Page 1 of 1

Breathwork For Trans Imaginality IN PERSON

Hello and Welcome!

If you’re reading this, you have an interest in joining an in-person breathwork circle.. Breathwork is a beautiful and powerful modality, but like all other modalities, it simply isn’t for everyone. The purpose of this waiver is to make sure that we’re on the same page about what breathwork is, what my scope of practice is as a breathwork facilitator, and the risks and benefits of engaging in breathwork. 

About Me

My name is Eli, and I am The Gender Doula. I have a Ph.D., but I am not a medical doctor nor a pulmonologist. I can not diagnose or treat any medical condition, and I can’t evaluate or treat you for breathing difficulties. My role as a breathwork facilitator is to hold space for you while you breathe. In a typical breathwork session, that means that I will open the space with the group, guide the group through some opening questions and intention setting, teach the group the breath pattern, and provide a playlist for everyone to breathe to. While you breathe, I will hold the space for the group energetically. If the phrase “holding space” is confusing or challenging to you, think about how supportive it can be to have someone simply sit with you when you’re going through a challenging time. That is a form of holding space.  

About Breathwork

In Breathwork for Trans Imaginality, we will spend 15-20 minutes sharing together, then another 30 minutes or so breathing. There will be 10 minutes of time for integration, then we will have space to share reflections. You are free to share out loud, but you can also journal or sit quietly. 

Breathwork may provide you with immediate and profound insights, but it can also simply be relaxing, calming, energizing, etc. There’s a vast range of responses to breathwork, and typically, the breath brings something different each time. Normal responses to breathwork include: 

- Feeling relaxed/calm

- Tension release

- Tingling or “glitter” feelings across the body

- Stiffness or cramping in your hands or feet (tetany)

- Euphoria

- Emotional release

- Crying

- Yelling

- Laughing

- Personal/spiritual insights

- Feeling more connected to your body

- Feeling energized/creative

And more. Breathwork is a healing modality, but it does not “fix everything” and is not effective for everyone. Generally, breathwork is most effective as a regular practice that is engaged with over time, and folks who return to breathwork repeatedly (either alone or with a facilitator) will have the most profound benefit. 

Breathwork Risks/Adverse Reactions

While breathwork is generally safe, there are some risks that you should be aware of. First, breathwork can cause strong emotional reactions and distress for some folks. I have noticed that trans and gender expansive folks tend to be rather dissociated from our bodies. If you have never participated in a somatic practice before, and you tend to feel like a “floating head” or otherwise disconnected from your body, coming back into your body can cause intense distress. If you are very disconnected from your body in general, it may be best to schedule one-on-one breathwork first, to get to know the modality in a more supported environment. 

There are also some physical and mental conditions that are contraindicated with breathwork. These include, but are not limited to: 

- the first term of pregnancy (unless you have discussed it with a medical doctor)

- epilepsy

- retinal detachment

- Glaucoma, not controlled by medication

- high blood pressure not controlled by medication

- cardiovascular disease

- family history of aneurysm

- strokes and neurological conditions

- severe osteoporosis

- certain mental health issues, including bipolar or schizophrenia

Note: Generally speaking, if your doctor has not cleared you for exercise, then you are not cleared for breathwork. If this is you, please wait until you have been cleared for exercise to join. 

Please also note: A breathwork practice can cause strong physical sensations and/or emotional releases. In rare cases, strong emotional releases have been known to cause amnesia.

This is not a complete list, and listing these conditions does not constitute a medical waiver. Some folks with these conditions can still participate in breathwork. Please email me if any of these apply to you, and we can discuss our options. 

Being Prepared for Breathwork

It is always helpful to be hydrated before breathwork. You do not need to drink large amounts of fluid (that will just make you have to pee before we’re done!), but drink a comfortable amount before breathwork. It may also be helpful to have a water bottle or cup of water nearby that you can sip on afterward. It is helpful not to have a full tummy, so try to keep any meal at least 2 hours before breathwork and/or keep it light. It is ideal to be lying flat for breathwork. If laying flat is not comfortable for you, that’s no problem! If you’ve been diagnosed with COPD, or if lying flat makes it hard to breathe, you can do breathwork in a reclined position. You want your entire body supported, so it is best not to do breathwork from a chair without leg support. 

Please note: for in-person breathwork, you must bring everything that you need to lay comfortably on a hard floor. I recommend at minimum a yoga mat and blanket. Bolsters, multiple mats, cushions, pillows, etc. are all welcome. Eye pillows and blindfolds are also welcome.

If you need it, you can put a thin pillow under your head. You don’t want your head elevated so it's being pushed forward, or falling back at an angle. As best you can, you want your neck to be straight and spine aligned. You can also place a bolster or pillow under your knees to support your legs. It can be comforting/helpful to have a blanket nearby that you can pull over yourself. Even if the room feels warm, breathwork can cause fluctuations in how you experience temperature, leaving you either warmer or colder than you might expect. So keep a blanket nearby just in case. 

If you need to stop for any reason, you do not need my permission or prompting! Just stop, and try to make sure not to get up too quickly, as you may feel lightheaded. 

Ultimately, you are in charge of your own practice! Anything that you need to help you feel comfortable and supported is totally fine. 

If you have any questions or concerns you are welcomed to contact me directly: [email protected]

Please type your name below to indicate that you have read and understood the information above.