MEDICAL, HEALTH & PREGNANCY

Contraindications

Please read the following information

Breathwork is safe and can offer an enjoyable, uplifting, liberating and healing experience. However, there are a few cases where certain breathwork techniques would not be recommended. Activation breathing techniques or sessions with breath retentions (intermittent hypoxic training) would not be advised for certain conditions unless under medical guidance.

These include:

Pregnancy
Epilepsy
Cancer - unless prescribed by a doctor
Detached retina or Glaucoma
Severe cardiovascular conditions
Heart conditions or arrhythmia
Pre-existing lung disease (COPD)
Uncontrolled high or low blood pressure
Bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia or psychosis

In some cases, you might be able to attend and enjoy the sessions with adjusted breathing techniques, such as slower rhythmic breathing, using the nose and not engaging in any breath holds, however, please seek medical advice if you are unsure, or contact us.

Note: if you have asthma, it is fine to participate but have an inhaler within reach just in case.

PREGNANCY

We always advise anyone who is pregnant and considering breathwork to fully research the techniques used in sessions and contact your GP or healthcare support if unsure.

Here is some information which we hope helps you.

First trimester or delicate pregnancy

Dynamic Breathwork is not suitable. Explore gentle diaphragmic breathing and practices such as coherence breathing or humming breathing.

Trying to conceive, pregnant or postpartum

Breathwork practices may be suitable for you, however, we advise that you DO NOT:

Participate in breath holds or
Tensing or squeezing muscles in breathwork, particularly the abdomen region.

We advise that you DO:

Maintain a slower pace, keeping the breaths deep (diaphragmatic) but more gentle
Focus on breathing and connecting with your baby
We would advise that you breathe through your nose, rather than your mouth. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are lower in pregnancy, and certain breathing techniques will lower CO2 levels further – it is important to maintain a good balance of oxygen and CO2, so breathing through the nose will help to slightly reduce the drop in CO2 levels.

Again, if you are unsure about proceeding with breathwork, always check with your GP and healthcare provider. Breathwork can be very beneficial during pregnancy and beyond, but ensure it is safe for you and your baby first.

TRAUMA

Breathwork offers profound healing potential for people dealing with trauma by removing chronic tension and stored energy that is deeply rooted within the body, and subconsciousness.

This allows a natural process for healing, from the inside, and offers a powerful full body and intuition connection.

This can be a liberating and life-altering experience for many, but when trauma is present, it may also become physically and psychologically uncomfortable at times as you move through this process.

Being fully supported and understanding how to work with this is crucial for your overall wellbeing and healing, and needs to be done with an integration plan and an ongoing plan for support if needed. If you are dealing with trauma, always check with your medical practitioner or therapist if you are unsure about completing a breathwork session.

The Social Breathwork offers an additional layer of support and guidance for anyone dealing with trauma. We will set out clear guidance for the session and beyond, however, if you find you need to reach out, you can contact our team at any time at info@thesocialbreathwork.com

Your wellbeing

It is important that you take care of your wellbeing by listening to your body and respecting the guidelines set out for you. Please make sure that you go at your own pace and listen to your body. If you are unsure as to whether deep breathing exercises and breathwork are appropriate for you, we suggest you seek professional medical advice.

By reading this waiver you agree to take personal responsibility for your process. The Social Breathwork and its facilitators cannot be held responsible for any mental, physical or emotional challenges that may arise from this work.

Disclaimer

The Social Breathwork is not a substitute for medical advice, and we recommend if you are concerned about your breathing or have any underlying medical conditions, or are experiencing breathing discomfort, chest pains, erratic heartbeat, feeling dizzy and lightheaded or any other concerns you should seek medical advice and support immediately.

The information and breathwork sessions provided by The Social Breathwork, and its products sold on the www.thesocialbreathwork.com website are additional modalities that you can use for health, wellbeing and support for healing and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, although the effectiveness of breathing well and breathwork can have a profound impact. If, for any reason you are unsure, please contact your GP or medical advisor before embarking on a breathwork journey.