Shifting Paradigms
in Self & Society

Sign Up For
My Mailing ListSchedule an
Astrology Session

Why Breathwork?

Physiological Benefits

-instinctually move the body towards physical equilibrium & homeostasis
– access deep relaxation states
-correct restrictive breathing patterns
-improve stress management:  Shallow breathing is associated with fight or flight response and tends to lock people into high arousal.
-Breathwork brings direct experience of the parasympathetic, relaxed states, improving access in day to day life.
-natural pain relief
-stimulate melatonin release, helpful as a sleep enhancer.
-support anxiety and panic attacks — focus on breathing can help alleviate anxiety, symptoms of depression and other negative emotions .  In one study, deep breathing before a performance reduced performance anxiety in musicians (Ardito)
-One 2013 NIMH study suggests taking slow deep breaths a few minutes a day may help reduce blood pressure (Anderson).
-2012 study-deep breathing practice improves heart-rate variability, reducing heart attack risk
-2005 Harvard study suggested controlled breathing stimulates the longer brainwave patterns that are found during various stages of sleep and meditative states, helping to reduce stress

Psychological / Therapeutic Benefits

-access hidden or suppressed emotions which are not easily accessed verbally
-release/cathart old emotional baggage trapped in the body such as grief, anger, guilt, shame
-in a safe environment deepen trust in intuition and inner knowing
-building a greater capacity to self-soothe / self-care
-enhance ability to express feelings more fluidly and spontaneously
-improve feelings of self-empowerment, self-confidence and self-esteem
-reduce depression/stuckness
-increase ability to self-express
-improved access to a more centered and grounded state of mind.

Spiritual/Emotional Benefits

-strengthen mindful awareness – greater capacity to be more present in life
-connect more deeply to others
-enhance creativity, insight and intuition, joy and pleasure capacity
-achieve meditative and higher states of consciousness and spiritual awareness
-access insights & visionary and transcendent experiences which bring clarity to life
-connect to a deeper more meaningful relationship with self, which enhances inner peace, meaning, purpose, and overall outlook on life
-deepen feelings of one’s embeddedness in the larger world, and the universe
-expand one’s capacity to trust in life’s unfolding and ability to surrender to the what is out of one’s control

About Glenn

Glenn Girlando - Breathwork Workshops, Astrology Readings
Nothing under heaven can arrest the progress of the human soul on its long pilgrimage from darkness to light, from the unreal to the real, from death to immortality, and from ignorance to wisdom.
-Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

I grew up in the Chicago area, but have called the Pacific Northwest home for 24 years. My passion is to help create safe, sacred spaces for people to focus internally and re-member the multifaceted, beautiful, mystical, powerful beings they already are.  And, while doing so, to support individual healing, which to me is synonymous with world healing.

My professional background includes:

  • Completing a Masters degree from Antioch University Seattle in 1998, focused on transformational psychology & adult education.
  • Training and certification with Dr. Stanislav Grof, (founder of Transpersonal Psychology);
  • Leading monthly Holotropic Breathwork workshops in the Seattle area since 2002.
  • Practicing breathwork for self-development since my first workshop in 1991 on a farm in Monee, Illinois.
  • Co-founding a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2011 called Breathwork Northwest, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individual, community, and global healing by increasing the awareness, and availability of Holotropic Breathwork
  • Read more about my background here.

Blue Heron Web Design

Glenn's Recent Blog Posts