Trauma-Informed Breathwork Safety and Who It’s Not For
If you’re brand new to breathwork, one of the first questions you should ask is: is breathwork safe? I’m Karen Warwick, an internationally certified breathwork facilitator and somatic coach, and I run Breathe Again Wellness in Olympia, Washington. Breathwork can be deeply supportive, and it can also be powerful. Anything powerful deserves to be approached with clarity, screening, and a pace that protects your nervous system.
In this article, I’ll walk you through what “trauma-informed breathwork safety” actually means, the most common breathwork contraindications, and the kinds of situations where conscious connected breathwork may not be the right starting point.
What “Trauma-Informed” Means in Breathwork
Trauma-informed breathwork is less about a specific technique and more about a framework of safety. Trauma-informed care recognizes that the body holds past experiences, and that intense physiological or emotional activation can feel overwhelming, or even destabilizing, when it isn’t properly supported.
So when people ask me, is breathwork safe, my answer is: it can be, when it’s facilitated responsibly and matched to the person in front of me.
The Core of Breathwork Safety: Nervous System Capacity
In a trauma-informed lens, safety is not just “nothing bad happens.” Safety means your nervous system can stay within a workable range, where you can notice sensations, emotions, and memories without getting flooded.
That’s why I focus on:
Regulation (staying connected to the present)
Choice (you’re never trapped in a process)
Pacing (we do what your body can actually integrate)
Support (before, during, and after the session)
This matters for beginners especially, because the most “impressive” experience is not always the most healing one.
My Trauma-Informed Safety Standards (What You Can Expect With Me)
At Breathe Again Wellness, I don’t treat breathwork like a one-size-fits-all practice. I treat it like a guided nervous system experience that deserves professional structure.
1) Screening and intake before each session
I start with a clear intake that includes relevant medical and mental health history. This is where we identify potential breathwork contraindications, current stress load, medications or recent changes, and what support you already have in your life.
2) Informed consent and ongoing check-ins
Consent isn’t a one-time form…it’s a continuous practice. I explain what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and what choices you have at every step.
3) Choice and agency throughout
You are always in control. You can pause. You can slow the breath. You can stop entirely. You’re never required to breathe faster or deeper than feels safe.
4) Pacing that respects your nervous system
If your system needs smaller “doses” to build capacity, that’s not a problem…that’s good facilitation. When someone asks, is breathwork safe, pacing is one of the most important variables I look at.
What Is Conscious Connected Breathwork (and Why It Can Feel Intense)?
Conscious connected breathwork is a specific style of breathwork where the inhale and exhale are connected in a continuous rhythm. For some people, that rhythm can bring up strong body sensations (tingling, temperature shifts), emotions, memories, or insights.
None of that automatically means something is “wrong.” But it does mean we need to talk honestly about readiness and safety. Again: is breathwork safe depends on the person, the method, and the container.
Breathwork Contraindications: When Conscious Connected Breathwork May Not Be Appropriate
This is the part many beginners are relieved to hear said out loud: there are times when conscious connected breathwork is not the right tool, at least not without medical clearance, modifications, or a different approach.
Common medical contraindications
Conscious connected breathwork may not be appropriate for people with certain medical conditions, including:
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Severe cardiovascular disease
Epilepsy or seizure disorders
Certain respiratory conditions (severity and stability matter)
Recent major surgeries
Brain aneurysm or abdominal aneurysm
Mental health considerations
Breathwork may require additional screening, consultation, or a different therapeutic container for people with:
Unmanaged bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia or active psychosis
Recent hospitalization for a mental health crisis
To be clear: this doesn’t necessarily mean “never.” It means we slow down and prioritize safety. For some people, collaboration with a medical provider or mental health provider is the responsible next step before doing a more activating style of breathwork.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “So is breathwork safe for me?” the most ethical answer is: let’s look at your full picture, not just a list on the internet.
Who Breathwork May Not Be For (Beyond Contraindications)
Safety isn’t only about diagnoses. It’s also about intention and pacing.
If you’re seeking catharsis at any cost
Conscious connected breathwork is sometimes marketed as a fast track to dramatic breakthroughs. I want to be very grounded here: chasing intensity is not the same as healing.
