healing, transformation & empowerment
The value of Gentleness and Kindness in Breathwork
Brigitte Martin Powell
Former IBF President, former UN group leader and CBTR Programme co-creator
Following my introductory workshop on the same topic at the GIC 2024
“I am a tough cookie”
I grew up in Switzerland when women were not allowed to vote and when, at school, boys were doing math and gymnastics while girls learned to sew and knit… for 1 morning a week over 10 years. Moreover, around me women were often mocked, and considered stupid, weak and vain. I therefore decided I was going to be a boy. As “boys don’t cry”, I didn’t cry either. Since “boys are tough”, I put myself up for the tough jobs. When I turned 15, women finally became full citizen, but by then, I too was despising them.
For the rather rural community I was born into, going to university was as likely as walking on the moon, even for boys. Yet I had to prove to myself and others, that I was intelligent, and as intelligent as a man. It took a few detours and additional years, but I finally got there. I chose to study Economics, not because I liked it or was good at it, but because in my eyes it was a men’s career. I was so happy when I got top marks in Computer Science, I had my proof!
By then, however, and not surprisingly, I had developed a life-threatening eating disorder. I had become bulimic and lost 1/3 of my weight. I didn’t menstruate for more than a year and when I went to our family doctor, he told me not to worry, with me being at university, my blood was probably all in my brain! That was the 70’s and no one talked about eating disorders at the time. It took me another 5 years to admit that I needed help and to start therapy, and 3 more years of psychotherapy, body work, meditation and breathwork to stop being bulimic.
I loved being on a personal growth path; I was eager to learn and tried all the technique that I came across. I wanted to grow more and faster. I put myself in for rather harsh courses where I was told that I had to “fight” my ego, or that my stories where laughable (that’s when I had to share in a group the most upsetting episode of my life while the others joyfully sang a silly children’s tune).
I also attended all kinds of breathwork workshops, in which I had to breathe very strongly, shout out loud, bang my arms and legs furiously; where I hurt at the end of the session, but was pleased because, for me at that time, the dramatic intensity of the process must equal to a jump in personal growth.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wish to ridicule all these experiences. By then we were in the 80’s. On the back of the Flower Power and Hippy movement, more and more people were starting their quest to improve their mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. I believed that such an intensity and drama were necessary for a shift in consciousness. I am indeed very grateful to all my teachers at that time for their vision, their courage and their boldness.
When I came across Rebirthing Breathwork in 1990 however, I was living in Lesotho at the time, it felt like I was coming back home at last, home to myself. Rebirthing Breathwork, which is about conscious connected breathing but also the quality of our thoughts, encompassed all the sides of my being that I had dealt with separately in my various therapies before: the physical, the mental, the emotional and the spiritual. I was delighted.
With Rebirthing Breathwork, there were moments where I would touch into the vulnerable young version of myself. My inner little Brigitte was really scared and upset but had nobody to turn to. At first, I was not ready to be with her. It took me a very long time until I was willing to actually listen to her and welcome her feelings. I had to learn to use a very gentle version of Rebirthing Breathwork, to be kind to myself, to stop beating myself up for not being enough this or too much that. I had to learn acceptance, surrender, letting go. Slowly, slowly my inner child started to feel safe enough to trust me. She gradually grew freer, more confident and, in this process, she unlocked bundles of fun, treasures of creativity, intuition and love. I was then able to love myself unconditionally, with tenderness, including for my darker side. I began to trust the world and experience immense love for everyone and all creation.
I believe that it is our relationship with our inner child that holds our connection with the divine, with the magic of life, with our true, unique, precious self. If we want to be able to express ourself fully in this world, emotionally and spiritually, but also professionally and politically, it is, in my eyes, very important to reclaim the various little children that we have left behind at different ages along our growing up years. I have experienced on a cellular level as well as witnessed it in my clients and students how gentle Rebirthing Breathwork is particularly suited to this kind of deep work, and is the key to success, happiness and freedom.
In this approach of Rebirthing Breathwork that I call Gentle Rebirthing Breathwork we use our Natural Breath, while applying the 5 elements of Rebirthing Breathwork all through the session:
Over the years, with Rebirthing Breathwork, I have discovered that I am actually very sensitive, delicate, and feminine! I have learned to appreciate these exquisite qualities that allow me to tune in with other people and with the magic of the Universe. I still have a strong male side of course and am keen to try out rather yang breathwork modalities, such as the Wim Hof method with its strong breathing technique and cold-water immersion. Nonetheless it is gentle connected breathing and kindness to myself that have at long last “cracked the tough cookie”, allowing me to uncover my unique precious self and teaching me how to express it in the world.
