Breath and Meditation · 13 October 2026
Before a Breathwork Session: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Hello dear friends. In breathwork we breathe in consciously and breathe out consciously, together. Your attention stays with your breath for the whole session. The aim is to notice your breath, to slow down and to stay with whatever is happening in your body in that moment. The breath is always with us, yet we so often forget to turn and look at it. 🌿
Before I go into the flow of a session, let me tell you about our workshop days at Şifa Köyü, our organic farm in Şile on the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. We lay our cushions out under the wooden pergola. Adults and children sit side by side. Arms open wide, we all breathe together among the greenery and draw in the smell of the soil. Part of the day is spent in the greenhouse, among the young plants. The produce we grow on the farm from heirloom seeds holds EU-approved organic farming certification, and walking among those seedlings feels like a deep breath to me.
I lead breathwork with groups in nature like this, and also as a one-to-one session. How is your breath today? Fast and shallow, or deep and easy? If you are joining for the first time, it helps to know what will happen. I have gathered the flow of a session and how to prepare below.
What happens in a breathwork session?
A breathwork session begins with a conversation, continues with the breath and closes with a quiet rest:
- We begin with a short conversation about how you are and anything about your health I need to know.
- You choose a position that feels comfortable, sitting or lying down.
- I guide, and you follow your breath. I adjust the rhythm and the intensity to you.
- At the end we rest in silence. Afterwards, if you like, we talk about your experience.
During the session you may yawn, your eyes may fill with tears, or you may laugh. None of this may happen either. The breath shows something different each time. The experience differs from person to person.
What we should talk about before you come
Before you come, we should talk about your health. Some breathing techniques, especially fast and intense ones, may not suit every body. If any of the following applies to you, please tell me before the session:
- Pregnancy
- Heart conditions or blood pressure problems
- Epilepsy
- Breathing problems such as asthma
- Recent surgery
- A psychiatric diagnosis
In these cases, I would like you to talk with your doctor first about whether this practice is suitable for you. We then keep the session very gentle, or we do not do it at all. Your safety and your comfort come first for me.
You can pause at any moment
You can pause at any moment; in breathwork you are always in control. If you feel dizzy, tingling or uncomfortable, simply return to your normal breathing. You do not even need to tell me. I am watching you too, and I slow the rhythm down.
How to prepare
You can choose comfortable clothes that are loose around the waist. Try not to eat a heavy meal in the hour or two before. Keep some water nearby. After the session, give yourself a little time; it is better not to rush straight into something demanding. If you can, a short walk or a look at the sky makes a lovely ending.
My own path with the breath
My own path with the breath began years ago. In 2008 and 2009, in New York, I took the meditation and breathing courses of The Art of Living Foundation. There I learned Sudarshan Kriya, a rhythmic breathing technique. Since then, breath has been at the centre of my own practice and my work. I hold sessions in English or Turkish, face to face or online. Breathwork is an awareness practice; it is not a medical treatment.
For a one-to-one session or a group workshop, you can write to us; we will get back to you and first arrange a short conversation. If you would like a simple start, you can also look at the five-minute morning breath I shared earlier.
How was your breath while you were reading these lines? Let us take one big, slow breath together now. I would be very happy if you shared with me how you feel. 🙏
Write to us for a first conversation →
A day of breath and meditation in Şile →
Frequently asked questions
What is breathwork?
An awareness practice in which you breathe in and out consciously, with your attention on the breath. In a session I adjust the rhythm and intensity to you.
Can I join if I have a health condition?
Please tell me before the session and ask your doctor. In some cases we keep the practice very gentle or do not do it at all.
What if I feel uncomfortable during the session?
Simply return to your normal breathing. You can pause at any moment; you are always in control.
Can I do breathwork at home on my own?
Simple breath awareness is something anyone can try. For fast and intense techniques, I suggest working with a trained teacher.
Do you offer breathwork in English or online?
Yes. I work in English or Turkish, face to face or online. We choose the format together, considering your health and your space.
How do I book?
Write to us. Our team will get back to you and arrange a short first conversation.
If you feel dizzy, experience pain or become noticeably uncomfortable during breathwork, stop the exercise and return to your normal breathing. Important information: These services are not intended as treatment and do not prevent or cure any illness. I am not a medical doctor; the sessions I give are experiential practices for personal awareness, spiritual exploration and wellbeing. If you have an ongoing health concern or treatment, please consult your doctor.
