AFTER BREATHING

By Kari Kovick

My first five-day Dreamshadow® training was life-changing for me. Here is a journal entry I made describing my second breathwork session there. It is interesting to see that the themes I was working with then have continued to this day: finding my power in my body and my voice.

I also describe what has become my signature style of breathing: moving a lot on the mat during this session and playing with whatever movement and images the music inspired in me. I even played with my sheet in this one, using it as a prop in a way that uncovered unexpected grief.

What strikes me most about this journal entry is what a difference the Dreamshadow community made right away in helping me to experience and trust my power. My bodywork partners gave me a chance to express my strength, anger and resistance in a free-from-judgement context.

I shared a history of having felt psychologically and spiritually broken by past exceptional experiences, and found that several people respected me more for it, not less. I was able to share songs that I sing to my preschool students as a music educator, and instead of these being cast aside as irrelevant, I was told by a fellow breather, “You are so much in your power when you share what you do with children.”

I came away with a brand-new revelation: that I already had my power. I just needed to embrace it. My process continues to this day.

I had a little seed

I had a little seed and I put it in the ground

And the rain came down

And the sun came down

And my little seed started to grow.

Grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow, grow!

Out popped a leaf

Out popped a another leaf

And out popped a beautiful flower

Little Johnny Brown, lay that comfort down

Lie down on your blanket, Johnny Brown