathing can also get uncomfortable at times but having someone talking you through it can help you stay focused. It can help you push through the resistance where you might have otherwise given up."
If you’re interested in a breathwork session I can highly recommend booking in with Noma. After our first session I couldn’t believe how energised I felt. My whole body felt alive and I can’t wait for future sessions!
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