My Transformative Experience with Breathwork

Discovering Energy Work

I had never done breathwork before. I love the way David Elliott discusses energy work and his learnings. Definitely read The Reluctant Healer and Healing for context. He had my attention, and I was determined to join a training.

The retreat was held at Spirit Camp. This place is a true gem, nestled in a magical part of the world about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco on the Mendocino Coast. Here, the redwoods start to kiss the rugged ocean, ospreys fly free, and bears roam through the trees. This is a must-visit if you haven't been. It was perfect for me because I was headed even further up north to my hometown of Arcata, nestled in Humboldt County. Shout out to Pour Girls Coffee, my favorite stop for decades.

My Expectations and Experience

I didn't know what to expect. I came wanting to try something different for my birthday and learn new modalities to expand my energy work. I left completely changed—clear-headed, energized, and wanting to know so much more! Honestly, it gave me the push to get my White Dove Collective Online shop up, something I had been working on for years. I felt extremely motivated and inspired.

David's approach is rooted in pranayama breathing techniques that he's been using since 1989. What makes his method so powerful is how he combines these ancient techniques with modern insights and his own intuitive gifts. He has this incredible clairaudient ability that helps you uncover deeply buried histories—stuff you didn't even know was there.

The whole practice centers around self-love, gratitude, and creative expression as consistent steps to healing and growth. It's not just about the breath; it's about connecting to your energy in a way that actually shifts everything. No wonder I felt like a completely different person by the end! David is an incredible teacher.

The Power of Connection

But maybe the most beautiful part was the intimacy of sharing this journey with complete strangers. There's something profound about opening up the raw history and authenticity of yourself to people you've just met. Letting them witness as ancestral energy, stuck emotions, and past events flow through you with each breath is transformative.

We held space for each other's deepest releases, our most vulnerable moments, and our ancestral healing. On our final day—day nine—these weren't strangers anymore; they were soul family who had seen me at my most real and stayed present for me through it all. That kind of witnessing and being witnessed? It changes you forever.

Witnessing Healing Journeys

I am not going to share too much about the experiences I saw. Every person's healing path is unique. However, it was truly incredible to witness this level of energy flowing and to hold space for others in this group capacity.

Would I suggest breathwork for everyone? Yes! Many people spoke of how what can take years in other therapies can clear in just 20 minutes of breathing. Don't think of breath as a replacement—just as another tool.

Join the Community

Curious to try? Please reach out, and we can schedule a 1:1 breathwork session. It would be an honor to hold space for you. I would like to hold a community breathwork session in the Fall, so make sure you're on the mailing list to stay tuned!

In Peace & Gratitude,

~Yvonne