If breathwork, gentleness and kindness are calling you, make sure you chose a breathwork practice that works for you. Be gentle to yourself. Remember that these two “soft” ingredients, gentleness and kindness, can powerfully transform your life and make you unstoppable in realising your dreams.
For further readings about Rebirthing Breathwork and working with your inner child, have a look at Michael Brown’s “The Presence Process”, 2nd edition 2010.
If you are considering training as a Breathworker in this gentle way of breathing, check out https://airschoolofbreathwork.com (AIR). This is the breathwork training Doug and I created 16 years ago. It has now been handed over to two fabulous women, Kerry Veitch and Jacqui Storm. Training modules are offered in the UK, in France and online. I’m still teaching on the AIR February module on Dartmoor National Park, UK. On this website you can also find a list of qualified practitioners if you would like to give gentle Rebirthing Breathwork a go. Kerry and Jacqui and their team also offer two-monthly online breathing circles available for free to everyone.
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Another report from the GIC. In the keynote lecture, Hannah Kendaru, an Indonesian-British facilitator and breathworker, spoke about the principles of decolonial healing and establishing new connections between people.
It sounded relevant and emotional, especially in terms of how terribly Ukraine is suffering from the consequences of long-lasting colonisation.
However, in reality, in one way or another, all of humanity suffers from various types of colonisation.
After all, colonisation is not just the conquest and humiliation of one people by another. We have all been colonised by capitalism and a certain global culture, and have been taught certain types of perception of each other and limiting behavioural patterns since childhood.
We have all been cut off from direct contact with the land, natural cycles, generational traditions, our original dances, stories and songs for a long time.
To varying degrees, people in different countries share the same suffering.
Everything that is in humanity as a whole is present within each of us. The culture of withdrawal that is widespread in our civilisation encourages us to push out what we don’t like.
In particular, we exclude certain groups of people from society (those who have broken the law, or are in an altered state of consciousness, or people of any age with special needs, etc.).
We deal in a similar way with parts of ourselves that for some reason we don’t like, frighten us, or we have been taught to be ashamed of or dislike.
For example, we all know that each of us has an innocent inner child – but how often do we realise that we also have an inner child of oppression, or an inner child shaped by oppression? That is, the one that others once taught to hate, fear, aggressiveness, competition, lies…
Just imagine how a lonely, confused child feels, usually an outcast somewhere deep inside, manifesting itself in a subconscious and awkward way and never receiving enough attention and love to heal… It’s horrible.
When we learn to love these exiled parts of ourselves, we can also learn to love the exiled parts of our society, and to interact with them adequately.
Colonisation and exile are not only external but also internal concepts.
From childhood, we are all taught to evaluate and be evaluated – superficially, without seeing our uniqueness, through the shape and appearance of our bodies, behaviour, skin colour, etc. But the truth is that we are terribly overwhelmed and paralysed by all of this, so much so that we don’t even notice how much we are missing.
Decolonising healing involves a deeply personal conscious study of how each of us is affected by the system, where exactly everyone is in the overall coordinate system.
It is not about fighting against the system or, on the contrary, accepting it uncritically, but about exploring in what ways you are privileged in relation to this system and in what ways you are not, and how you may be ashamed of both, not use the opportunities and ranks available, and avoid important personal responsibility.
We have to recognise that pain and violence are happening in the world and within us, so we have to engage with all this world disorder before we can establish a new kind of human connection.
At the same time, the process of decolonial healing involves a deep study and appropriation of one’s own roots, people, and unique history and origin.
The further path to liberation is through breath, body and movement, building healthy connections with other people.
People from different countries have the experience of spontaneously transcending colonisation – we all experience unconditional acceptance of each other, our deep equality before life, when we dance, breathe, sound and move together.
Hannah also shared her experience of how she and her colleagues bring breathwork and the principle of decolonial healing to different national communities.
The topic was then continued in a panel discussion.
In particular, we noted that when discussing existing problems, we are always tempted by the idea of global transformations and quick, bright solutions, but this is detached from reality. The process of decolonisation requires considerable time, deep knowledge and awareness, systematic efforts and human sincere commitment.
