UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL

Finally Understanding What it is to Be Present
Throughout my years and years of practising yoga, I would sit down to meditate and find myself unable to control my thoughts or ease up my mind. The more I tried, the more frustrated I became. But that quickly started to change once I discovered the power of conscious breathing before sitting down for meditation. I couldn’t believe the power of that practice and the positive effects it can have on one’s life. Learning to breathe consciously for me was a magical journey. It was a breakthrough to finally understand what it is to be present Meet Your Inner Healer with Shamanic Breathwork 55 and grounded. What it means to truly believe that everything you really need is already inside you. The more I quietened down and focused on my breath, the calmer I became. Even after a few minutes of practice, my mind was clearer, and my heart rate was substantially lower. The more I practised conscious breathing, the more I became connected to myself, the more grateful I was for everything I had, and the more I let go of worries, expectations, validation, and things that were no longer serving me. Meditations have finally become more accessible. Then, I meet Matthieu and his Breathwork sessions. I’ve always been a fan of holistic treatments, especially group ones. I firmly believe that when we sit in a group, we connect with others and energy flow becomes a powerful tool. That breathwork session was unlike anything I had ever experienced. A powerful flow of energy is generated by conscious breathing, a deeper connection within yourself and a deep dive into the unknown. The prana flows freely throughout the body bringing physical sensations such as heat, cold, tingling, numbness, and pain. Then there are the emotional feelings, which can include abstract visions, memories of past experiences or unhealed traumas, and a lot of different emotions – you laugh, you cry, you relive, you revive, you heal. You let go of the old, you make room for the new. You dive deep into the unknown, trusting that you will be safe and that you are sharing your energy with others who are also looking for healing and connection. The energy in the room intensifies. The power of a room full of people and the beat of the music help you to dive deep within yourself. Feel, receive, observe, let it go and repeat. The more you practice, the deeper you go, the more you heal. The more connected you become, the more your reveal. What the Heck is Breathwork? Breathing is our main source of energy. It is the most basic requirement for survival. Master your breathing, and you may be able to master your mind.

By the pure power of my breath, I was able to go deep, face my demons, and let them go...
Working with Matt just happened intuitively. I met him during a tantra retreat, we started talking, and somehow it flowed naturally that he would guide me through rebirth breathwork. One of the important things for me was the feeling of safety and comfort, allowing myself to let go of control, knowing that I would be fully supported and cared for. In my experience, the journey through breathwork is important, but equally as important are the set, setting, and the facilitator. Matt created a safe, comfortable environment for me, where I could be myself with no judgement. He embodied loving presence and guided me onto my journey. At the beginning, I was just focusing on my body, my breath, but slowly, slowly, the shackles of my consciousness were being broken open. Every breathwork session I had was different, and every time, I felt I was releasing more emotional blockages and connecting more with my core self. Having been on the healing path for a while, and having experimented with various conventional and unconventional healing methods, I could compare breathwork with ayahuasca. However, I felt that breathwork was a lot more powerful for me because I did it alone, without being assisted by any plant medicine. It was by the pure power of my breath that I was able to go deep, face my demons, and let them go. Of course, ayahuasca and breathwork are different healing methods, but somehow, I found them comparable. I was impressed by what I could achieve simply by using my breath. I would have never thought that simply breathing could allow me to access part of my trauma, release it, let go, and find new meaning in life. After every breathwork session, I felt full of life, love, and hope. Even though sometimes the journey was not easy, the end result was always love, compassion and peace.

Without a doubt, there has been a before and after in my life...
As a yoga teacher and therapist, breathing techniques and pranayama are part of my routine, and I can feel the benefits in my physical, mental, and energetic body. In July 2022 I did breathwork training and discovered a new method of therapy, where I can access repressed emotions, connect with sustained bodily tensions, and connect with memories, visions, and altered states of consciousness—spiritual connection. Since then, I have been doing individual sessions helping and supporting different people of different nationalities. Each session is unique, a journey inward, sometimes abroad, going through phases of discomfort and other times of full joy and happiness. Less sensitive people are able to open their emotions and connect more deeply with their different bodies. I find these practices really valuable and necessary, a gem to share. On a personal level, I have included in my morning routine, sessions of about 20 minutes of breathwork combined with inhalation and exhalation retentions, and I can see the benefits reflected in my day in terms of concentration, conscious breathing, and lung capacity… among others. Without a doubt, there has been a before and after in my life, both as a practitioner and as a facilitator.

Breathwork is my most effective selfcare tool...
Breathwork is my most effective self-care tool, one that I always turn to when I need some healing, feel stuck, or feel I am falling into my old habit of thinking negatively or having self-limiting beliefs. On a personal level, I use it as a form of spiritual development and emotional therapy. It allows me to connect deeply to my inner self, allowing me to process and understand all the feelings in both my mind and body—and to help control these feelings and emotions at times of overwhelm, loss, or intense joy. Breathwork helps me to focus my mind and to detach myself from my immediate impulsive reactions, thoughts, and ideas. It makes it easier for me to cultivate a clear mind and an inner sense of peace and calm. By focusing on my breath, I find that it allows me to regulate my nervous system. It reduces my symptoms of stress and improves my emotional stability, inducing a state of relaxation. It promotes a sense of self-awareness, creating a deeper understanding of my emotional state, allowing me to identify and address negative patterns and beliefs that may be appearing and holding me back—while allowing me to regulate my emotions, giving me back my sense of control. As a result of this improvement in my overall emotional stability, breathwork increases my resilience going forward and fosters an immediate sense of wellbeing. Breathwork creates a profound feeling that is almost too hard to describe… It’s like giving myself a hug and telling myself that all is ok in the world.

