Unspooling of the Thread

Recently, I shared on social media that I am enrolled in a 4-month, trauma-informed Breathwork certification program with Breath of Gold (if you received my email - skip ahead a bit).

I chose the “BOG” (that just makes me laugh because I’m a troll or a 9-year old boy) program because it teaches several Breathwork styles I’ve practiced for years, as well as new ones I’ve come to appreciate.

The BOG’s focus is on Circular Connected Breath—also known as connected breathing or conscious connected breathing. I am hosting a free Zoom event on Thursday, July 17, at 7 PM ET to introduce Circular Connected Breath and other breath and nervous system regulation techniques. If you’d like to join, you can RSVP here. If you’re interested and cannot make it on July 17, let me know!

In order to graduate from the program, I need to submit a few recordings of me leading Breathwork for feedback, and, eventual sign off for certification so I’m hopeful I can introduce circular connected breath to others and lead them through it.

Soon after I signed up for the BOG program, the leader offered a retreat in Reno. I was interested - but if you live on the east coast, Reno is a schlep. I talked to Andrea about it and she encouraged me to go - so, last Thursday, away I went.

The weather in Richmond had been oppressively humid and as we sat on the plane in Richmond last Thursday, rain began to fall and lightning illuminated the skies. This means your luggage cannot be loaded into the plane and refueling cannot occur for obvious reasons. And, because weather is unpredictable, there is no way to tell how long you will be sitting there. I knew I’d be sitting too long to catch my connecting flight in Dallas. Once I got in the air, this was confirmed and my efficient nature meant that I rebooked a flight at the same time American Airlines did and I really made a mess of things. Andrea secured sainthood status by stepping into the 7th circle of hell and calling the airline to get me on the flight that they had (attempted to) put me on. This meant I arrived in Reno just after midnight their time. After a fitful sleep plagued by weird dreams, it was time to take a Lyft to the AirbnB that our leader, Adrienne, had secured for the group. The Lyft driver remarked that the neighborhood I was headed to was a nice one - and he wasn’t wrong. The house we stayed at is for sale so here you go…4229 Christy Way, Reno, NV 89519 | MLS #250001428 | Zillow

I had sprung for a single room because I’d seen the agenda prior to the retreat and knew I was in for a lot of togetherness. And? Circular connected breath can be intense. So - allow me to pat past me on the back for that great decision.

Adrienne and her spouse are perfectly paired. He was our chef throughout the retreat. He isn’t a chef by trade but loves cooking (and is very good at it). So they both were among the guests at the house. 5 attendees, including myself stayed at the Airbnb, one attendee stayed at a hotel, and another - our sole male attendee, was local so he made the trip to the house daily.

I knew none of these people before arriving - which can be…scary-ish? Not like horror movie scary, but you never know who will show. Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about. The age range of attendees ranged from 41 to 68, and we traveled from Florida, Georgia, Virginia (me!), South Carolina, California, and the Netherlands.

The retreat wrapped up Monday morning and from there, I trekked to a hotel in downtown Reno where I spent the night.

Now, I am attempting to get home which is proving as much as an adventure as getting to Reno was. I’m at the Dallas Fort Worth airport - delayed - due to severe storms up the east coast and in Richmond. As of now, I’m due to land at 1232 AM. Did I mention I’m working tomorrow? Haha. Oh dear.

About the retreat…I am glad I went - even with the travel adventures getting to and from Reno. I am grateful that Andrea didn’t let any of our pets run wild into the streets even though most of them lost control of some aspect of their bodily functions during my time away, leaving Andrea to clean it up while attempting to control her own bodily functions.

There was retreat magic, learning and unlearning. The unspooling of the thread. I am still processing it all with gratitude and wonder.