3+ ways to get your breath back and reduce stress

Classes, courses, retreats on conscious breathing run by the trainers leading the global movement

Last updated: Tuesday, 21 February 2023

A dentist in Cape Town, yoga instructor in Hout Bay, development economist in Johannesburg, dancer in Durban, an academic in Istanbul, anaesthesiologist in Texas and over 30 others from around the world are gathered on a Breathwork Foundation Course, facilitated by Breathwork Africa, a global leader in the field of conscious breathing.

Founder Ela Manga is a leading figure in the field, a global speaker and author of Breathe: Strategising Energy in the Age of Burnout. Image: Breathwork Africa

LEARN ABOUT THE POWER OF BREATHING

Breathwork Africa, founded by integrative medical doctor Ela Manga, trains everyone at any level, as demonstrated by this motley crew in this current foundation course. 

There are newbies just learning about conscious breathing, to those more familiar with the subject, like meditation and yoga instructors, as well as doctors and therapists using the techniques to empower their patients to heal themselves. Breathwork, which was a field bubbling under for some years, has gone mainstream.

Not least of all because we are living in the age of busy and burnout, which Manga talks about in her book Breathe: Strategising Energy in the Age of Burnout. High-functioning professionals and leaders and executives are led to the breath by anxiety and the general malaise that haunts modern humans, rich and poor, around the world.

More people are tapping into the art and science of conscious breathing to heal themselves and move beyond their anxiety and pain. Image: Breathwork Africa

WATCH + TRY: BREATHWORK BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

Ela Manga unpacks the power of breath, the easiest way to bring calm into your life. 

BOOK THE BREATHWORK FOUNDATION COURSE 

The foundation session runs over three consecutive days and is led by Ela Manga and three more qualified Breathwork Africa practitioners, who hold the space. The course, which you can join from any city, gives fascinating insights into the art and science of breathing. 

You learn to correct dysfunctional breathing, about the respiratory anatomy and nervous system, the workings of the brain and how to regulate and expand the capacity of all our integrated systems. 

The courses can also be done in person in various cities around the world.  Image: Breathwork Africa

USE BREATHING TECHNIQUES TO CALM YOUR ANXIETY

Half of the days are dedicated to practise, so you pick up loads of interesting information and, most importantly, get to feel the transformative power of conscious breathing through applying the techniques. 

The warrior breath is a tool for energizing your day, the jovial hummingbird breath for calming an active mind before sleep, or the conscious connected breath for healing past traumas – and those few breath techniques only scratch the surface. 

It’s a sacred, intimate time of new learnings, experiences, and spiritual community growth. There are 5 Breathwork Foundation Courses in the year (4 left): Book for the next one (mail info@breathworkafrica.co.za and ask for the "CapeTownmag Reader Special") . 

Breathwork Africa courses and classes have built many communities online and in-person. Image: Breathwork Africa

DELVE DEEP INTO BREATHWORK PRACTICE

“Once you have felt the power of the breath, you can never unknow it,” says Ela, which is why many sign up for the year-long Advanced Practitioners Course, for which you obtain an accredited certification. 

It’s a fantastic journey of self-development, and many join so they can share their skills and knowledge with the world, to help in their communities and at home. For instance, it can help snoring partners sleep better, ease the pain of sick parents, relieve colleagues experiencing trying times, and help give anxious teens and kids confidence (Breathwork Africa runs a course for kids called Breathing Buddies).

Many healers and community builders use conscious breathing tools in their practices. Image: Breathwork Africa

GEEK OUT ON THE MASTERCLASSES (FOR FREE)

And then there are the healers and community builders across disciplines who are incorporating it into the practices and workshops every day. They are the footprints that make up the Breathwork Africa practitioner community around the world.

The Advanced Practitioners Course has a lot of yummy additions that come free for the year: Monthly masterclasses are where you geek out on subjects like how breathwork can influence sleep and the lymphatic system. These are hosted by Ela and other experts, who also unveil new research: Book the next masterclass.

Breathwork Africa masterclasses, which take place monthly, are free on the Advanced Practitioners Course. Image: Breathwork Africa

2 WAYS TO GET YOUR BREATH BACK EVERY WEEK

The every-week treat is BreathCafe, the 30-minute live online session facilitated by a practitioner somewhere in the world. BreathCafe helps you stay in practice and experience the breath. These happen every Monday morning and Thursday evening.

They are free to Advanced Practitioners Course trainees, and open to anyone. There is a free BreathCafe session every month for people who are curious about the practice: Book a free BreathCafe session for beginners.

Breathwork Africa practitioner Simon Kehagias runs in-person retreats. Image: Breathwork Africa

WHEN + WHERE TO GO 

Find Breathwork Africa: Breathworkafrica.co.za
Find: a Breathwork practitioner in your city or country
Book: The Breathwork Foundation Course 
Contact it on: 082 561 3637, info@breathworkafrica.co.za , @breathwork_africa

DATES. TIMES FOR FOUNDATION COURSES

Ask about the "CapeTownmag Reader Special" when booking the Foundations Course.

• Mail: info@breathworkafrica.co.za.
• Call +27 82 561 3637
• Or DM @breathwork_africa

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By Joonji Mdyogolo

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