Breathwork and somatic therapy for nervous system regulation+ Health

Somatics is the practice of working directly with the body and nervous system - sensation, emotion, breath, movement - as the entry point for change, rather than relying only on thinking or talking things through. The word comes from the Greek soma, meaning "the living body." In practice, it means learning to notice what's happening in your body in real time and using that awareness to shift patterns that talk-based approaches alone often can't reach.

No prior experience is required. With 10+ years of teaching experience, something I am really good at is sharing these modalities in a way that feels accessible and relatable.

For most people, yes -- but certain breathwork styles (particularly fast, activating breathing) aren't recommended for people who are pregnant, have certain cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, a history of psychosis, or certain other medical conditions. When we work together, I will screen for contraindications before our session and I can adjust the approach as needed. If you have a health condition you're unsure about, check with your doctor first.

Technique alone isn't the differentiator, there's plenty of free content that teaches specific breathing patterns. What's different here is the depth of nervous-system literacy you build, the live guidance and feedback, and the emphasis on embodied presence rather than just mechanics. You're not just learning a pattern to repeat; you're learning to read and work with your own nervous system in real time.

I split my time between Koh Samui, Thailand (December to July) and Maine, USA (August to November). Private sessions and the online facilitator training happen over Zoom, so you can join from anywhere. In person sessions and the training immersion are on Koh Samui.

It's your body's ability to move into activation when life asks for it, and then settle back down again. When we've been under stress for a long time, the system can get stuck on high alert or shut down, and that shows up as anxiety, overthinking, tension, or exhaustion. Regulation isn't about being calm all the time. It's about having more capacity and flexibility, so you can rise to meet life and come back to ease.

It's a breathing practice with a continuous, circular rhythm and no pause between the inhale and exhale. It tends to move attention out of familiar mental loops and into sensation, so what's been held in the body can be felt and released rather than just thought about. Sessions are guided, and every journey begins by building a sense of safety.

Research is encouraging. A 2023 meta-analysis of randomized trials linked breathwork to lower stress, anxiety, and depression. In my experience, the biggest shift comes from learning to read your own nervous system, so you have tools in the moment instead of just riding it out. Breathwork isn't a replacement for medical or psychological care, and it can work really well alongside it.