Breathwork is developing your awareness of how your body breathes in different situations.  Breathwork is intentionally altering your breath to create an effect on your body.  Breathwork is exercising your respiratory system to develop your capacity, function, efficiency, and resiliency. 

Your breath impacts every physiological system in your body and can provide many benefits.  Breathwork is a self-regulation tool.  Intentionally altering your breath can help energize, relax, balance, or reset your body.  Breathwork can reduce your blood pressure and help your body recover from surgery or an illness.  If you can breathe more easily then every system in your body can work more efficiently.

Nicole typically focuses on improving your breathing function and exercising your entire respiratory system.  By exercising and utilizing your breathing system in all ways, you will maintain or further develop a dynamic and healthy breath which will support you with energy to excel in your activities throughout your life.   Nicole blends information on the science of breathing with experiential practices based on a variety of breathing traditions.  Nicole has made learning about breathing, breathing traditions, breathing practices, breathing science, and different breathing patterns in people her passion and profession.  Nicole will tailor her approach based on your individual situation. 

Nicole is a certified breathwork instructor in Oxygen Advantage, Buteyko Breathing Method, and Pranayama (yogic breathwork).  She has also taken multiple courses in the WIM HOF Method and Conscious Circular Breathing.  Nicole is not a licensed medical provider and does not take insurance. 

Private sessions will address the goals or motivations you have for seeking out breathwork.  Nicole will often recommend you start by accessing your breathing from a biomechanical, biochemical, and rhythmic perspective.  Nicole will then lead you through some breathing exercises and if desired create a sequence of exercises you can practice.  It can be helpful to have multiple breathing sessions to help create change within your body.  However, you can gain insight and benefit from one session.  As a breathwork educator and facilitator, I want to help you better understand and gain experience in the ways your breath can support you. If your breathing is limited, we can review the breathing science and help you maximize your breathing capacity and improve your respiratory stamina.

Alternatively, if you prefer to have a body focused experience, Nicole can lead you through a breathing sequence known as conscious circular breathing to help your body reset itself without much evaluation and explanation of breathing science.  For the body-leading experiential approach, I’d recommend 3-10 sessions, roughly 1-3 weeks apart. 

Classes tend to be small and will cover the material outlined in the class offering.  Many classes will also involve some movement as your rib cage mobility and posture directly impact your breath.  There will be time for introductions and questions. 

Small group classes and individual private sessions are located in a studio attached to Nicole’s home at 880 Barstow Road in Shelburne.  The Breath and Balance studio space has one bathroom and a good ventilation system.  The studio is accessed from the North side of the building from two parking spaces directly off the driveway.  If you have any special needs or sensitivities, please contact Nicole to see if an accommodation can be made.