‘I TRIED CONSCIOUS BREATHING’

Writer Charlotte Haigh went along to a Grounded Life workshop to discover why there’s such a buzz about breathwork. Here’s how she got on…

‘Walking into the north London studio on a sunny Saturday morning, I’m a little nervous and unsure what to expect. But hosts Hannah Goodman and Hannah Nedas are warm and welcoming, putting everyone at ease. I’m one of several new breathers.

We start by warming up with some movement, then we’re taught how to breathe. This may sound strange, but this really is a completely different way of doing it. We lie down on our yoga mats and music plays while we begin breathing as instructed – mouth open, keeping breath flowing with no pause between breaths. Quickly, I feel irritated and bored (we were warned lots of different feelings may arise). The back of my mouth is dry, and after about 20 minutes, my hands cramp and begin to claw up – this is known as tetany and is caused by changes in the body’s carbon dioxide levels. It’s not dangerous, but it’s not comfortable, either. Then something shifts. My body relaxes and I drift into a state of blissful relaxation, which I’ve experienced before under hypnosis or during a deep massage.

Too soon, the hour-long session comes to a close. We sit up and talk about how we found it and how we’re feeling. Everyone looks dishevelled but bright and happy. I feel very light, as though my brain’s been cleansed, and full of energy. A work situation I’d been worried about no longer seems important – I feel confident I’ll be able to deal with it. I’m on a high for the rest of the weekend and whizz through loads of chores. I’ll definitely be back for more.’