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Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“I haven’t felt this beautiful, in…I don’t think, ever. I had no idea what to expect this trip but I have to say, I certainly couldn’t even begin to imagine that it would be on the scale that it has been. It feels that something quite significant occurred during my time with you and Matthieu. I have also noticed that I am actively becoming more conscious of the softness that I provide for my thoughts. Allowing them to gently float by, allowing me to strengthen my observatory skills and quelling the harsh critique. Just being present with each moment as they come. I’m so grateful for you Alan…thank you for being on this planet, for all your work, care and your commitment…true love”
Michael John Harper
Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“I’ve just returned from the most rejuvenating, relaxing and peaceful week of my life at the fabulous Breathguru Retreat in Lanzarote. There were about 20 people on the beach and it was August! The weather was glorious with a delightful breeze which tempered the heat. Breathwork is one of the most powerful practices I know of for resetting the nervous system back in to rest and digest as well as clearing trauma that is suppressed and repressed and Alan is a master teacher and healer. If you’re after a detox and reset I highly recommend! “
Naomi Cambridge
Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“Alan, the work you do is amazing: thank you for showing me the way back home………..If you’re going through something tough, my advice to you: throw your phone in the sea and then go see Alan in Lanzarote. He will bring you home, where all the answers lie”
Leah Taj Joseph
Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“My experience at the retreat with Alan was one of a lifetime. It brought me back to feeling like myself… it’s one of those things that are difficult to explain and I’m sure more difficult to believe unless you go through this incredible journey yourself. It was quietly easily the best gift I ever gave myself- and more importantly to my children”
Maryam Keyhani
Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“Been feeling like a different person since the retreat, absolute game changer (in a positive way) – thank you Alan. Oh and the food was amazing!“
Chris Padmore
Client Feedback
Posted in Client testimonials
“The feeling of calm I experienced through your retreat has been sustained thus far and ever since my return home I sleep right through the night. I have not been able to do this for many years now and as you may imagine it is highly beneficial for my health . I am no longer overwhelmed with fatigue during the day. There has been a sea change which I cannot define precisely due to your and Matthieu’ s treatment. Incidentally I lost just over 3 kilos another benefit!”
Clive Farrell
Is Breathwork Worth The Hype?
Posted in Press
With respiratory health on everyone’s mind, conscious breathing is in the spotlight.
You breathe more than 23,000 times every day, but are you doing it properly? According to studies, 90 per cent of us are breathing incorrectly – and it’s having a negative impact on our health, causing everything from allergies to sleep apnoea. It is, however, possible to retrain our breathing patterns. Enter breathwork: the ancient practice designed to bring physical relaxation and peace of mind using simple breathing techniques.
Breathwork is hardly new; its roots date back thousands of years to Eastern practices like yoga and Buddhism. Yet it has come back into fashion as of late, spurred on by COVID, a disease causing not only global respiratory problems, but widespread anxiety. Alan Dolan, a breath coach and founder of Breathguru, describes breathwork as: ‘A self-healing modality which encourages detoxification of every level of our being: physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual – it’s like rebooting a computer.’ Devotees say it helps with everything from stress reduction to managing depression – but what’s the science behind it?
Clearly, breathing is a pivotal part of our existence: we must all breathe to survive. Yet the quality of our breath is a different ball game entirely. Studies have explored different patterns of breathing, discovering, for instance, a phenomenon called email apnoea, where people unconsciously hold their breath while responding to their morning emails.
When we’re stressed or anxious, our autonomic (involuntary) nervous system is involved. This system has two branches: the sympathetic, responsible for flight-or-fight responses, and the parasympathetic, which is at work during rest and digest states. During high-stress times, the sympathetic side becomes over-active – but breathwork aims to hack into these systems, activating the parasympathetic. This happens, for instance, during diaphragmatic breathing (or deep breathing), which lowers the heart rate and blood pressure – hence why the NHS is now recommending it for stress relief.
This is the kind of breathing Alan teaches through Breathguru. His technique is all about inhaling for longer than exhaling, without pausing between the two. Just ten minutes a day, he says, can produce tangible benefits, such as tackling sleep issues, reducing emotional baggage and even easing respiratory conditions. ‘If we wish to create any kind of positive change on any level of our being, breath is an obvious starting point,’ he says. ‘It can distance us from – and thereby give us a more balanced perspective on – our thoughts, and in creating that distance it means we are no longer enslaved by our mental processes.’
Fancy giving it a go? Below Alan shares a short breathwork practice to try at home.
- Lie down in a comfortable, warm space in a slightly elevated position so your upper chest is higher than your abdomen.
- Place one or both hands over the navel.
- Open your mouth fairly wide, imagine a balloon is in your abdomen and proceed to inflate and deflate the balloon with each inhale and exhale.
- With the inhale through the mouth, inflate the balloon, and with each exhale through the mouth allow the balloon to deflate with a short, soft sigh – like fogging a mirror.
- Make sure you are breathing in a relaxed manner, and that the inhale is longer than the exhale.
- Inflate, let go, inflate, let go, and repeat for five minutes. Then take five minutes to simply relax, allowing the breath to go back to the nose and letting it take care of itself. Stay in your awareness and notice any sensations in the body.
You can also check out Alan’s Breathe Free beginner’s package, which has free online video tutorials and guided audio sessions.
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