Frequently asked Questions:

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.

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.

No. Each Session beginns with an Introduction and is guided step by step. It works the same way; whether it is your first session or your fiftieth. Beginners are just as welcome as experienced practitioners.

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.

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.

No. Breathwork can complement professional care but is not psychotherapy, medical treatment or a replacement for prescribed medication. See breathwork vs. therapy.

No. Rebirthing uses a relaxed, connected rhythm without pauses, guided and paced so the body stays safe. You can always slow down. More in What is Rebirthing Breathwork?.

For daily practice, slow nasal breathing with a long exhale. For deeper connected breathing, start with a guided session rather than practising alone. Overview: the ultimate breathwork guide.

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.

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.

Not quite. Pranayama is the yogic system of breath control; modern breathwork borrows from it but also includes Western methods like Rebirthing and Holotropic Breathwork. See the history of modern breathwork.

There is no single inventor. Leonard Orr developed Rebirthing in the 1970s, Stanislav and Christina Grof created Holotropic Breathwork, and later methods like Wim Hof built on older traditions. See the history of modern breathwork.

For everyday life, mostly yes. In Rebirthing sessions the mouth is used on purpose to allow a fuller, connected breath for a limited time. See nose vs. mouth breathing.

You breathe in a relaxed, continuous circle without a deliberate pause between inhale and exhale. The inhale is usually fuller and active, while the exhale is allowed to release without force. A facilitator helps you find a sustainable rhythm, notice tension and slow or stop when needed; the active breathing phase is followed by rest and integration.

Leonard Orr was an American teacher who developed Rebirthing in the 1970s after exploring sustained connected breathing, initially in warm water and later on dry land. His interpretations included ideas about birth memories and life energy; these are part of the method's history, not established scientific facts. The enduring practical element is its relaxed, connected breathing pattern.

Holotropic Breathwork is usually longer, faster and group-based, with music and paired sitters. Rebirthing is typically gentler, often one-to-one and guided with emphasis on a relaxed, connected breath.

The terms are sometimes used interchangeably online, but Rebirthing Breathwork is best described as a facilitated breathing and self-exploration practice, not psychotherapy. It does not diagnose or treat mental-health conditions and is not a substitute for care from a licensed therapist, doctor or other qualified professional.

Beginners should learn the method with a trained facilitator who can screen for contraindications, explain the physiological effects and help adjust the pace. Intense connected breathing should never be practised alone in water, while driving or anywhere a loss of awareness could be dangerous. After guided experience, some people use gentler connected breathing independently, but safety and medical guidance still come first.

No. The name and some historical interpretations refer to birth, but you do not need to remember or relive your birth. Some people describe imagery or feelings; others mainly notice physical sensations. These experiences are not reliable evidence of actual memories, and you do not have to interpret them in a particular way.

Not necessarily. You can participate without touch. If physical support is offered, it should be explained beforehand and used only with your explicit consent. You can say no or withdraw consent at any time.

Yes. Private sessions can take place in a Studio in Berlin or at your own location. They offer a more private and 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. More Details on the 1:1 sessions page. 

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 held at various locations across Berlin, announced in the calendar and bookable via Eventbrite. A wonderful, more affordable way to experience the practice.

Conversation-based support for making sense of past psychedelic or non-ordinary experiences. I don't provide, recommend or advise on substances. Many psychedelics are illegal in Germany. Sessions can include breathwork when appropriate and safe. See Integration Coaching.

Both work. A 1:1 gives you full attention and time to talk; a group is more affordable and carried by the shared energy. Compare them in group vs. 1-on-1 sessions.

No. Sharing is always optional. You can simply breathe, rest and listen.

One session can already be meaningful. Many people return every few weeks, because the effects tend to deepen with regular practice and integration time.

Yes. Many people join group sessions regularly and book a private session when they want to work with a specific theme.

All upcoming dates are on the sessions page, where you can book directly. Booking conditions and cancellations are explained in the terms.

Yes. You can book a free 15-minute discovery call or write via the contact page.

Both. Sessions are offered in English and German, so you can breathe and express yourself in the language that feels most comfortable.

At various locations across Berlin. The exact venue is shown with each event.

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.

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. Some eye masks are provided as well but please bring your own if you prefer to.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Completely. Emotional waves, trembling and spontaneous laughter are common ways the body discharges stored tension. Nothing you feel needs to be explained or justified.

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.

High-ventilation breathwork such as Rebirthing is not recommended during pregnancy. Gentle, slow breathing is usually fine. Please read breathwork contraindications or take the safety check.

It can be supportive, but intense breathwork may bring up strong material. Go slowly, work with an experienced facilitator, and keep professional support in place. See breathwork for trauma.

Tell the facilitator or simply slow your breath. Opening your eyes, feeling your feet and naming things in the room helps you come back. Nothing has to be pushed through.

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.

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.

Guayusa, mate and tea. They deliver caffeine together with the amino acid L-theanine, which creates sustained, calm alertness without adrenaline spikes.

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 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.

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.

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.

A few slow breaths with a longer exhale than inhale, or the physiological sigh (two inhales, one long exhale), calm the nervous system quickly. See breathwork for stress relief.

Slow, calming breathing before bed can make falling asleep easier, often within a few nights of regular practice. Gentle techniques are safe every night. See breathwork for sleep.

The breathwork glossary explains over 100 terms, from tetany to Tummo, in plain language.

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.

Trance Dance combines blindfolded movement, percussive rhythm and intentional breathing in a group field, while a breathwork session is usually more still and inward focused. Both use the breath as a doorway to altered states of consciousness. See trance dance vs ecstatic dance.

In a way, yes. Chanting and humming lengthen the exhale and slow the breath. You don't need to be a good singer. See chanting, singing and breathing.