My approach is integration-focused. That means:
We don’t push for maximum emotional release.
We don’t pressure the body to “perform.”
We prioritize what you can digest and integrate afterward.
If you want rapid catharsis without pacing or support, my style may feel too slow, and that’s okay. At Breathe Again Wellness, I focus on sustainable nervous system regulation, long-term healing, and capacity building.
If you don’t have support for aftercare or integration
Even when is breathwork safe is a “yes” medically, it’s wise to consider your real-life bandwidth. If your life is already overloaded, you may benefit more from gentle somatic coaching or regulation practices before doing deeper breathwork sessions.
How to Decide: A Beginner-Friendly Safety Checklist
If you’re unsure whether is breathwork safe for you, here’s a practical starting point. I recommend working through these steps in order.
Identify your goal. Are you looking for stress regulation, emotional processing, support through a life transition, or something else?
Review medical history. If any breathwork contraindications apply, pause and seek guidance.
Consider your mental health stability. Have there been recent crises, hospitalizations, or destabilizing symptoms?
Assess your current capacity. Are you sleeping? Eating? Do you have room to integrate after a session?
Choose a qualified, trauma-informed facilitator. Ask how they screen, pace, and handle activation.
Start conservatively. You can always build intensity later; it’s harder to “undo” overwhelm.
What Safe Breathwork Can Support (When It’s the Right Fit)
When it’s facilitated responsibly, breathwork can be deeply supportive for many people, especially adults navigating:
Stress and anxiety
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Grief and life transitions
A desire for deeper body awareness and emotional integration
In my Olympia-based practice, I support clients not only through conscious connected breathwork, but also through somatic coaching, women’s circles, retreats, and corporate wellness workshops, because different nervous systems need different on-ramps.
So when someone asks, is breathwork safe, I also consider: what’s the safest, most supportive starting place for you right now?
Key Takeaways
Is breathwork safe? It can be, but it depends on the method, your health history, your current stability, and the quality of facilitation.
Trauma-informed breathwork prioritizes nervous system safety through screening, consent, pacing, and choice.
Be honest about breathwork contraindications such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, aneurysms, recent major surgeries, and certain mental health conditions without adequate support.
Breathwork isn’t for “breakthrough at any cost.” Sustainable healing is often slower, and safer.
A qualified facilitator should welcome your questions and help you determine the right container, including collaboration with healthcare providers when needed.
Where to Go From Here
If you’re considering breathwork and want to make sure it’s the right fit, you’re always welcome to begin with a conversation. At Breathe Again Wellness in Olympia, Washington, safety and nervous system support come first, and I’ll help you sort through any concerns about whether is breathwork safe for your specific situation. Reach out to ask questions, explore private sessions or group offerings, or learn about corporate wellness programs for your organization—together we’ll decide what feels right for your body and your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is breathwork safe for beginners?
For many beginners, breathwork can be safe when it’s paced appropriately and guided by a qualified, trauma-informed facilitator. I recommend starting with screening, clear consent, and a conservative approach that prioritizes regulation over intensity.
What are the main breathwork contraindications for conscious connected breathwork?
Common breathwork contraindications include uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, certain respiratory conditions, recent major surgeries, and brain or abdominal aneurysms. Some mental health conditions (such as unmanaged bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or recent psychiatric hospitalization) may require additional consultation or a different container.
Can breathwork make trauma symptoms worse?
Breathwork can increase activation in the nervous system, which may feel overwhelming if the pace is too intense or the container isn’t supportive. Trauma-informed facilitation reduces this risk by using screening, choice, consent, and pacing, so the experience stays within what your system can integrate.
Do I need medical clearance before doing breathwork?
If you have any relevant medical conditions or you’re unsure about your risk factors, medical clearance is a good idea, especially for more activating styles like conscious connected breathwork. In some cases, collaboration with your healthcare provider is the most responsible next step.
What should I look for in a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator?
Look for someone who screens for medical and mental health history, explains risks and options clearly, prioritizes consent and choice, encourages pacing, and can help you slow down or stop if needed. A trauma-informed facilitator should never pressure you into intensity.