Breathwork

Breathwork with Dr. Shayda Nematollahi offers a transformative journey into the art of conscious connected breathing, guiding individuals towards enhanced well-being and inner peace. Dr. Shayda, holistic psychotherapist, mind-body medicine practicioner & breathworker, integrates various techniques to help you unlock the full potential of your breath, reduce stress, and foster emotional healing. Whether you're new to breathwork or seeking to deepen your practice, Dr. Shayda’s sessions are tailored to meet your unique needs, providing a supportive and nurturing environment. Work with Dr. Shayda to explore the power of breathwork and experience profound shifts in your mental, emotional, and physical health.

What Is Breathwork?

Breathwork is a practice that has evolved over thousands of years. The underlying philosophy of breathwork is that intentionally changing the way you breathe can directly affect your autonomic nervous system: deactivating the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) responsible for the fight-or-flight reaction and activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) associated with the rest-and-digest, calm response. Controlled, intentional breathing, often in the form of slow, deep breaths, leads to greater awareness of our emotions and thoughts, improves our flow of energy, and can improve both physical and mental health.

Who can benefit from breathwork?

Anyone looking to enhance their mental clarity, emotional resilience, or physical health can benefit. It's particularly helpful for those experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or seeking personal growth.


MANY PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE BREATHWORK…

DESCRIBE IT AS PROFOUNDLY LIFE-CHANGING.

  • NON-ORDINARY STATES | RAPIDLY SHIFT YOUR PERCEPTION OF REALITY

    Dr. Shayda guides you to access non-ordinary states of consciousness naturally (with breathing techniques) so you can transform beliefs and access new levels of healing, clarity, and creativity.

  • SOMATIC RELEASE | BREATHWORK CAN HELP YOU LET GO

    Breathwork is helpful for people from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences and can assist individuals in processing traumatic past experiences, resulting in an increase in wellbeing, confidence, inner clarity and emotional freedom.

  • INCREASE YOUR EQ | EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IMPACTS LIFE QUALITY

    The quality of our breathing greatly impacts our experience of daily life and is intimately connected to our state of consciousness and emotional intelligence. Change your breath and you can change your life.

Consistently practicing breathwork affects our entire physiology and not only helps us feel calm temporarily but can keep us calm and composed even in stressful moments.

Breathwork can help with a variety of Issues & Concerns, including:

  • Emotional Blockages

  • Stress

  • Anxiety

  • Self Esteem & Body Image

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Depression

  • Anger / Agitation

  • Grief & Loss

  • Mood

  • Performance (such as athletics or public speaking)

  • Lack of Creativity, Mental Clarity, Focus, Concentration

  • Chronic pain

Mental Benefits of Breathwork

Breathwork has been found to have a positive impact on mental health. It can regulate mood, sharpen attention and concentration, and improve neuroplasticity, or the ability of brain cells to adapt and change in response to situations we encounter.

  • Neuroplasticity

    Breathwork improves our psychological flexibility, allowing us to pause and respond thoughtfully to problems and challenges rather than reacting emotionally or trying to control life circumstances. Also, breathwork enhances mindfulness and anchors people in the present moment, away from negative thoughts and feelings about the past or the future that contribute to anxiety and depression.

  • Emotional Release

    Breathwork can help release suppressed emotions such as grief, anger, or sadness. It's common to cry, laugh, or feel a surge of emotions during a session.

  • Increased Awareness

    Many people report heightened emotional awareness, gaining insights into their feelings and patterns of behavior.

  • Euphoria and Joy

    The release of endorphins during breathwork can lead to feelings of euphoria, joy, and bliss.

  • Calm and Relaxation

    Breathwork often promotes a deep sense of relaxation and peace, reducing stress and anxiety.

  • Connection and Compassion

    Many individuals feel a stronger sense of connection to themselves and others, fostering feelings of compassion and empathy.

