What is Somatic Breathwork and How Does it Heal our Mind and Body?
Somatic Breathwork is a guided breathing practice that uses intentional breath patterns to release stored stress and trauma from the nervous system. If you've ever felt stuck in anxiety, overwhelmed by overthinking, or emotionally unable to move on from the past — this practice was designed for exactly that.
What Does "Somatic" Mean?
"Soma" is the Greek word for body. Somatic practices work directly with the body's physiology rather than the thinking mind alone. When we experience stress or trauma, those events can leave an imprint on the nervous system — keeping us dysregulated and, in a very real sense, emotionally tethered to the past.
Very often we can't, won't, or don't know how to process and discharge the surplus energy these stressful events can press upon us. As a defense against that pain, many of us begin to dissociate — disconnecting from physical sensation and retreating into our heads.
The result is familiar to most: chronic overthinking, worry, second-guessing, anxiety, tension, sadness, or a pervasive sense of being stuck. Add to that our increasingly screen-dominated, mentally over-stimulated culture, and we lose touch with what the body instinctively knows how to do.
How Somatic Breathwork Works
Right now, as you read this, your heart is beating, your body is digesting food and repairing cellular damage — all without conscious instruction. Your body carries an innate intelligence that operates well beneath the thinking mind.
Somatic Breathwork taps into that deeper intelligence.
By breathing in specific, connected patterns and staying present with what arises in the body, we create conditions for the nervous system to process and discharge stored stress — naturally, without forcing or analyzing. This is in line with the foundational work of somatic trauma researcher Dr. Peter Levine, whose research shows that the body holds the memory of trauma in its tissues and autonomic responses, and that it has an intrinsic capacity to heal when given the right conditions.
Consider how mammals in the wild respond after a near-death encounter: they tremble and shake furiously, literally discharging the stress hormones and survival energy the event activated. Once that discharge completes, they return to baseline and move on. Humans rarely allow themselves this release. We override it with cognition, social conditioning, and the pressure to "be fine."
Over time, suppressed stress accumulates. As Sigmund Freud observed: "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." Even when the conscious mind has moved on, the nervous system remains tethered to unresolved events — and that tether shapes our behavior, our relationships, and our health.
What to Expect from a Somatic Breathwork Session
Somatic Breathwork sessions involve guided breathing patterns — typically circular style, connected breathing — combined with body awareness and an invitation to simply feel and allow whatever arises. No analysis. No performance. No prior experience needed.
The process activates the body's natural self-regulation mechanisms. Some people experience emotional release — tears, laughter, shaking, or a sense of profound relief. Others feel deep stillness and life affirming clarity. Often many of these all within a single session (or “journey” as sessions are often described.) Responses vary widely based on the individual.
Sessions can be emotionally or physically intensive at times for some people. All sessions are guided with choice and agency and never pushed. All that is required is a willingness to connect more deeply.
Who Is Somatic Breathwork For?
This practice may be especially beneficial if you:
Experience chronic anxiety, stress, or worry
Feel emotionally stuck or unable to move forward
Struggle with overthinking or mental chatter
Feel disconnected from your body or emotions
Are seeking a complement to therapy or other healing modalities
Please note the following contraindications — this practice is not recommended for those who are:
Pregnant
Have a history of seizures
Recently post-surgery
Have a significant psychiatric condition
Have a serious cardiac history
If you're uncertain, consult your physician before attending.
About Jon Orsini
Jon Orsini is a certified Somatic Breathwork guide on the faculty at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and T Schreiber Acting Studio. He has supported over 3,000 clients in this process to date - liberating stress, accessing inner wisdom and opening to an authentic, heart-centered, self expressed and fully connected way of being. He began guiding after many years as a multiple award winning Broadway, film and voice actor. jonorsini.com.