If we are to seek healing as a society, each of us must look within ourselves, study and understand ourselves deeply, establish a deep connection with our own origins, and realise and accept the necessary responsibility.
We also talked about the fact that the capitalism that colonises us, despite all its flaws, remains the best of the modern options for social order. One has only to remember the social horror that any attempts to combat it have turned into…
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Report on keynote speaker Tilke Plateel-Deur at the GIC in the Netherlands August 2024
So, I made it to the Netherlands (barely recovered from the under-Covid, spending eight hours on the Ukrainian-Polish border, but it was worth it).
The Global Inspiration Conference – the thirtieth anniversary – has begun and is ongoing.
Traditionally, I will share something, to the extent of my strength and ability, this and allows me to better structure the experience.
Of course, the first keynote speaker was Tilke Platteel-Deur. If I say that I’ve been quietly waiting for this moment for two years, since we first met in Germany, it might seem strange, but it’s really true.
There are meetings that always live in the heart and by their own fact change the course of life.
Tilke talked about the importance of in-depth training, about basic important things, while speaking YES that lived every word.
That moment when during a performance you laugh, then cry, then laugh again, then cry again – and so many times and the same thing happens to people around, and the heart becomes bigger, bigger, very alive…
The case when incredible love and beauty flow, spread circles across the water, from the stage to the hall, simultaneously encompassing many levels of perception. Actually, she was talking about how she became like this..
Why does in-depth training last for years?
Not because the theory is so big, but because it takes enough time for a profound transformation, to heal the past.
It’s a real human need – to have enough time and space to grow and develop, at a natural pace, without rushing oneself or others – but never stopping…
There is no highway to enlightenment – this is a metaphor, component of the title of the report and at the same time a guiding principle.
The human psyche is extremely complex, and our belief systems and fears are so deeply hidden that continuous training is necessary to develop a truly balanced personality.
(Personally, I perceive each of the stages of development as a jewel in a necklace of life experience, and I really like this experience).
Tilke also stressed: it is desirable that the educational training has more than one trainer, this will allow him not to lose his role of the Great Guru, and therefore not to lose critical perception and the opportunity to learn from students, exchange feedback, and generally to develop more effectively without losing contact with his own live vulnerability during the training stressful situations in training.
Because all of us are honing skills for the rest of our lives, so it is advisable to create the best conditions for it.
And of course, she was talking about the importance of containing energies – different, but primarily sexual.
Life energy at work flows everywhere, including genitals, it’s completely normal, but it’s important to be able to handle it.
Tilke is a reminder that deep work with the client’s breath, energy and body inevitably includes working with the inner child, picking up the appropriate material; each of us was once infants, full of loving energy, thirsty of touch and bodily pleasure.
This is an unusual, radical, and extremely powerful phrase for me: no one and ever in their right mind will have sex with a child or infant – so the same view should be on all manifestations of sexuality from therapist to client. And the responsibility here is on the therapist, completely.
Whatever clients say, they actually seek emotional and psychological support from us rather than any form of sexual attention – it always undermines the foundation of trust and healing.
So therapists should be able to comfortably live their own energy, containing it in a way that it flows freely, but without spreading to the client – and at the same time calmly, understandingly receptive the presence of the right energy in the client, in order not to suppress their personal process, but to contribute to it. And there is no way to learn this in a short time. To be able to adequately deal with the most different energies, and especially sexual, is the basis of the basics of professional ethics.
Thank you all for sharing your states, thoughts, emotions 🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️
It gives a sense of connection and mutual support even after the end of GIC, and it is VERY valuable.
The conference experience was really very intense, for me personally more intense than the previous ones, accordingly, the integration takes longer. I am very grateful for this experience 🙏🏻☀️
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What is your personal story and how did you get into this line of work?
In the 1980s, rebirthing and breathwork were at their beginning in Europe, and I was fortunate enough to encounter people from the States who came over to teach about them. That’s how I began learning breathwork and rebirthing, as it was called in those days in London where I was residing. Prior to this, I had already been exploring practices like Zen meditation so I had a preexisting interest in these areas. I found myself going through a personal crisis at the time, and breathwork truly helped me navigate through it, emerging stronger and experiencing the profound benefits of conscious breathing firsthand.
Following this transformative period, Leonard Orr, the founder of the rebirthing movement, invited me to teach in Poland. I spent two years there before moving to Italy, where I currently reside, and helped initiate the breathwork movement in those countries.
