Why Shamanic Transformative Breathwork Hits Different (and How to Know It’s Time)

You’ve probably heard about breathwork by now — maybe you’ve even tried a class or two where you left feeling relaxed or a little buzzy. Shamanic transformative breathwork is a whole different animal. It’s not about relaxing. It’s about remembering. It’s a full-body, full-spirit reset that goes straight to the root of what’s been sitting under the surface for a while.

At Grounded Ascension, I guide people through this kind of work — the kind that cracks open the parts of you that have been holding on, and helps you actually move that energy out.

So, let’s talk about what it is, why people do it, and how to know when it’s time.

What Shamanic Breathwork Actually Is

In short: it’s you, your breath, and your body doing some deep collaboration.

Shamanic breathwork uses a connected breathing pattern (no pauses between inhale and exhale) that helps you drop out of your thinking brain and into something a lot older — the body’s own intelligence. It’s paired with a custom playlist I build based on your intention. The music takes you on a journey — soft at the start, emotional in the middle, empowering at the end.

It’s not a chill spa vibe. It’s a “holy shit, I just met a part of myself I didn’t know was there” kind of vibe. Sometimes there’s laughter, tears, tingles, or just pure peace. Every session is different because you are different every time you breathe this way.

Why It Hits Different Than Other Somatic Practices

There are a lot of great body-based modalities out there — yoga, shaking, EMDR, somatic therapy — all of them work in their own ways. But shamanic transformative breathwork? It goes straight to the source.

Here’s why:

• It bypasses your brain. You can’t “think” your way through this. Once the breath takes over, your nervous system starts doing the work for you.

• It opens the door to what’s actually underneath. Stuff you’ve been carrying for years (grief, shame, anger, numbness) has a way of surfacing in a safe way. You don’t have to relive it — you get to release it.

• It’s not about fixing — it’s about feeling. Most of us spend our days trying to manage, fix, or suppress what’s uncomfortable. This work is about letting your body show you what it already knows.

• It’s embodied spirituality. No bypassing. No pretending everything’s fine. Just breath, body, and truth — all meeting in one place.

People often tell me afterward, “That went deeper than anything I’ve ever done in therapy.” And it’s not because therapy doesn’t work — it’s because this hits the layer therapy talks about but can’t always touch.

When You Know It’s Time for a Session

You’ll feel it in your bones before your mind admits it.

Here are a few signs you’re probably ready:

• You feel like you’re doing all the things — the journaling, the working out, the meditating — but something still feels stuck.

• You’ve been cycling through the same patterns and you’re honestly tired of hearing yourself talk about them.

• You’re in a transition — leaving a job, relationship, or identity — and need help letting the old energy move out.

• You’ve been holding it all together for too long, and your body is starting to say “enough.”

• You can feel something big building inside you — and you want to meet it, not avoid it.

If that hits a nerve, it’s probably time.

What Happens After

Most people leave a session feeling grounded, open, clear, and a little in awe of how much their breath just did. Some feel calm and quiet; others feel electric and inspired. The integration continues for days or even weeks. You’ll likely notice small shifts — more patience, more honesty, more ease in your body.

That’s the magic of it. Your body finally gets to exhale.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to wait until you’re falling apart to do breathwork. You can come in curious, steady, even happy — and still walk out feeling expanded.

If you’re ready to see what your breath’s been trying to tell you, I’d love to guide you through it. You can learn more or book a session at thegroundedascension.com.

It’s time to stop managing your feelings and start meeting them.