31/01/2026
Upcoming classes - here’s a teeny weeny insight into the functional breathing component.
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I like to describe functional breathing as the art of breathing in a natural, healthy manner.
While we are born with our bodies knowing how to do this, our nervous systems often adapt as we age. Years of accumulated stress can train our bodies to favour a fight-or-flight response over the restorative rest-and-digest state. Also, for some women, physical changes like pregnancy can also play a role; abdominal pressure can alter the diaphragm’s natural rhythm creating skewed muscular patterns over time.
Another factor that may impact breathing are the following words people say to help calm us in times of stress “Just take a deep breath.”
And as we know, words have potency.
Often these words are interpreted as ‘mentally forcing a breath’ with our mind ‘ordering’ our body to take a breath.
Years ago, I began to notice forcing a deep breath when someone would tell me to ‘just take a deep breath’ unhelpful and in doing so did not feel good for my body. It seemed to be just another form of tension. And it is.
These words often end up making us mentally force a breath that is contrived with our mind ordering the body to breathe rather than stepping back and letting the body lead.
I believe a more effective approach with words is to shift the focus toward awareness. I prefer to offer guidance with these words:- become aware of yourself breathing, steady your breath, be with a calm way of breathing.
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So my classes aim to help you reacquaint yourself with the art of natural and healthy breathing, which, in turn, influences energy.
Through becoming aware of your current breathing tendencies and offering experiential inquiries with specific gentle physical exercises into how natural and healthy breathing may feel for you, you will start to know this for yourself.
The more we focus our minds into observing the experience of steady calm breathing the more this will become a familiar and comfortable way of being.
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Thank you for reading. 🩷
Live online classes begin Wednesday 4th February.
