Health & Safety Disclaimer

Breathing with Ana — Live Breathwork Sessions

Please read this information carefully before registering for a Live Breathwork session.

The practices I facilitate include Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System®. Breathwork can be physically and emotionally intense and is not suitable for everyone.

By registering, you confirm that you have read and understood the information below and will let Ana know before the session if you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate safely.

1. Breathwork is not medical care

Breathing with Ana offers Breathwork for personal exploration and general wellbeing.

Breathwork is not medical or psychological treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any physical or mental health condition. It is not a substitute for medical care, psychotherapy, diagnosis, treatment or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

If you have any concerns about whether Breathwork is appropriate for you, please speak with a qualified healthcare professional before participating.

2. What you may experience

Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® use breath alongside body awareness and, where appropriate, movement and other embodied practices.

Breathwork can create noticeable changes in physical and emotional state. Experiences may include changes in body temperature, tingling, light-headedness, muscle tension or relaxation, changes in perception, emotional responses, memories or shifts in energy.

Experiences vary considerably from person to person.

You are always in control of your participation. Everything offered during a session is an invitation. You can change or slow your breathing, return to your natural breath, rest, modify a movement or stop the practice at any time.

There is no particular experience you need to achieve.

3. Contraindications & health considerations

For your safety, Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® are contraindicated if any of the conditions listed below apply to you:

  • cardiovascular disease, heart problems, previous heart attack or significant cardiac arrhythmia;
  • uncontrolled high blood pressure;
  • previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA);
  • aneurysm;
  • epilepsy or a history of seizures;
  • severe or poorly controlled asthma or another significant respiratory condition;
  • previous spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung);
  • glaucoma, retinal problems or recent eye surgery;
  • untreated severe osteoporosis;
  • recent significant surgery, fracture or physical injury;
  • pregnancy or recent postpartum recovery;
  • psychosis or schizophrenia;
  • bipolar disorder, particularly current or recent mania;
  • severe PTSD;
  • significant dissociation or dissociative disorders;
  • active suicidal thoughts or a recent suicide attempt;
  • another acute or unstable psychiatric condition;
  • any other medical condition for which you have been advised to avoid intensive breathing practices.

If any of these apply to you, please do not take part in the active Breathwork practice.

Your safety comes first. If you are unsure whether any of the above applies to you, please contact Ana before registering.

Depending on your circumstances, Ana may recommend that you do not participate, ask you to obtain clearance from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional, or offer a gentler or modified practice where appropriate.

4. Medication, alcohol & other substances

Do not participate while under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, psychedelics or other recreational drugs.

If you take prescription medication — particularly medication affecting heart rate, blood pressure, seizures, mood, anxiety or the central nervous system — please speak with your prescribing healthcare professional if you are unsure whether Breathwork is appropriate for you.

Do not stop, reduce or otherwise change prescribed medication in order to participate in a session.

5. Your environment

For online sessions, participate from a private and physically safe space where you can comfortably lie down and are unlikely to be disturbed.

Never practise Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® while:

  • driving;
  • operating machinery;
  • in a bath, swimming pool or other body of water;
  • close to water, heights or another environment where dizziness, altered attention or loss of balance could create a risk.

Please make sure you have enough space around you to move safely if movement is incorporated into the session.

6. During the practice

Your body comes first.

Everything offered is an invitation. You do not need to push through discomfort or complete a practice simply because it has been offered.

If you experience chest pain, significant difficulty breathing, severe or concerning dizziness, fainting, a severe headache, unusual heart symptoms, overwhelming emotional distress or anything else that concerns you, stop the active breathing, return to your natural breath and seek appropriate medical assistance if needed.

If you are participating online, remember that Ana is facilitating remotely and cannot provide emergency medical assistance.

7. Emotional & psychological responses

Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® may bring emotions, memories, sensations or other experiences into awareness.

You are never required to explore, explain or share anything that arises.

If Breathwork causes significant distress, destabilises you or worsens existing mental health symptoms, stop the practice and seek support from an appropriately qualified mental health professional.

Breathing with Ana is not a crisis or emergency mental health service.

If you are experiencing an immediate medical or mental health emergency, contact the emergency services where you are located. Within the European Union, the emergency number is 112.

8. Adults only

Live Breathwork sessions are currently intended for participants aged 18 and over.

Please contact Ana separately regarding any Breathwork request involving someone under 18.

9. Your responsibility

You are responsible for providing accurate information about relevant health conditions and for deciding, together with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional where necessary, whether participation is suitable for you.

Ana may recommend that you do not participate in a particular practice, suggest a modification or ask you to stop during a session if there are reasonable concerns about your safety.

Nothing in this Health & Safety Disclaimer is intended to exclude or limit any liability or consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

10. Your acknowledgement

Before completing your registration, you will be asked to confirm that:

  • you are aged 18 or over;
  • you have read and understood this Health & Safety Disclaimer;
  • you have considered whether any of the contraindications or health considerations above apply to you;
  • you will inform Ana of relevant health concerns before participating;
  • where appropriate, you have sought advice from a qualified healthcare professional;
  • you understand that Conscious Connected Breathwork and Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® can produce strong physical and emotional experiences;
  • you understand that you can modify or stop the practice at any time; and
  • you understand that Breathwork is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.

11. Questions

If you are unsure whether a session is suitable for you, please contact Ana before registering.

Breathing with Ana cannot provide medical advice. Questions about a medical or mental health condition should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.