Completely cleared the cobwebs of my mind...
The breath is millions of years old, and with conscious control of this vital system, we have the power to transform ourselves. I first experienced this myself at a breathwork session run by Matt, and safe to say I was blown away! The 90-minute session completely cleared the cobwebs of my mind and left me with clarity and a sense of optimism at the potential for these techniques to fuel a personal and cultural revolution of consciousness through experiencing and integrating our past into the endless present. I am very eager to continue this beautifully simple practice, and I’m grateful to Matt for the comprehensive introduction and for holding the space in a calm, warm manner.

Be brave and slowly find your way to the pieces of yourself...
My name is Inga, and I was born in Lithuania. I could stop at that and say, ‘Lived happily ever after since’, but we humans need to make this a little bit more complicated 🙂 So, human life happened. I was raised in an unpredictable home (to say the least), witnessing continuous violence, addictions at home, and all the other stuff that comes with it. Safety was something I didn’t get to experience or develop while growing up. Then life goes on. Here you are, an adult, stumbling along with the imprints of intense fear in the world that doesn’t feel safe. But something keeps you going. There is this deeper knowing that there is more, so much more! I went on the journey of discovery for pieces of myself that I knew I had lost along the way. Discovery was messy, with loads of trial and error – but I was brave. I tried different techniques and also explored the path of plant medicine, where I put myself into the deep end, cut myself raw open, without feeling my inner core and safety. I learned my biggest life lessons there – to trust myself and safety always first. Ok, what now? Do I limit myself and keep myself cocooned for life? But what about the part of me that wants to explore, has zest for life, and wants to peep outside to see what’s there? No, I don’t give up, I do it my way, and that is – slowly, the way that feels safe for me. Matt and I have been friends for a good few years now. As two spirited people, we got to explore things together and watch each other’s journeys. His groundedness and safe presence are felt the minute you meet him, and I am blessed to have him as my friend. When he trained as a breathwork facilitator and went through that journey himself, I couldn’t help but get curious myself. What can be a safer way to explore the deeper layers of yourself and get into your body than the life force itself – your own breath? With my own trust now and Matt’s sensitivity and care, we both knew that we needed to do it slowly. Our first session was one-to-one, as doing it with a group was a step too far just yet (for me). The moments that I was scared to go beneath the paralysing fear, I knew I was choosing how deep I wanted to go with my own breath. And I had Matt, his grounded, safe presence. I felt truly safe. What can I say… It was beautiful! The feelings, sensations, visions that lie beyond the mind. Reconnecting with the overwhelming joy and love that was guarded for so long. The following week I felt ready to dip my toes in the group breathwork facilitated by Matt. This is something that doesn’t come naturally to me, and it is ongoing learning slowly to feel safe around others and allowing myself to be seen. Trust yourself (life) to fi nd a way that is right for you. Yes, fear is really strong, but you know what is even stronger? Love. Stay brave and keep breathing 🙂

The power of breathwork...
Because life always does things right and nothing happens in our lives for no reason. It is through beautiful encounters that I had the chance to discover, to experience the practice of breathwork. Although having heard of it before, it was a subject that remained rather unclear to me. How consciously working on my breathing could radically change the perception I have of life and of myself? My curiosity and my desire to learn about my person were reasons for this first essay; and, from… the magic to operated! The transformative power of breath. Relearn, learn to breathe consciously. Come back to me, in my body, in my breath, here and now. Finding the strength and the courage to look deep within myself. Do we consciously or unconsciously let our trauma define who we are? Do we not have the possibility to expel this and to embody, finally, our own reality? My breath, my body, my reality. Lying there, on my mat, I learn to let go. I let fly away these emotions buried inside me that I have kept for so many years. I make room for something new, something brighter. An energy whose intensity I could not describe to you through a few lines invaded my body. I feel it tingle my fingers, invade my hands, forearms, arms. Go back to my heart. It’s warm in my stomach but my body is shivering with cold. My third eye chakra is more present than ever and my crown chakra is connected to the entire universe. My body acts as a channel, I receive, I observe, I let things happen. Between visions, divine connection and difficult emotions that come to the surface, I try to stay present, I continue to breathe. The beauty of the group energy around me. All connected by our common pains and wounds but at the same time aware that we have to work alone. I learn. I become aware and experience the importance of being linked to myself before connecting to the other. Between exhaustion and feeling of peace, slowly I return to my uncontrolled breathing. Feeling of emptiness? Clearer and calmer mind? Devastated? Happier? No session is alike but they all complement each other. My advice: Give up. Do not expect anything from the upcoming session but live it in full consciousness. Lowering my heart rate tells my brain that I am safe, heals trauma, enhances our spiritual experiences and connection to the divine. Practicing safely with trusted professionals always helps you go a little further. It’s time to embody your own reality, the world is in front of you. “I opened doors to my world that I never knew existed. Thank you Matthieu” Forever grateful.