Our Mission
Increase Accessibility
Increase Accessibility
Increase Accessibility
While there are many paid-for yoga studios in the area there are very few places to practice solely Breathwork & Meditation! We are combatting this by providing FREE weekly group sessions with professional teachers.
Change Perceptions
Increase Accessibility
Increase Accessibility
While Breathwork & Meditation are historically deeply rooted in spiritual practises, a person does not need to be 'spiritual' to practise them and garner their life-changing benefits. The clichéd view of them being something only for 'spiritual' people often puts off certain individuals, particularly young men, who are a demographic that could most benefit from these practises.
Spread Awareness
Increase Accessibility
Spread Awareness
We all know that unfortunately mental health issues are on the rise across society. However, most people don't know the life-changing benefits that Meditation and Breathwork can bring. We want people to just 'give it a go' and were sure then that the peace, calm and stillness garnered from just one session will make them want to do it again!
An Intro to Meditation
Most people may have tried meditation once or twice but have given up because they have realised that the voice in their head just does not stop. They believe that to meditate you must be in a state of ‘no-thought’ and so if they are thinking, then they are doing it wrong! This is not true! The realisation that the voice in your head is on non-stop- IS meditation!
You have realised that you are aware of your thoughts, and so you must not actually be your thoughts. You can see that you are the awareness in which the thoughts come up.
In meditation we can focus on something such as the breath and allow thoughts to come and go without following them down a rabbit hole. Every time we realise we have been caught up in a thought, we can come back to our breath, each time we do this we ARE practising meditation.
People that have been meditating for years still have thoughts pop up, but they acknowledge them, do not follow them, then come back to the breath. When we are not following our thoughts we are simply awareness itself, not the content of our awareness. And it is here that pure stillness and peace resides.
By repeatedly coming back to our breath and not automatically following our thoughts, back in everyday life- we now don't get carried away in our overthinking/ worry and become much more present.
When we enter stillness, we are finally away from the non-stop voice in the head (maybe for the first time in our lives!) So when we come out of meditation, we now have 'space' from all these thoughts, often resulting in a new way of looking at things.
Scientific research into meditation suggests it can combat anxiety, depression, chronic pain, high blood pressure, sleep problems, heart disease and even cancer.
An intro to Breathwork
Breathwork is different to meditation and is a term used for various breathing practises which can influence a persons mental, emotional and physical state. Breathwork has a whole host of benefits but it can particularly and very effectively be used to combat stress and anxiety, which is a condition unfortunately on the rise across society.
When you feel stressed, your breath tends to become fast and shallow. This limits the oxygen entering your bloodstream. Your brain tells your body that there is a threat, and your body responds in fight or flight and a vicious circle entails. Symptoms of this includes, over-thinking, distress, worry, irritation, panic, over-tiredness etc.
When you carry out breathing exercises, you tell your brain that everything is OK by activating your parasympathetic nervous system. Your brain communicates to your body that it’s safe to relax. The fight or flight response decreases, and your body can begin to function normally again.
Breathwork can be useful prior to meditation. When meditating our mind may be holding on really tight and we may be be finding it hard to even catch that we are lost in thought. Breathwork can relax the body which in turn relaxes the mind. This can reduce the intensity of our thoughts allowing us to catch them, not follow them, and return to the present moment.
Breathwork is also very effective in healing trauma. Trauma is a human experience - at some point everyone experiences it. All traumas have an impact on our bodies and subconscious minds. Over time, these impacts can compound and become further internalised, manifesting as physical or emotional symptoms such as self destructive behaviour, easily-triggered, lack of concentration, trouble sleeping etc.
Breathwork can invoke an altered state through deep relaxation of the body and mind. This allows for deep-rooted, suppressed thoughts and stored emotions from trauma to more easily move towards the surface and be released. It also counters the physical effects of trauma, deactivating the flight-or-fight response which is switched on when undergoing a traumatic event.
Our Story
Our founder Matt, a keen traveller, has attended many wellness retreats around the world, experiencing amazing teachings from a variety of practitioners of differing backgrounds.
At these retreats Matt has seen first-hand just how Meditation & Breathwork has changed peoples lives.
Back home in Manchester/ Cheshire however, he finds it difficult to find group Meditation & Breathwork classes. Consequently his own practise lessens.
Tragically In May 2023, Matt’s brother Jonny, died on his own stag do a few weeks before his wedding. Leaving his fiancé, 6 month old son and many family and friends heartbroken.
From this ‘Jonnysbreath’ arose with the mission to introduce the benefits of Breathwork & Meditation to as many people as possible in the local area, initially by facilitating free access to weekly classes with professional practitioners.
Contact Us
We look forward to seeing you at a group session very soon!
For any enquiries or further information please feel free to get in touch!
