Breathword
Breathword is a podcast about breath as a tool for living and the ways life breathes back. Each episode explores the insights that come from slowing down, tuning in, and letting yourself feel. Through intimate conversations, poetic reflections, and grounded breaths, host Annie Janssen invites you into a more authentic, wiser way of moving through the world. This is a space for healing, humor, imperfection, and the quiet magic of being alive.
Breathword
Finding Your Rhythm Breathwork
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“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the Universe...” - Joseph Campbell
This guided breathwork session is great for people who are new to the 3-part breath since it's slow and stead as we find our rhythm. We'll also explore the deeper meanings behind rhythm in the introduction and poem at the end. It's inspired by Mickey Hart's latest documentary called Rhythm Masters.
Find a cozy spot to lie down, and I hope you enjoy!
Also, if you're new to the 3-part breath, check out breathword.com.
Welcome to BreathWord, a poetic breathwork experience. I'm your host and breathwork facilitator, annie, and I'll be guiding you through 15 minutes of three-part breathwork. If you're new to the three-part breath, I suggest visiting breathwordcom first to get acquainted. I suggest visiting breathworkcom first to get acquainted. The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe A quote by Joseph Campbell. Today's theme is rhythm, a reminder of the steady guiding patterns that flow through our lives. Rhythm is the pulse that keeps us grounded, the beat that drives us forward and the flow that connects us to the world around us. Whether it's the rhythm of your breath, the cycle of the moon or the cadence of your daily life, these patterns help us find balance and purpose. As we move through life, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or scattered, but as the moon guides the tides and the sun nurtures the earth, there's a rhythm within each of us that we can return to, a steady, reliable force that helps us navigate through change, challenges and growth. In today's breathwork practice, I invite you to reconnect with your inner rhythm as you breathe. Notice how each inhale and exhale creates a natural soothing pattern. Let this rhythm anchor you, bring you back to center, reminding you that, no matter what's happening around you, you can always find your way back to the steady beat. And, as Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead says, he who knows the rhythm knows the world. With those ideas in mind, we'll embark on a 15-minute breathwork journey to clear space and create room. I'll be guiding you through a three-part breath. As a reminder, this breath is done lying down completely flat. All breaths are through the mouth as you cycle it from the belly to the chest and exhale. Before we start, gently place a hand on your stomach and a hand on your chest. Inhale air into the belly, now inhale it into your chest, shifting it up into your heart space, and exhale fully. Repeat this. Inhale into your belly, pressing against that hand. Inhale into your chest, nudging that top hand, and then release. As always, you may experience tingling or numbness in your face or hands, getting hot or cold or cramped hands. This is all normal and I encourage you to lean in If it ever becomes too much. Take a few breaths through your nose before returning.
Speaker 1Once we've completed the three-part breath, you'll relax for a song. Before I read a poem I wrote for you containing messages from the moon. Now let's get started. Get comfortable by lying down in a place that's distraction free. Down in a place that's distraction free, let your limbs just fall naturally against the ground, relaxing your face, unfurrowing your brow, releasing your jaw and just letting your shoulders melt into the ground, maybe shifting your hips a little from side to side, wiggling your head back and forth, letting your feet fall however feels comfortable to you.
Speaker 1Take just some nice easy inhales through the nose, exhaling through the mouth, inhaling gently through the nose, hailing gently through the nose and letting it go, breathing in some nice gratitude for the day, for this moment, thinking about someone or something that you're extra grateful for, and thinking about maybe something that you want to let go of in these next 15 minutes, something that really doesn't serve you. It's okay to let it go, just gently feeling into these nice easy inhales and exhales. Before we start the three-part breath, a couple more before we move into the first song. Now we'll ease in to the three-part breath. Belly breath, chest breath, chest breath release, belly shifting to the chest and letting it go. Chest release, belly heart, let it out. Belly, chest release. Let it out. Belly, chest release, belly, chest exhale. Keep cycling this breath, leaning into that rhythm.
