Softening into Breath
Today (8/30) is the third day that has passed since returning from my 64-hour Healer’s Training with healer David Elliott at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. When I signed up for this training, I was hoping to get guidance on how to be a healer – I signed up before I found RIM and before I left my career in Planning. Initially, I wasn’t aware that David’s primary healing modality was breathwork. Then I read his book “The Reluctant Healer” and was introduced to his tools and his philosophies around healing. I had done several group breathwork sessions locally with Beth Umba (who is a rockstar and you should go on a journey with her as soon as you can!), so I knew what it was and how powerful it could be. To be honest, I did not go to this training with the intention of adding breathwork to what Whole Human does.
My personal journey over the nine days was deeply profound and it led to a number of discoveries about who I am. I went on ten personal breathwork journeys over those nine days, some facilitated by my fellow students, some by David. While in the breath I discovered that I held a deep and abiding sense of unworthiness in my soul. Unworthy of love, unworthy of prosperity and unworthy of the gifts that I have been given. In the breath, I came to learn that I AM worthy of all things and that my resources and ancestors believe in me. To build this connecting with my ancestors and the resources I hold close was deeply profound and it has relieved me of one of my deepest wounds.
With the breath I also realized that I have spent far too much of my life pushing the divine masculine in my spirit. I have pursued everything by pushing harder and harder, rushing toward the end goal as fast as I possibly could. In this I have discovered that I have missed so much of the journey. What David has taught me is that the journey is the thing. So much happens on our way to our goals, so much to be learned from and so much to be celebrated, savored and enjoyed. I embraced the spirit of the divine feminine and surrendered into the journey, something which I will carry forward with me as I continue to build Whole Human into a place where people can come for deep transformational healing. Rather than trying to force it all to happen now, I will relish the journey and soften into it with joy.
I can also say that there is tremendous power in gathering with others who are all committed to healing themselves and the world. To hold space for my classmates while they went on their own healing journeys was such a privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be with so many wonderful souls. I cannot say enough about David Elliott, his team, or the folks at Omega who provide such a perfect place for deep learning and self evolution.
So, how do I feel about breathwork now?
I think it is a fantastic tool for healing and more importantly, I think it is a fantastic way for us to connect to our spirits. Everyone’s journey is different, but breathwork can leverage your imagination as a powerful tool for internal discovery and emotional release. It needs to be part of what Whole Human does.
How does breathwork fit with RIM?
I believe that they are complimentary to each other. Both find ways to disengage the thinking (left) brain and dip into our subconscious so that we can free ourselves from the thoughts and emotions that are trapped inside and causing us harm. They both allow our subconscious to use imagination as the primary tool for doing the healing work. They can both lead to profound healing and can allow us to understand things about ourselves that we never imagined. From my perspective, I see breathwork as a bit more spiritual in its nature, but RIM is just as powerful. Some folks may prefer one over the other, others (like me) will see the grace in both of them.
When I received my certificate from David, asked me “are you going to use all of your skills as a healer?” The answer now is yes, I absolutely am. Over the next month Whole Human will be offering (in addition to RIM), one-on-one breathwork sessions and coaching sessions for the folks who do RIM or breathwork and want to figure out how to move forward after doing their healing work. We are thrilled to be able to offer our own experience and knowledge so that we may help everyone be more whole and live happier, healthier lives.