  • Clarity and Focus

    Breathwork can bring mental clarity, helping to organize thoughts and emotions more effectively.

  • Empowerment

    Overcoming emotional blocks can lead to a sense of empowerment and inner strength.

  • Healing and Forgiveness

    Breathwork can facilitate emotional healing, allowing individuals to process past traumas and experiences. This process often includes feelings of forgiveness towards oneself and others, promoting emotional freedom.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breathwork:

    • Allows your body to use oxygen more efficiently

    • Boosts cardiovascular and respiratory health

    • Improves hormone and neurotransmitter functioning

    • Facilitates healthy gut functioning

    • Increases motor control

  • While deep breathing is often a part of meditation practice, the key distinction lies in control. While breathwork focuses on practicing specific breathing patterns to promote health and wellness, meditation discourages controlling the breath in favor of mindfully observing it. Instead of manipulating breathing patterns, during meditation you are encouraged to just breathe, becoming nonjudgmentally aware of your breath, in addition to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. You might choose to focus on your breath during meditation, or a mantra or visualization, to guide your practice. Breathwork allows you to intentionally affect the autonomic nervous system by shifting the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

  • The human brain constitutes a mere 2% of our total body weight yet consumes about 20% of the oxygen we take in when we breathe. It needs a consistent and plentiful oxygen supply to operate smoothly for our physical and mental health. The brain interprets a low oxygen supply—the result of shallow, rapid breathing—as a threat or danger, and it activates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

    When we breathe improperly—breathing too shallowly and rapidly, which is referred to as chest breathing—our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels become unbalanced, and our sympathetic nervous system remains activated. Voluntary, controlled slow and deep breathing, which is one method of breathing enhanced by breathwork, resets the autonomic nervous system, boosts the brain’s oxygen supply, lowers carbon dioxide levels in the blood, slows brain wave activity, and facilitates coordinated, calm activity throughout the systems of the body.

  • While breathwork can be beneficial for many, certain individuals should exercise caution or avoid it altogether.

    Those who should not do breathwork without consulting a healthcare professional include:

    • People with severe cardiovascular Issues: Individuals with heart conditions such as arrhythmia, hypertension, or recent heart attacks should avoid breathwork, as intense breathing practices can place additional strain on the heart.

    • Pregnant women: Some breathwork techniques involve vigorous breathing that may not be safe during pregnancy.

    • Individuals with severe respiratory conditions: People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma, or other serious respiratory issues may find certain breathwork practices challenging or harmful.

    • People with a history of seizures: Breathwork can sometimes trigger hyperventilation, which might increase the risk of a seizure in susceptible individuals.

    • Individuals with severe psychiatric conditions: Those with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety may find breathwork exacerbates their symptoms.

    • People with uncontrolled blood pressure: Both high and low blood pressure can be affected by breathwork practices, potentially leading to adverse effects.

    • Recent surgeries or injuries: Individuals recovering from surgery or with significant physical injuries should avoid breathwork until fully healed.

    • People with glaucoma or retinal detachment: The increased pressure from certain breathwork techniques may aggravate these conditions.

    Before starting any breathwork practice, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you have any underlying health concerns.

  • Dr. Shayda offers breathwork as a healing modality for established clients. When you begin working with Dr. Shayda as your therapist, together you will integrate breathwork into your treatment plan after the first 2-3 psychotherapy sessions. She will inform you of everything you will need to know, what to expect, and how to best prepare for your breathwork experience. Currently Dr. Shayda facilitates breathwork via telehealth only.

  • Breathwork sessions are 2 hours.

    Investment: $400

Dr. Shayda will support you to expand your potential, release blocks, stress, and unexpressed emotions, and embrace a mind-body approach for accelerated transformation.

Breathwork is a modality currently only offered for established clients of Dr. Shayda Nematollahi, PHD, LPC. Dr. Shayda offers a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. To learn more and to begin your breathwork journey, contact her today.