On top of that, I’ve engaged in various other pursuits over the years. Particularly, I realized that after delving into breathwork, I felt somewhat disconnected from my body. To address this, I pursued qualifications in shiatsu massage and attended seminars on bodywork. Later on, I also studied Watsu, taking advantage of the wonderful hot springs in Naples, Italy.
Furthermore, I did a course in Advanced Energy Healing, which had a strong spiritual component. This involved reading auras, working to contact other dimensions of ourselves, etc. What usually happens in breathwork sessions is that your perspective of your consciousness changes. Oftentimes people are concerned with what they’re doing to do tomorrow or what they’ve done yesterday, without being present in themselves.
Through practices like meditation and breathwork, I discovered that we can access multiple dimensions of ourselves, including our pasts and higher levels of consciousness. This experience was a pivotal one for me.
Subsequently, I became involved with the International Breathwork Foundation, a network dedicated to promoting breathwork practices worldwide. Over the past 30 years, I’ve been actively engaged with them, encouraging others to explore the transformative potential of breathwork. Currently, I lead a team called the Breathing Arts team, where I blend my passions for music and songwriting with breathwork. Through the Breathing Arts, we inspire individuals to explore creative expression as part of their healing journey. A lot of people think that breathwork is just for people who are depressed or anxious, but that’s not the case. It’s a lot more than that.
Your website is called “Merkaba Seminars”. Where did the name come from and what can you tell me about that part of your work?
I named my website Merkaba Seminars because, over time and through my study at the School of Energy Mastery, I became involved with Sacred Geometry. The Merkaba was developed by Drunvalo Melchizedek in the States. For a period, I taught the Merkaba breathing meditation, which is specifically designed to facilitate the transition into our light body. In other words, it involves breathing in a certain way to access higher frequencies of existence. While I still conduct seminars on this topic, I’ve expanded the scope of my website to encompass all the various activities I’m currently engaged in.
For example, at the moment, I’m promoting a series of workshops titled “Find Your Voice,” along with highlighting the Breathing Arts. However, I remained involved with Merkaba meditation as it incorporates breath, visualization, mantras, and focused attention, integrating various techniques from the multidimensional realm.
What breathwork modalities and techniques do you use?
As I mentioned, I began with rebirthing, which involves breathing in hot and cold water. While breathing in hot water using conscious connected breathing, many people reexperienced their birth, hence the term “rebirthing.” However, with so many individuals having undergone this practice, the collective experience has evolved, leading to varied individual experiences. Nowadays, there are numerous forms of conscious breathing and breathwork available. Personally, I’ve continued to focus on conscious connected breathing, which emphasizes diaphragmatic breathing, meaning breathing from the belly.
In my sessions, there are essentially three stages. Firstly, you need to bring more energy into your body. Then you need to integrate it. This involves processing any emotions, physical sensations, or thoughts that arise during the session. Finally, the session concludes with the person entering into an energized relaxed state. That is the goal of the session.
What can you tell me about the work you do in the space of Multidimensional Reality?
What I base my multidimensional reality work is the idea of Stanislav Grof, the founder of Holotropic Breathwork™, which is the idea of spiritual emergencies. He found that when people are breathing very deeply, they can enter a stage where they don’t know who they are or what they are doing. Those people would often get scared about this, but it’s essentially another level of consciousness that can be reached through breathwork. That’s how I got interested in the quantum aspects of breathwork, how we work with internal energies, chakras, DNA, etc. All of this is related to the various dimensions that exist within us.
Recently, I became a grandfather for the first time and it’s like my grandchild is not present here, but is rather present within himself. As little babies, we all have reactions like, “Oh, here I am. This is my body. What do I do with this body?” As babies are still very connected to the soul level, they must learn to utilize their bodies and manage their emotions and thoughts. They’re essentially learning to navigate their existence. If they succeed in this, then we have to go back to the soul, which entails addressing all the things they’ve learned. However, many things we learn as babies are no longer useful once we become adults. They were very useful when we were babies, but they no longer serve their purpose when we grow up. When we leave these aspects of our being that we learned as infants, we create a space to move into another dimension.
I’ve written a couple of books exploring these ideas. For instance, if we consider physics, particularly quantum physics, it introduces dimensions vastly different from our physical reality. These dimensions can be seen as unfamiliar territories. For example, why do I feel a connection with someone without having exchanged a word? Conversely, why do I feel repelled by someone I’ve never spoken to? It suggests that we are connected on a different level, perhaps through shared experiences in past lives or from a different fabric of existence. These connections impact us deeply and need to be acknowledged as we move towards a more spiritual understanding.
