Frequently asked Questions:

Whether you are entirely new to conscious breathing or have already tasted its power, questions naturally arise before stepping into a session. This FAQ gathers the questions I hear most often — about breathwork in general, and about the specific offerings at Breath & Chill. If your question is not answered here, please reach out; I am always happy to talk before you book.

General Questions about Breathwork:

• What exactly is breathwork? Breathwork is an umbrella term for practices that use conscious, intentional breathing to shift physical, emotional, and mental states. At Breath & Chill, the primary technique is Rebirthing Breathwork — a continuous, connected breathing pattern that bypasses the analytical mind and allows the body to release stored tension, emotion, and trauma.
• Do I need any experience? No. The practice is guided from start to finish and works whether it is your first session or your fiftieth. Beginners are just as welcome as experienced practitioners.
• Is breathwork safe? For most people, yes. However, there are contraindications — including severe cardiovascular conditions, pregnancy, epilepsy, and certain psychiatric diagnoses. Please read the contraindications post and let me know about any health concerns before booking.
• Will I have to talk about my personal life? Only as much as you want to. A short intake conversation helps me support you, but the practice itself is largely non-verbal. Many insights arise inside the body without needing to be discussed.
• What might I feel during a session? Experiences vary widely. Common sensations include tingling, warmth or cold, temporary muscle tension (tetany), waves of emotion (joy, grief, anger), vivid imagery, and deep peace. All of it is welcome and safe within the container.
• How is breathwork different from meditation? Meditation usually invites stillness and observation. Breathwork is active — the breath itself becomes the vehicle that moves energy, emotion, and awareness. Many people find breathwork gives them access to states that took years to reach through seated meditation.
• How often should I practice? For most people, one session every 2–6 weeks is a good rhythm. Deep work needs integration time. Regular practice compounds — like therapy or training, the benefits build over months, not days.

My Offerings at Breath & Chill:

• 1:1 Rebirthing Breathwork Sessions. A private, deeply personal container. We begin with a conversation about what you want to work with, then move into approximately one hour of active breathing, followed by rest and integration. Total session length is 2–3 hours. Ideal for anyone wanting focused attention, working with specific themes, or new to the practice.
• Group Breathwork Circles. Held regularly in Berlin-Lichtenberg. Sharing the practice in a group creates a powerful collective field — the room breathes together, and the energy amplifies each individual journey. Group sessions are announced in the calendar and bookable via Eventbrite. A wonderful, more affordable way to experience the practice.
• Psychedelic Integration Coaching. Support to translate, process, and integrate insights or challenging experiences from psychedelic journeys. This is not about the substance itself — it is about weaving what emerged into your everyday life. Sessions are conversation-based and can include breathwork when appropriate.

Preparing for a Session:

• How should I prepare on the day? Eat lightly and finish your last meal 2–3 hours before we begin — a full stomach makes deep belly breathing uncomfortable. Drink water, wear soft, warm layers, and leave extra time afterwards instead of rushing to the next appointment. More detail in preparing for your first session.
• What should I bring? Comfortable clothes, warm socks, a water bottle, and anything that helps you feel safe — a blanket or a small personal object. Mats, cushions and blankets are provided.
• How long does a session last? A 1:1 session runs 2–3 hours in total: conversation, around one hour of active breathing, then rest and integration. Group circles are usually shorter and follow a fixed start time.
• Can I stop at any point? Yes. You stay in charge the whole time. Slowing the breath returns you to your everyday state within a minute or two — nothing has to be endured.

Body Sensations & Safety:

• Why do my hands cramp during breathwork? That is tetany, caused by respiratory alkalosis: exhaling CO₂ faster than the body produces it shifts blood pH and lowers free calcium. It is temporary and harmless in a healthy body, and it fades as soon as you slow the breath. See what is respiratory alkalosis.
• Why do I feel dizzy or tingly? Lower CO₂ narrows blood vessels in the brain and changes nerve excitability. Tingling in the fingers, toes and around the mouth, plus lightheadedness, are the most common and most benign signals of that shift.
• Is it normal to cry, shake, or laugh? Completely. Emotional waves, trembling and spontaneous laughter are common ways the body discharges stored tension. Nothing you feel needs to be explained or justified.
• Who should not practise high-ventilation breathwork? Anyone with severe cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, epilepsy, aneurysm, retinal detachment, recent surgery, pregnancy, or a psychotic or bipolar diagnosis. Please read breathwork contraindications and speak to me first.

Caffeine & Breathwork:

• Can I drink coffee before a rebirthing session? No, it is best to skip it completely on the day of the session. If you have a strong caffeine tolerance, take only a minimal dose at least 6 hours beforehand to avoid withdrawal headaches.
• Does caffeine make muscle cramps (tetany) worse during breathing? Yes. Exhaling CO₂ changes the available calcium in the blood. As a CNS stimulant, caffeine additionally raises neural excitability, so cramps in the hands and face appear earlier and more intensely.
• Which caffeine source suits breathwork best? Guayusa, mate and tea. They deliver caffeine together with the amino acid L-theanine, which creates sustained, calm alertness without adrenaline spikes.
• Can breathwork replace my morning coffee? In many cases yes. Just 5 minutes of dynamic breathing (e.g. Kapalabhati or circular breathing) sustainably increase oxygen supply and circulation — with no adenosine debt or adrenaline crash.

Cacao & Breathwork:

• Why is ceremonial cacao combined with breathwork? Cacao gently increases circulation and creates a warm, heart-open, softly focused state that makes it easier to drop into connected breathing. It is a supportive ritual, not a psychoactive substance. Read more in ceremonial cacao and breathwork.
• Can I drink cacao before every session? Not necessarily. Cacao contains theobromine and some caffeine, so if you are sensitive, on antidepressants (MAO inhibitors in particular), or have a heart condition, keep the dose small or skip it and let me know beforehand.

Other Topics:

• Does breathwork actually help with stress and burnout? Yes — slow, extended exhales shift the nervous system towards the parasympathetic state, and regular practice lowers baseline reactivity over weeks. Practical routines are in breathwork for stress relief.
• Is breathwork like a psychedelic experience? It can reach similarly non-ordinary states, but it is self-regulating: you steer the intensity with your own breath, and it ends when you stop. See breathwork and psychedelics.
• How is a Trance Dance evening different from a breathwork session? Trance Dance works through blindfolded movement, rhythm and percussive breath in a group field, while a breathwork session is still and inward. Both use the breath — the doorway is simply different. See trance dance vs ecstatic dance.

Still have questions? Reach out anytime — the best conversations often start before the session begins.