Integration is when you take the things you've learned about yourself in your session and "integrate" them into your overall being, so they can become an accessible part of you, rather than something you quickly forget. I believe integration is also remembering as well. Also the process of incorporating the experience into your life in a way that truly moves you forward towards your life aspirations.
After a breathwork session it's recommend to keep the following in mind as you process and integrate your experience:
- Be Gentle With Yourself 🫶 - Allow for greater sensitivity, openness, and vulnerability. Allow yourself to be with whatever emotions or feelings arise in a tender, loving and accepting way without judgement. What are considered "negative" emotions are often what can really give us insight into what's going on in our inner world.
- Practice Self-Care and Self-Nurturing 🤗 - Get proper rest and sleep, drink plenty of water, eat nourishing foods. Nurture your body with a bath, massage, or gentle exercise such as walking, stretching, yoga.
- Spend Time in Nature To Connect With The Healing Power of The Earth 🌳 - Nature is a great teacher and helps us have some quiet time for reflection.
- Journal, Draw, or Do a Gentle Movement Exercise ✍️ - Writing and journalling may help you gain a deeper understanding of your experience. Drawing or making art can help connect to your creativity, a gateway into your inner world to better understand your feelings and emotions.
- If It Feels Right, Share Your Breathwork Process/Experience With Someone You Trust 💞 - Not everyone will be understanding of your experience, so make sure you talk to someone who is open-minded and supportive.
- Avoid Making Important, Abrupt, or Rash Decisions Immediately After Your Breathwork Session ☝️ - Wait at least a week before making any important life decisions.
- Befriend Your Emotions 💗 - Start taking responsibility for your emotional states. You can use either "negative" or "positive" emotions to look inside to examine and work with what is triggering these emotions instead of projecting the cause of the emotions to something that has happened in the outside world.
Journalling about your experience is a great way to integrate what you've learned in your breathwork session.
Spending time in nature is recommended after a breathwork session. Nature is a wonderful teacher and allows us time to reflect. "Earthing" the practice of putting one's feet on the earth is a great way to ground and connect.
Taking a relaxing hot bath after a breathwork session is a great way to give yourself space to reflect and practice self-care.