CENTERLINE BREATH JOURNEY: PREPARATION GUIDE FOR FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS

From The Infinite Center

Welcome. This is the preparatory information for participating in your upcoming Centerline Breath Journey offered through The Infinite Center. This guide will help you understand what this style of breathwork Journey is, how to prepare, what you might experience, and how to care for yourself afterward.

Our goal is to help you feel fully informed and supported as you begin this work.

Why Breathwork Journeys?

Experiencing a Journey is a powerful way to access an expanded state of awareness, calm the “monkey mind,” and connect more deeply to your inner wisdom, which is that part of you that knows how to heal, integrate, and move forward when given the space to do so. At The Infinite Center, we use the term "inner wisdom" not as something mystical or abstract, but as a way of naming the deeper truth beneath the surface noise. The part of you that has always been there, even if it’s been hard to hear.

When you breathe with intention in these types of Journeys, you create space for that wisdom to guide the process. Over time, repeated sessions can turn these Journeys into a regular Practice to encourage the building of a stronger neural connection to that deeper wisdom. Many participants report:

Deep emotional or physical releases
Insight into difficult life questions
A greater sense of connection and presence
The ability to pause and reset by simply taking a few conscious breaths

It’s not about controlling the experience. It’s about creating the space for your body and psyche to show you what’s ready to be seen, felt, and released.

Principles to Guide Your Experience

Centerline Breath Journeys stand in a lineage of deep-breathwork modalities that began with Stan Grof's Holotropic Breathwork and was later adapted by Michael Stone into NeuroDynamic Breathwork. At The Infinite Center, we've built on these foundations with our own refinements to create the Centerline Breath Journey, bringing the same core principles into a structure designed for clarity, integration, and professional life. These principles can be thought of as steady guides you can lean on during the session:

1. Projection 101

In everyday life, we often mistake an external event for the cause of our internal states and emotions. But this is never truly the case. For example, if someone cuts us off in traffic, some of us may get angry while others may not be bothered at all. This reveals that the real fuel for that anger is what the external event triggers from our past and the story we create around what happened. In this type of breathwork, we work with this insight by taking it vertical: instead of projecting the cause of our emotions outward, we stay with the feeling and allow it to express itself as fully as possible as it arises in the body. Doing this with curiosity and openness and without judgment can lead to deeper transformation.

For example, during the Journey, if a piece of music bothers you or an external disturbance triggers irritation, that’s part of the process. Instead of judging or suppressing the emotion, allow it to move through you. Emotions are messengers. They can often mark the doorway into deeper release.

2. The Body Moves Toward Wholeness

Just as a cut heals without you thinking about it, your psyche also moves toward integration and wholeness if given the space. In breathwork, your job isn’t to fix or figure anything out. It’s simply to breathe and allow.

When the analytical mind steps aside, your inner wisdom can bring to the surface whatever is ready to be released. What needs attention will often arise on its own, guided by your body’s timing rather than the agenda of the everyday ego mind.

This is a practice of trusting yourself and allowing your experience to unfold.

3. The Only Way Out Is Through

Many of us have suppressed emotional energy over time. This session is a chance to let some of that go. If intense feelings arise, allow them. Let the emotion be as big as it needs to be.

There is no such thing as a “bad” experience in breathwork. Difficult or uncomfortable moments often carry the most potential for growth. Stay open. Stay curious. Stay with your breath.

Your Inner Wisdom: The Real Guide

Each time you participate in a breathwork Journey and breathe in this intentional way, you step into a direct relationship with your inner world. This Journey isn’t about chasing peak experiences. It’s about strengthening the neural connections between your everyday awareness and your deeper self. This deeper part of you is what we often call your inner wisdom or Inner Guiding Intelligence. Think of it like this: when you get a cut, you don’t have to consciously direct your body to heal it. Something deeper takes over. That same intelligence exists in your inner world. It knows how to process, release, and integrate what’s ready if you give it space and stay out of the way. In this type of breathwork, that’s your real guide.

That intelligence doesn’t communicate through logic. It speaks through sensation, image, emotion, impulse. When we stop trying to control the outcome and simply breathe with presence, something remarkable often happens: the wisdom of the body leads.

In the session, you’ll be encouraged to release any agenda about what should happen and instead allow what wants to happen. That might be subtle or intense. It might be clear or confusing. The practice is to stay with yourself through it all.

