The Breath Letter - #4
Dear Breather,
Hope you’ve been breathing well! A warm welcome from sunny Ericeira, Portugal.
I’ll be working from here for the next two weeks, facilitating the “Somatic” program of Soul Kitchen - a retreat helping people sharpen their vision.
What stood out to me is how incredibly resilient people are,the stories and difficulties we walk around with and the capacity to still function in society. And how we, especially in the West, have a serious lack of being in community - having to carry everything on our own, process on our own, do our “personal” development (read: solo development) alone.
Yet, being in a group is in and of itself such a powerful module.
So maybe some questions for you:
- What would I consider to be my community?
- Is it safe to fully show up?
- Can we sit together in silence without it feeling useless?
Also! Small change in The Breath Letter, I’m changing The Music to The Content.
There’ll still be music to shake your Shakira to, but also podcasts, books, videos etc.
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The Breath
Rhythmic Breathing:
One of my favourite’s, something I often use in all kinds of ways, and people seem to enjoy it since it involves music.
Breathing in a fixed cycle is a pleasure for the body, especially the heart.
There’s tons of exercises using this principle. Box breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, coherence breathing…
But rather than counting which keeps the head busy, it can be nice to use music instead.
Instructions:
Check in with yourself, what do you need right now?
Do you need some activation, balance or relaxation?
Depending on your answer you can decide on a song you enjoy, which has a clear rhythm throughout.
Intuitively you probably understand that a faster rhythm leads to more activation, a slower will help you relax.
In general you can always use either a 4 count, switch to a 2 count if you need some energy or an 8 count if you really want to slow down.
Some examples:
Slowing down - 4 or 8 count
Activation - 4 or 2 count
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The Insights
There’s no such thing as “touch”
I learned this recently at a Rosen Method workshop. This method is not very well known, but it turned out to be very insightful. My biggest take away: There’s no such thing as “touch”.
And what I mean by that is that there are so many nuanced ways to touch and be touched.
There is no one way. And I think it’s something that we’re seriously deprived of in our Western society. Of course, touch always needs to happen with consent and all boundaries should be respected at all times, since it can also pose a threat.
But assuming this is the case; to genuinely, with intention, make contact with someone is truly honouring and very personal. Also the realisation that when you touch someone you are also being touched.
Maybe something to explore next time you shake someone’s hand, give someone a hug or are with a partner.
Treat your body like you'll need it for 100 years
I heard this on a podcast and it resonated. It may feel obvious, yet it’s often forgotten.
This goes as much for the breath, as it does for relationships, food and exercise.
I often make the analogy between junk food and dysfunctional breathing. Junk food will keep you alive, yet it’s detrimental to your system in the long run.
The same goes for your breathing. It’s therefor worth it to learn about the relationship between the impact of stress on the body, and the role of the breath within this mechanism.
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The Content
EP19 | Bessel van der Kolk, MD - The Cumulative Effects of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk is the writer of “The body keeps the score” - a book which had a huge impact in the world of mental health. It emphasises the importance of the somatic aspect in recovery and wellbeing. They also talk about safety, one of my favourite topics. Safety isn't just the absence of threat, it's also the presence of connection.
#362 Dr Gabor Maté on The Mental Health Crisis: The Real Causes and Why Prince Harry Is No Different To The Rest of Us
To be honest, I think any Gabor Mate podcast is worth a listen. I just happened to listen to this one and it resonated. Also a good reminder of the battle we fight as a young child between the need for connection and the need to express ourselves authentically.
Philakanzima - Bongeziwe Mabandla
Sit down, close your eyes, breath slowly, and connect to something you want to process.
When you feel ready, press play and Bongeziwe will do the rest.
The Experiences
19th of July @ Bless - Stoke Newington - Breathwork Class
I really enjoy these sessions since they’re very intimate. Max 6 people in a cosy space. Perfect for those who want to explore group breathwork in a safe container.
You also get a free Breathe. Card Deck with this one!
Tickets here
20th of July @ Bullerengue & Breath - Open House Hackney - Breatwork, Dance, Movement
I’m so excited for this one! I teamed up with Valeria and Esteban, who are two incredible people who are bringing their amazing practice and ritual from North-Colombia to East London. An evening of breathing, dancing, drumming, singing and community!
25th of July @ Hackney Wick - Breathwork Session
Breathwork Odyssey is back! I found a new, bigger and beautiful, venue in Hackney Wick for this breathwork session in London. These conscious connected group sessions tend to sell out so make sure you join on time if you’re in need of a deep breathing experience.
Tickets here
27th of July @ Fire + Alchemy - Shoreditch - Breathwork Class
In this session we’ll specifically focus on Self-worth in this calming venue.
Tickets here
Enjoy the breath!
With warmth,
Steven from Breathlife
P.S. If you have any questions about anything breath related, are interested in breathwork in London or online or just want to have a chat please feel free to reach out or book in some time here.