Part of the healing process involves realizing that we are not alone but interconnected with everything around us. As we reach these other levels, we begin to discover our connection to nature, to other beings, and to our lineage – who we were before we came here and what is going to happen moving forward.
What other services do you offer?
Since the pandemic and the lockdown, I’ve devoted myself to songwriting. I work with voice and music as music is one of the things that can bring people together. Music is a universal language, just like breath is, and so is singing. Even if I don’t understand a word of what people are singing, I can still feel a connection. This is a part of our tradition as human beings.
I like to imagine a world where people start their day breathing together, singing together, dancing together, and only then going about their business. It’s paradise to me. Music has been a part of our tradition long before modern society where we need to do specific things and be at specific places. It was a part of a far more spontaneous culture that brought communities together. That’s why I like working with groups so that we can create a community together. In that light, I do regular online sessions with the purpose of giving people a space where they can get support, share, breathe, sing, and dance together. Having a chance to do this sort of thing often has a really positive effect on people, even if it’s done online.
What is in store for you going forward?
I will continue my online group work and I’m also going to Dubai next month as we’re planning to set up an academy there. I’ve also been invited to go to Barcelona in the autumn to participate in a shamanic program. So, those are some of my upcoming projects. I’m really always happy to hear from people. Apart from breathing, I’m also interested in sharing songs and songwriting.
In this course we will explore together:
What can you expect to come away with from this course:
One of the first impressions we give out to the world is through our voice and yet quite often it is something we take for granted. A good voice can help you communicate more effectively, convey your message with confidence, and build stronger relationships with others. It can also enhance your career prospects, improve your presentation skills, and make you a more persuasive speaker or performer. Additionally, it can boost your self-esteem, lower stress levels, and promote better breathing and overall health.
We are excited to offer this short introductory course to get you started in finding your true authentic voice and how to use it!
Details about the course
The course is organized in five weekly two hour classes which will be recorded and made available to all participants. So even if you miss a class you can catch up at home in your own time. Practice makes perfect so there will be “homework” exercises to do every week. You will also be challenged to work on a project to share with the group at the end of the course. Learning materials will be provided.
The course is open to everybody who is interested and curious about improving their speaking and singing skills. Whether you are just starting to explore the potential of your voice or are already using it in a professional capacity, this is an unique opportunity to enhance your vocal skills. The main focus will be on voice production and finding your true authentic voice..
Robin Lawley is a professional breathworker, teacher, singer, musician and songwriter. He has been working with conscious breathing techniques for more than 30 years. He is a professional member of the International Breathwork Foundation and leader of the Breathing Arts group of this organization. He studied singing with Pamela Dodds for four years in London and is a multi-instrumentalist playing piano and guitar. He is passionate about bringing together creative expression and conscious breathing as tools to personal growth and fulfilling our full creative potential.
In this introductory workshop you will learn to ignite momentum in your creative process by considering several important points including getting clear on what you want to create, putting it out there, how to work towards your goals, dealing with doubts and anxiety, creating a sense of joy and gratitude in the process and acknowledging your magical creative potential. Please bring paper and pen.The workshop will also include physical exercises so please wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to create playfully.
The workshop lasts two hours and all are welcome. It is a donation based event.
In 2022 the GIC was hosted in Germany where we felt the unity brought about by breathing together – “Breath Unites”… In 2023 we welcome you to Kenya. The theme for this year’s event is “Breathing peace into the heart of Africa”. This is very important to us especially after having a very peaceful general election as a country and above all a peaceful transition of power from one regime to another, we feel that this is a great example to most African countries that are struggling when it comes to letting go of power.
As we all know peace is the core value of our being, without peace we cannot do anything of value to ourselves, and for us to create/bring peace to the world, we have to bring that peace to our own hearts first.. and there is no better way to experience the real peace other than through connected breath. “Peace begins with a smile” -Mother Teresa.
The GIC offers us a great opportunity to come together and connect in a special way. There is no prior experience needed for one to attend the GIC, there is no age limit… this is an opportunity to come and experience the power of conscious breathing as well as the power of being in the presence of some of the pioneers of conscious breathing from all over the world.
Keynote speakers will enrich us with their diverse knowledge and experiences ranging from conscious birthing/breathing, native African shamanism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam and how they all connect with the breath/consciousness of the breath.