Benefits of Somatic Breathwork

As women, we often find ourselves juggling various responsibilities and commitments, sometimes at the expense of our own well-being. Focusing on relaxing and recharging seemed impossible and was deprioritized from my hectic schedule. It was also a time when I found even the concept of meditation nearly impossible.

My Journey to Somatic Breathwork

It wasn’t until I discovered somatic breathwork that everything began to shift. Unlike traditional meditation, which often asks you to simply observe your thoughts, somatic breathwork invites you into a fully embodied experience. Through intentional breathing patterns, I learned to access parts of myself that I didn’t even realize were holding tension, trauma, or unprocessed emotion. The breath became a bridge between my body and mind, offering a tangible, rhythmic anchor that kept me grounded when I couldn’t find stillness through silence alone.

A Natural Nervous System Reset

Somatic breathwork has become more than just a practice—it’s a reset button for my nervous system. I’ve noticed that after even just 15–20 minutes of deep breathwork, my body feels lighter, my mind clearer, and my emotions more regulated. What’s remarkable is that it often naturally leads me into a meditative state, one that I used to try so hard to reach through conventional means.

For anyone who’s struggled to meditate because their mind won’t stop racing or because sitting still feels intolerable, somatic breathwork offers a powerful entry point. It’s active, accessible, and deeply healing. This practice has helped me build a better relationship with my body, release stuck energy, and find the kind of peace I once thought was only available to disciplined meditators. If you're looking for a way into meditation that doesn’t feel forced or frustrating, somatic breathwork might just be the missing piece.

Resources

Jerath, R., Edry, J. W., Barnes, V. A., & Jerath, V. (2006). Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: Neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that explains how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical Hypotheses, 67(3), 566–571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.042

Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., Garbella, E., Menicucci, D., Neri, B., & Gemignani, A. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 353. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353