My First 9D Breathwork Session: What It Was Actually Like
I'll be honest. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I had done breathwork before, but 9D breathwork was different. The headphones. The eye mask. The music. The guided voice. The whole setup felt completely unfamiliar.
I remember laying down next to Rachel (Breath by Design) and thinking, well, here goes nothing. At the same time, I felt relieved she was right there because I genuinely wasn't sure what was about to happen.
The monkey mind showed up immediately
Once the headphones went on and the session started, I immediately understood what people mean when they talk about the “monkey mind.” My brain would not stop. Am I doing this right? Am I breathing fast enough? What am I supposed to be feeling?
I kept trying to follow the music, the rhythm, and the instructions, but honestly, I kept losing track. Thankfully, Rachel was right there breathing with us and giving support. Whenever I got lost, I could hear her breathing and find my way back.
For probably the first fifteen minutes, it felt like a battle between me and my mind.
The breath holds I was sure I couldn't do
Then we got to the breath holds.
I'll admit it. I was convinced this was the part where I was going to pass out. My brain was screaming, there's no way I can hold my breath this long.
But something interesting happened. I never felt like I was actually in danger. My body handled it just fine. There is a scientific reason for that, but in the moment all I knew was that the thing I was worried about never happened.
Then came the screaming
Then came the part nobody had prepared me for.
The screaming.
When Rachel said we were going to scream, my first thought was, what in the world have I signed up for? Seriously. I thought it sounded ridiculous.
But when the moment came, something shifted.
Because of the headphones and eye mask, I couldn't really hear anyone else. I wasn't worried about who was listening. I wasn't worried about looking weird. I was in my own little world.
And when Rachel told us to scream, I screamed. Loud. Really loud.
And honestly, it felt amazing.
It wasn't anger. It wasn't rage. It was release. The kind of release you don't realize you've needed until it finally happens.
What 9D Breathwork did to my body
At some point during the session, I noticed my arms starting to rise. My hands began curling into what everyone jokingly calls “lobster claws.” At first, it startled me. I remember thinking, well, that's new.
But then I remembered Rachel explaining that it can happen during deeper breathing. I knew my body was responding to the breathwork and doing exactly what it was supposed to do.
The strangest part? I could feel everything happening in my hands and arms, but I felt absolutely no pain in my right arm. That was shocking to me. Normally I would have noticed it immediately, but in that moment my body felt completely different.
The moment hope came back
By the third phase, I wasn't fighting the process anymore. I was still breathing, but I had stopped analyzing everything. My mind had finally gone quiet.
I remember feeling like I was floating through space. Not like I was blasting off in a rocket. Just floating. Weightless. Peaceful. Seeing stars behind my eyes. Completely relaxed.
And that's when it happened.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt hope.
Real hope.
Not the kind you force yourself to believe. The kind you feel. The kind that settles into your body.
I remember thinking, I'm going to survive this depression.
My problems weren't magically gone. I didn't suddenly have all the answers. But for the first time, I could see a future where things got better.
And sometimes that's all you need.
One breath. One moment. One experience that reminds you there is still hope waiting for you on the other side.
If you've been curious about breathwork but aren't sure what to expect, I hope sharing my experience helps. Everyone's journey is different, but this was the moment I realized healing might be possible.
If you're curious what your own first session might feel like, come breathe with us at Inspire Yoga in Grapevine. I always hold one free spot, no questions asked, for anyone who cannot afford to be there.
Book a session at exhalebreathworkexperience.com.
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