We Tried It: Breathwork Class at Elevate

It was one of those weeks. Work stress and escalating family responsibilities led to poor sleep and rising blood pressure. I was feeling squirrely, and when Sunday rolled around, my nervous system was still amok. I had signed up and paid for a breathwork session that evening at Elevate in Kailua, and even though I wasn’t in the mood to drive over the Pali, I fought off the inertia and went.

Image: iStock Images

Nine of us lay on mats in a cozy second-floor yoga studio, awaiting prompts from instructor Sage King, who was seated next to sound healer Claire Ryan and her bowls and chimes. I’m not new to breathwork. I’ve gone to many workshops led by Eric Rosso at Yoga Room Hawai‘i in Kaimukī, and I’m a believer in the power of conscious breathing. So when I heard about Elevate’s 90-minute breathwork class ($35), which happens monthly, I was intrigued.

Ryan’s instructions were straightforward and easy to follow; even newbies wouldn’t have trouble. After a short warmup, we started a circular breathing pattern that involved continuous rhythmic breaths, with emphasis on the exhales. We did this for several minutes while wearing eye masks and listening to Ryan’s uplifting musical playlist. Then at her prompt, we took a deep breath and held it, and that’s when the adventure began. I floated high above my body, seemingly to another galaxy, and I could easily hold my breath for much longer than normal. We then repeated the sequence a few times, and during the final breath hold, Ryan started the sound healing.

I had never experienced sound healing, and to be honest, I was skeptical. But as I held my breath that final time, listening to the frequencies and vibrations of her instruments, I was propelled somewhere I had never been before. It was wild. For several minutes, I went on a colorful journey, traveling through lighted tunnels and floating past stars with no fear or barriers.

By the end of the session, I was transformed—calm, serene, happy and relaxed. That night, I slept without waking once, and the next morning, my blood pressure was much lower than usual. Monday mornings typically instill feelings of malaise, but I was energetic and content.

The peace stayed with me for the day, and I couldn’t stop raving to one of my colleagues about how I felt. (He ended up going with me to the same class the following month, and he too had an amazing experience.) Of course, life stresses arose, and the effects faded. But I love knowing that I can relieve stress and calm my nerves naturally, through the power of my own breath.

46 Ho‘ola‘i St., Kailua, elevateoahu.com, @elevate_oahu

Other Breathwork Classes on O‘ahu

Breathwork with Eric Rosso

Along with monthly breathwork workshops at Yoga Room Hawai‘i in Kaimukī ($25 for members; $35 for nonmembers), sessions are offered at Magic Island and other locations. These popular two-hour events draw both regulars and those new to conscious breathing. With assuring prompts and a warm delivery, Rosso has guided thousands of people in Hawai‘i to reach higher levels of awareness through breathwork. 

breathworkwitheric.com, @breathworkwitheric

Somatic Breathwork at Canopy 

This new yoga studio in Wahiawā offers a somatic breathwork class ($25 drop-in) designed to clear blockages and stored energy. It’s described on Canopy’s website as “a sequence of breath through the mouth, breath holds and relaxed breathing.”

401 N. Cane St., Bay B2, Wahiawā, canopyhi.com, @canopymovement

SEE ALSO: We Tried It: Spending an Hour in a Sensory Deprivation Tank

Diane Seo is the editorial director of HONOLULU Magazine.