Breathwork

Upcoming sessions:

Friday, June 16 at 7pm in Lebanon at NW Yoga
Sunday, July 16 at 6pm in Corvallis at Splendid Barre

Cost: $25 or $40 (sliding scale option)

Register Here

Stress takes our breath away. It puts the weight of the world on our shoulders and keeps our stomach in knots. Breathwork is an intervention and an invitation to find rest. This practice combines diaphragmatic breathing with hands-on support for organs and lymphatics. Why does the anatomy of breathing matter? Because, to come to rest, our nervous system needs our pumps pumping, our fluids flowing, and our tissues tended.

Body + Breath is a hands-on breathwork practice that can help your nervous system shift out of fight/flight (sympathetic state) into rest/digest (parasympathetic state). You will learn how to use your own hands to encourage the flow and function of your drain + detox system (lymphatic) and you will learn how to properly breathe to stimulate the vagal nerve (for parasympathtic downregulation).

There will be no rapid breathing, controlled rhythm, breath holding, or alternate nostril breathing. A slow, curious exploration of the edges of a full breath through the nose, without any force or regulation, can help soothe (down-regulate) a stressed nervous system. This practice can be a somatic support for those already pursuing other therapies (counseling, physical therapy, etc.), or for anyone interested in somatic support. The bodywork modalities in this class are “visceral manipulation” and “manual drainage of the deep lymphatic vessels.”

Come be and breathe with us in community.

Typical Schedule

  • 5:45 – Doors open for paperwork and settling in
  • 6:00 – Event orientation
  • 6:15 – Begin breathwork + bodywork
  • 7:05 – Integration (quiet)
  • 7:15 – Sharing circle
  • 7:30 – Departure

What to bring

  • Yoga mat (mats are available to borrow at no charge), thick blanket, or other padding
  • Blanket for warmth
  • Cozy items: sweater, hat, socks, eye cover
  • Journal and pen for personal reflections
  • Your water bottle
  • A pillow and a doctor’s approval, if necessary (see below)

Participation Guidelines

Space is limited, so please pre-register to save your spot. All adults are welcome. Children age 12 and older are welcome to participate, so long as they can sit or lie still for 30-45 minutes. Pregnant persons and those with conditions that preclude lying down flat on the back can breathe in a side-lying position. Please bring a pillow.

If you develop symptoms of any sickness, please contact Anna to reschedule your event ticket.

Breathwork is not recommended for people with certain conditions. Because the Body + Breath breathwork practice does not ask for any rapid breathing, does not block any breathing orifices, and does not require any holding of the breath, it is considered safer for higher risk individuals than other forms of breathwork. However, if you have one of the following conditions, please do check with your doctor for clearance before attending a Body + Breath breathwork event:

  • Epilepsy
  • Detached Retina
  • Glaucoma
  • Osteoporosis
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Cardiovascular disease and/or irregularities including prior heart attack
  • Prior strokes or seizures
  • History of aneurysm in yourself or two or more family members
  • Prescription blood thinning medications such as Coumadin
  • Pregnancy
  • Asthma (please have your inhaler available)

Lymphatic drainage is not recommended for persons with:

  • Current infection
  • Acute inflammation PLUS fever
  • Thrombosis (blood clots)
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Renal failure
  • Metastatic malignant cancer/chemo/radiation (without oncologist permission)

About your breathwork facilitator

Burnett Bodywork is a somatic, trauma-informed bodywork practice in Corvallis, Oregon. Anna Burnett, LMT, is a circle keeper and a certified breathwork facilitator. She has a deep history of trauma and healing. Breathwork has been part of her healing journey and she is honored to also hold this space for her community. Anna facilitates the Pelvic Wellness Collective.

About your therapists

Anna Burnett, LMT and Jessica King, LMT, are both trained in visceral manipulation through the Barral Institute and will have completed all four training levels by the end of 2023. Anna Burnett trained in manual drainage of the deep lymphatic vessels through Dr. Perry Nickeston in February of 2023.

Photos from 2022 breathwork gatherings