Breathing Through the Grief Journey: Opening Flow Through Heavy Hearts (In-Person Program)

The journey through grief and loss engages all of our being and can be exhausting and confusing in navigating the many ways our body and spirit struggle to integrate the complex emotions and physical responses we experience. Grief has strong somatic components, in addition to the emotional and spiritual aspects. We feel and process profound losses in our body’s responses of exhaustion, digestive upset, insomnia, disruption in our eating patterns, headaches, among other symptoms.

Introspective Breathwork, utilizing conscious connected (circular) breathing, is a healing, therapeutic modality which supports griefwork through somatic release. It invites us into deeper relationship with ourselves and the flow of our experience of grief, as the grief uniquely manifests itself in our healing process. Breath is a bridge between our physical life and consciousness, and its intentional, mindful practice can ease the dysregulation in our nervous system during times of loss. It also supports the moving up and through to greater awareness and acceptance of emotions such as sadness, anger, loneliness and fear, as well as numbness, all very common within the one who is grieving.  

We all experience grief through a variety of losses, transitions, and changes – some personal and profound, some communal, some everyday losses in the seasons of life. We invite you to join Certified Introspective Breathwork™ Facilitator, Amy Kulesa, for a group session of conscious connected breathwork. Sometimes called “circular breathing,” conscious connected breathwork involves deep, diaphragmatic inhalations followed by natural, unforced exhalation, without a pause at the top and bottom of the breath. After a brief introduction to the history and practice of breathwork, participants will breathe this way for an hour, lying down on a mat or cushion, to the accompaniment of ambient music. When breathing in this way, you are in conscious control at all times of your own experience and can slow down or quicken your breath at any time, pause to get a drink or use the restroom.

Amy will offer support for you and your unique grief experience through compassionate and soulful presence and, when appropriate, through verbal prompts or gentle touch (with your permission). Following the breathwork practice, there will be an integrative time of journaling, stretching, walking – whatever is helpful to you – to process the experience more fully and then a time of voluntary sharing as a group.

Studies have found conscious connected breathwork to be very safe-rarely, if ever, do people experience adverse effects. Participants who are pregnant, have a cardiac condition, or other medical conditions such as bi-polar disorder or epilepsy, need to be aware that this activating breath practice affects the entire body’s systems. Participants are encouraged to discuss their interest in the program with their healthcare provider. All participants will be required to sign a release form after registration and return it to Amy for review.

PLEASE NOTE: This program is being held in the Upper Room at the Well. Participants will need to walk up the stairs to the 3rd Floor. We also encourage you to please register early! Registration is limited to 9 people so that Amy can give personal attention to each participant. Come with whatever you might be carrying and open the flow with your healing breath.

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

COST: $55

LOCATION: Well for the Journey – 120 W. Seminary Ave, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

REGISTRATION is required; please register here.

IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you!

FACILITATOR: Amy Kulesa

FACILITATOR BIO: 
A resident of Frederick, MD, Amy Kulesa has served since 2007 as the Director of Associates for the Sisters of Bon Secours, USA. She earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work in clinical social work practice from Rutgers University. She is a graduate of One Breath Institute, the Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality in Pittsburgh, PA, and the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute. Amy is a Secular Franciscan, is married and enjoys life with her husband and their four furry family members. She offers spiritual direction and enjoys facilitating retreats in which participants have the opportunity to discern the narrative of their own lives within the larger story of God’s abundant healing, grace and mercy.