Speaker 2Continuing it all through the mouth, allowing your belly to expand and making room in those lungs, and then not forcing the exhale but letting it flow out, making any resistance behind your hair.
Speaker 1And then the old fangs if you want to circle to your back. We're going to take a deep breath in. Let any discomfort that comes up justhales and inhale through the nose. Bring the nose back to the nose. This is exhaling judgment and shaking. You're doing great. How do you name your second song? Find that beat, find the rhythm. Belly Chest, rib, belly Chest, let it go.
Speaker 2Inhale, inhale, let it go of any other thoughts about the day or yesterday or anything in the past. We only have this moment and this breath Showing up for yourself, letting the breath guide you, putting on the elements of rhythm, the endurance, the speed and the creativity, making it your own, trusting your body. Just rest, are you seeing that power? It's always right, just below the surface. Got it? Thank you, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye. Finding that beat in the third song Bye, baby, chance.
Speaker 3Thank you Making space, standing, releasing it, doing the work. I'm so happy. Moving on to the fourth song, it's a finer rhythm. Just relax, just relax, inhale, exhale and you and you, and you and you. I've been running out of time. I really thought you were on my side, but now there's nobody by my side. I need you, I need you. I need you right now. I need you right now. Nobody by my side.
Speaker 1Belly heart release Inhale inhale, let it go.
Speaker 3I need you right now. I need you right now. So don't let me, don't, let me, don't let me down. I think I'm losing my mind.
Speaker 1now it's in my head, darling, I hope that you'll be here when I need you the most. Don't let me down. Keep it up, beautiful. Entering the final song of the three-part breath. You've got it, just bring it home.
Speaker 3I know this road rarely comes easy. It's hard to see clearly when the heart is on the run, but you've got a fire burning inside you, a lighthouse to guide you into the sun. Oh, you were born for this and you've got a lot to give. We are now at Upper Session.
Speaker 3Road. It's fierce and untainted. Stay on the wild road. Don't let your fear Keep you from living your story's unwritten. You can go your own way. Follow the light Wherever it leads you. Keep chasing what moves. You Don't let it slip away. Oh, you Don't let it slip away. Oh, you born for this. Oh, you got a lot to give. We are now at Upper Session Road. Stay on the wild road. Keep your head up, child. You'll find your way Through the shadowlands and darkest days. I promise this. I'll be here for you, no matter where you plant your ears, if your heart is real, it's fierce and untethered. Stay on the wild road.
Embracing the Rhythm of Life
Speaker 1You've made it. You can gently return to your nasal breathing, taking nice, easy inhales through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. No-transcript, the subtle sounds of a city dim as a rich, familiar voice greets your ear. Hello, my sweet friend, says the moon. It's been a while since I've been this near. I've watched your journey from afar, seen the weight you've carried through the night, the anxious thoughts that keep you up and defeated hopes you often hide. It's time to let them go, says the moon, along with your shoulders, jaw and neck. Along with your shoulders, jaw and neck, and lean into a gentle contentment where mind and body meets the breath.
Speaker 1Yes, listen to the beat within the rhythm that never fades in the quiet of your mind, the flow where everything is made. Trust the timing of your life, each moment, a note in time, a melody that's yours alone, yet part of the grand design, just like the sun's effect on plants and my impact on the ocean's waves. Together we're all an orchestra tuning in as each one plays. So please reclaim your power, feel the pulse that drives you forward and move with grace and speed, in sync with life's accord. You can endure the tougher tempos, the ones that will test your will, for in their steady beat your true strength is revealed, no matter where life leads you, through the highs, lows, twists and bends. May the rhythm remain a steady drumbeat, a guide you can trust, a faithful friend when the noise of the world grows loud and you feel scattered, lost in the fray, remember this rhythm is ever-present. It's always here for you to light your way.
Speaker 1Thank you so so Enjoy this final song and, when you're ready, take it easy on yourself as you come back into your body, wiggling your toes, maybe moving from side to side, and remember to drink some water, maybe eat some chocolate no-transcript.