The power of breathwork: Insights for coaches

My Journey to Breathwork & Wellbeing Coaching

The saying goes, we tend to take things for granted until we lose them. Well, that was not far off for me when I was in a motorway pile up two decades ago and my chest hit the dashboard of the small pick-up truck rendering me breathless, with a broken collar bone, cracked ribs and dislocated clavicle. Every breath was an effort and so painful for the next two months. In this I suddenly woke up to how I had taken every breath for granted. 

Twenty years later here I am, a Breathwork and Wellbeing Coach after my initiation into breathwork and experiencing the most profound life changing benefits.

The Growth of Breathwork Practices

The two processes in our bodies that have to continue all of the time are our heart-beat and our breath without which, we wouldn't survive for long - the two are of course intrinsically linked.

From a science perspective, your respiration is responsible for a multitude of physiological processes that include, balancing your blood PH, your blood sugar, your nervous system, your immune function, cellular respiration, mitochondrial function, detoxification, 02 and C02 levels, production of nitric oxide, neurotransmitter regulation, heart rate variability and muscle function.  I will term ‘breathing’ as a psychological function, different from respiration and this is the part I will speak about today.

Since the 1970’s there has been an up-surge in ‘Breathwork’ forming two main branches. One branch focuses on health and performance, the other a therapeutic tool. These two branches and birthed different schools of Breathwork all having their roots in ancient practices. Although Breathwork Schools can differ in outlook, what they have in common is the impact that the breath has on the mind, the body, our emotions and our performance.  

Enhancing Coaching with Breathwork

Coaching as a modality is largely based around understanding the mind and behaviours which equals performance and results. But what if you could enhance that, by accessing more of your mind by using powerful breathing techniques? Or learning to identify your client’s block by recognising their breathing dysfunction?  Or perhaps help them to change state through the use of breath regulation. Or improve your own life through breathwork practice?

Besides improving focus, clarity, energy, detoxification, emotional regulation, nervous system regulation, breathwork can penetrate deeper aspects of the mind and consciousness, unveiling deeper life insights, downloads and inspiration with altered states of awareness. This can be the breakthrough required to make total life shifts.

The Connection Between Breath & Emotional States  

On a day-to-day basis our breath pattern impacts our mind and how our thoughts impact our breath.   For example, let’s say you experience anxiety around public speaking. Physiologically, your hands may sweat, you get butterflies in your stomach, your heart feels like it’s in your throat and your mind goes blank.  This is an example of your body responding to a situation in a flight or freeze response as the trigger (fear of public speaking) considers it a threat.  

In response to this your breathing pattern will change, most likely becoming faster, irregular and shallower.    This breathing pattern alone will trigger faster heart rate, creating dizziness, and for some it may even lead to a panic attack.     However, when we stabilise the breath pattern, we stabilise the nervous system and the heart. If you really want to help your client, get those break-through moments, release subconscious thought patterns, achieve optimum states of awareness and increase performance, then working with the breath and body to harmonise the mind and neutralise the state is paramount.

All emotional states are accompanied by a breath pattern. When we experience an overwhelming or challenging event, we subconsciously adjust our breath to reduce the shock, impact of that event. Over time this becomes unconscious, and we develop breathing signatures individual to us that help us cope with everyday life.  

A Simple Breathing Exercise to Try Now

To harness the profound power of your breath, it's essential to engage in mindful practices that deepen your awareness and connection. Conscious breathing is an important way to regulate. Being centred is the most resourceful state you can achieve. the following exercise is designed to guide you in doing this.

1. Prepare yourself by finding a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus fully on the rhythm of your breath.
2. Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Notice which hand moves first. Which hand doesn’t move at all.
3. Inhale again and this time send the breath into the belly allowing it to inflate. Allow the ribs to expand outwards and finally your chest to rise.
4. At the top of your breath (where is naturally stops) exhale slowly through the mouth blowing ever so slightly. Exhale until you can’t exhale any more.
5. Repeat this process, this time counting 5 in your inhale and 7 on your exhale.
6. If you close your eyes notice what is happening in your body.
7. Complete 8 - 10 breaths in this way.

This breathing exercise is a powerful tool to incorporate into coaching sessions, helping clients cultivate mindfulness and manage stress more effectively. By guiding them through this practice, you create a space for self-awareness and clarity, enabling them to reconnect with their body and mind. 

By using this simple breathing exercise regularly, you begin to build a foundation of calm, clarity, and presence that can support you in everyday life and during challenging moments. Whether you're guiding clients or simply using it for yourself, this technique is a powerful reminder that grounding and regulation are always just a breath away. Make space for it in your routine and notice how something so simple can create such a meaningful shift.

In conclusion, by incorporating breathwork into your coaching practice offers a simple yet powerful tool for creating meaningful change. By changing the way we breathe, we can shift our mindset, reduce stress, and cultivate a deeper sense of clarity and presence. Whether you’re guiding clients or practicing for yourself, mindful breathing provides a foundation for resilience and emotional balance. Remember, the breath is always with you - a constant resource for transformation, just waiting to be tapped into.

About Author:

Shoana Taylor is a Coaching Academy graduate and self-development professional with a focus on holistic healing and personal transformation. Her journey began at 20, driven by a commitment to overcoming challenges related to self-esteem and emotional well-being. Following a pivotal car accident and recovery, she trained in Hawaiian Kahuna massage to address pain and PTSD. She later earned her Life Coaching Diploma and NLP Practitioner Programme with The Coaching Academy and also completed advanced Breathwork training with the Nevsah Institute.

If you missed Shoana's Coaching Conversations discussion on “Somatic Tools for Coaches” with our Head of Training, Sharon Lawton over International Coaching Week, you can watch the replay on The Coaching Academy's YouTube Channel here.