Breathwork at The Fullbrook Center
Using the Breath to Heal, Regulate, and Reconnect
At The Fullbrook Center, we believe that healing happens not only through words, but through the body—and breath is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect the two. That’s why breathwork is a vital part of our trauma-focused and holistic care for women. Through gentle, guided breathing techniques, we help our clients tap into something both ancient and deeply personal: the wisdom of the breath.
Many of the women who come to Fullbrook are holding their breath—sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally. It’s a natural response to trauma and anxiety. In our breathwork sessions, we create space to unlearn these patterns and teach the body how to feel safe again through intentional, controlled breathing.
How Breathwork Supports Mental and Physical Health
Breath isn’t just air moving through the lungs—it’s communication with the autonomic nervous system. Certain breathing practices, such as diaphragmatic breathing, belly breathing, holotropic breathing, and box breathing, help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for deep relaxation and emotional regulation. When practiced regularly, these techniques support both mental health and physical health, reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even decreasing risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Slow breathing and deep breathing exercises have been shown to reduce cortisol levels, lower heart rate, and regulate the sympathetic nervous system, which is often overactive in those with post traumatic stress disorder or chronic stress. Whether a woman is recovering from trauma, managing complex mental health conditions, or simply seeking grounding during her recovery journey, breathwork techniques offer accessible, body-based relief.
What to Expect in a Breathwork Session
Every breathwork session at Fullbrook is led by a trained practitioner who understands the nuances of healing trauma. We create a compassionate, judgment-free space where women can explore their internal landscapes using the rhythm of their own breath.
Clients may experience a variety of styles, including:
Box breathing, a technique that guides you to inhale, hold your breath, exhale, and pause in even counts
Alternate nostril breathing, a yogic breathing method to balance energy and calm the mind
Buteyko breathing technique, designed to reduce over-breathing and promote oxygen efficiency
Holotropic breathwork, an immersive, somatic technique for deep emotional release
Gentle breathwork meditation to ground and center
Each technique involves inhaling and exhaling with purpose—teaching women to connect to the present moment, process traumatic experiences, and regulate overwhelming emotions with the simplest, most accessible tool they already possess.
Breathwork as a Path to Healing and Self-Discovery
We often say at Fullbrook that the breath is both anchor and compass. It grounds us when emotions become too much to bear and points us toward the places in the body and mind that still need attention. Many of our clients find that through breathwork, they begin to notice emotional shifts they couldn’t access through talk therapy alone.
Trauma breathwork can stir long-buried memories or sensations—but with the support of our experienced team, women are guided through these moments with care and skill. Each session becomes an invitation to trust the body again, to feel deeply, and to finally release what’s been held for too long.
And in those moments—when a woman takes one of her first deep breaths in years, when her shoulders drop, when her eyes soften—you can see the light go on. She remembers who she is. She begins to believe she can live without the weight of the past. She begins to become the woman she was always meant to be.
Begin Your Breathwork Journey at The Fullbrook Center
At The Fullbrook Center, we ask women to do hard things to heal—because the only way out is through. Breathwork is one of the gentlest and most empowering ways we support that journey. Whether you’re learning to manage anxiety, move through trauma, or reconnect with your body, our breathwork program offers the tools and the safety to begin again.
Contact us today to learn how breathwork can support your recovery and help you come home to yourself.
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FAQs About Breathwork at The Fullbrook Center
What are some specific breathing exercises used at The Fullbrook Center?
We incorporate a variety of specific breathing exercises such as box breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and holotropic breathwork. These techniques are tailored to help women regulate emotions, reconnect with their bodies, and support lasting trauma recovery.
How can breathwork help with emotional distress?
Breathwork helps calm the nervous system and soothe emotional distress by guiding the body out of a fight-or-flight response. Through intentional breath control, women begin to feel safer in their bodies and more capable of processing difficult emotions.
Can breathwork actually release trauma from the body?
Intentional breathwork can calm the nervous system and help you access emotions that may have been suppressed for years. This release often occurs gradually and safely in a supportive environment with trained facilitators.
What is trauma release and how does breathwork support it?
Trauma release is the process of allowing the body to let go of stored fear, pain, and unresolved emotion. Breathwork creates the space for this to happen by bypassing the cognitive mind and gently engaging the body’s natural trauma release system.
Is emotional catharsis common during breathwork sessions?
Yes, emotional catharsis—such as crying, laughter, or shaking—can occur during breathwork. This is a healthy sign that the body is processing and releasing stuck energy. At Fullbrook, we hold space for these experiences with warmth and care.
How does breathwork support trauma healing?
Breathwork supports trauma healing by regulating the nervous system, reducing hyperarousal, and creating safe access to difficult emotions. It empowers women to move through trauma rather than remain frozen or overwhelmed by it.
What is a trauma release system and how does it work with the breath?
The body’s trauma release system is its innate ability to let go of stored survival responses through physical or emotional release. Breathwork activates this system by fostering a sense of safety and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system.
Can breathwork help with prolonged stress?
Yes, breathwork is highly effective in helping women recover from prolonged stress. Switching up breathing patterns lowers cortisol levels, improves sleep, and retrains the body to shift out of a constant stress response into a state of rest, repair, and clarity. Practicing breathwork can relieve stress as well.
What role does breath control play in emotional regulation?
The breath control used in our breathwork techniques allows women to take charge of their emotional state by calming their physiology. Slow, mindful breathing can interrupt spirals of anxiety, panic, or dissociation, creating space for more grounded and mindful responses.
Why is intentional breathing important in trauma recovery?
Intentional breathing teaches the body that it is safe to slow down and feel again. For many women, this is a revolutionary experience. Breathwork exercises restore a sense of agency and safety, which are foundational elements in any trauma recovery journey.
