Portland Holosomatic Breathwork cover photo

What we’re about

A simple circular breathing technique paired with somatic movement is the foundation of Holosomatic Breathwork, a type of active breathing that can unwind chronically held tension in the body and nervous system while catalyzing expanded states of consciousness.

Holosomatic Breathwork can be beneficial for anyone seeking deeper self-exploration, and can serve as an accessible gateway to experiencing an expanded state. Faciliated by trauma-informed Briana Lynn Cerezo, her approach to facilitating breathwork is one of supporting self-discovery, healing, and insight.

Holosomatic Breathwork can:

Alleviate anxiety and depression, and reduce stress, worry, and mental rumination
Support emotional release
Support nervous system regulation and the resilience to meet the experiences of life
Support the resolution and integration of traumatic energy and fear
Balance energy and enhance vitality
Promote mental clarity and focus
Expand awareness and open new pathways of seeing and understanding
Connect you to the deepest dimensions of yourself

Each Holosomatic Breathwork session is different and offers unique gifts, however, there are some foundational elements you can expect in every session:

Conscious Connected Breathing. The core technique is generally an active inhale through the mouth into the lower abdomen and chest followed by a passive exhale, via the mouth. The breath is continuous like a rolling wave, with full movement of the diaphragm, and no pauses in between. The breathing technique will be demonstrated in each session.
Curated music journey. A dynamic, non-lyrical soundtrack helps guide your session and creates an immersive experience to transcend the everyday mind.
Verbal cues and space. Verbal cues will be offered throughout the session to help guide you in the experience, and there is also space to just breathe with the music and observe what arises. My approach is to give just enough guidance to help support practice, and to leave space for you to explore new pathways of insight and embodied intelligence.
Therapeutic Touch. Optional therapeutic techniques can be incorporated into sessions such as EFT tapping, somatic movement, and supportive touch with compression while intense feelings arise.
A welcoming and comfortable space. You will be held in compassion and comfort to allow for your authentic experience and expression. Depending on the setting, a yoga mat, cozy blankets, pillows and an eye cover may be provided, or you may be asked to bring your own.
Rest and integration. Time to rest and to simply be after your breathwork journey is an essential part of the healing process. The active breathwork practice is experienced lying down, typically with eyes closed and covered. When this portion of the session is complete, you will have ample time to rest, reflect, and share.

What will I experience during a Holosomatic Breathwork session?

Each breathwork journey will be unique, and your experience can range vastly from session-to-session. However, there are some common experiences that can arise in this modality:

Physical experiences. In consciously increasing the depth and rate of respiration, there is a temporary up-regulation of the nervous system to support the release of accumulated stress in the body which are energies of the fight/flight/freeze response. Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels also temporarily shift, and the circulation of prana, or life force, in the body is increased. It’s common to experience a feeling of “buzzing” as a result, as well as energy that can be released in the forms of yawning, changes in body temperature, or some shifting sensations in the body.

Emotional experiences. Most people experience chronic suppression of emotions. Additionally, at an early age most people developed coping strategies to manage overwhelming experiences. Emotional energy is often exiled or “stuffed” in the body and psyche, and conscious deep breathing can often bring it to the surface for healing and integration — think of it like a release valve. It’s common to tap into grief, joy, love, sadness, anger, and even fear. Within a safe container and consciously engaged practice for healing and harmony, we can allow these energies to move through the system. In doing so, we can feel more at peace, with less internal discord and tension.

Visionary and transpersonal experiences. Breathwork is believed to dampen the “default mode network” of the brain, which can lead to a reduction in mental noise and rumination. Often people experience this as a timelessness and transcendence of the ego-mind. In this state, insight, memory, or visions may arise. This can also be a time to have inspirations about new projects and creative endeavors. There is often an experience of drifting into a state of lucidity, like the space between wakefulness and sleep, or an experience of deep stillness and peace.

What precautions should I consider?

While Holosomatic Breathwork can be of value to most anyone who is interested in deeper self-awareness and connecting to new dimensions of healing and insight, there are some physical and psychological conditions that are not recommended for this work due to the physiological shifts that can occur, and the potential for non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Breathwork is NOT RECOMMENDED for persons with any of the following conditions:

Pregnancy
Epilepsy
Detached retina
Glaucoma
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases (including prior heart attack)
Mental disorders (manic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), paranoia, psychotic episodes, depersonalization, etc.)
Strokes, TIA´s, seizures or other brain/neurological conditions
A history of aneurysms in your immediate family
Use of prescription blood thinners
Hospitalized for any psychiatric condition or emotional crisis within the past 10 years
Osteoporosis or physical injuries that are not fully healed
Acute somatic and viral diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-II and COPD-III)
Chronic diseases with symptoms of decompensation or terminal illness
Individual intolerance of oxygen insufficiency
Cancer, unless IHT is prescribed by a doctor
Low Impulse Control