What to Expect in Your Breathwork Journey

Every session is different. Even experienced breathers will tell you: no two Journeys are the same. That’s because your inner wisdom will bring up what’s ready in the moment, and what’s needed may shift over time.

Below are the most common types of experiences reported during a breathwork Journey. Yours may include one, several, or none of these. All are perfectly okay.

1. Sensory Experiences

You may feel temperature changes, tingling, or numbness. Your body might tense, shake, or move in unexpected ways. Also, there is a physiological principle that, in order to get the best release, it is best to first create maximum tension in the body part in question. When in doubt, amplify. For example, if you want to relax your whole body as much as possible, the best way is to first tense up all of your muscles to the maximum degree and then let go of all of the tension. In breathwork, sometimes the body will try to do this on its own. So, you might feel that your whole body is completely stiff and tense and cannot move at all.

One common sensation is tetany, where hands or feet stiffen or look like claws, with your fingers completely stiffened. This is a sign of energetic release and can be a very healing experience.

If tetany arises, you can allow it to intensify to support the release. If it becomes painful, you can always slow your breath to ease it.

2. Biographical Experiences

Memories may surface, sometimes vividly, sometimes as a feeling or image. These may be tied to past events or unresolved emotions. If this happens, allow yourself to feel what you couldn’t feel back then.

If your body wants to cry, let it cry. If your body wants to release anger, let your body make whatever sound wants to come out (screaming, growling, moaning, etc). If you are in a space where it is impossible to make loud sounds without bothering your family or neighbors, participants report that they have put a pillow in front of their face and scream or growl into the pillow. You will find that in some cases, things that have been stuck in your body or psyche and have been running your lives unconsciously for years will be released and make an amazing difference in your life. Also, sometimes your biographical memory can also be perceived as images from past lives.

3. Perinatal Experiences

Some participants revisit early imprints from birth or pre-birth. These may be felt as physical compression, pushing, or emotional states like hopelessness, drive, or rebirth. Psychiatrists used to think that when we are born, we are a blank slate. The reason for that is that when we are a fetus, our brains are not developed enough to form words or explicit memories. However, we now know that from the time we are conceived, we do form body or implicit memories. We use the model of Dr. Stan Grof, a worldwide expert in what happens during expanded states of awareness, who breaks the birth process into 4 phases, each of which has its own characteristics and energies.

The first phase is from the time that you are conceived to the time just before the birth contractions start. Unless your mother is doing drugs or is in a state of major emotional trauma, it is a time of oceanic bliss where all of your needs are taken care of and you are just floating in warm, salty water. The second phase is when the contractions start. Just imagine that you have been in the womb for 9 months, floating around in a blissful state, and one day you are being compressed with tremendous pressure, with your nutrition being cut off. Since the umbilical cord is also being compressed and since the birth canal has not opened yet, there is no place to go. If this has not been released, this is the energy that you access in times of your life when you are in a difficult situation and feel like things are terrible and they will never change. The third phase is when the birth canal opens and you start pushing your way through. This phase is characterized by aggression, overcoming obstacles, and sexuality. It is an important part of the birth process because it gives you an imprint of what it is like to overcome an obstacle and reach a goal. In this case, the goal is being born. The fourth phase is when you are actually born and is a sort of death-rebirth experience. You are dying to one way of existing as a water being and being reborn into a totally new type of existence as an air being. This implicit memory can support you during times in your life when you have to let go of a part of who you are to take on something new, such as looking at the world in a different way or changing careers to something completely new. Or taking up a new role as you become a mother or a father to your child.

4. Transpersonal Experiences

You might feel expanded, timeless, or connected to something larger than yourself. These moments can include archetypal imagery, a sense of unity, or intuitive insight. Sometimes people see visions, hear inner messages, or feel deeply guided.

5. Yogic Sleep or Deep Stillness

This experience looks like sleep from the outside but feels like profound presence on the inside. You may lose track of time and space, only to return feeling deeply calm, peaceful, or reset.

Just remember that none of these experiences are “better” or “more correct” than others. Breathwork is not about performance or outcome. It’s about allowing whatever needs to move, shift, or settle to do so in its own way.

The Role of Music in Your Journey

In a Centerline Breath Journey, music is more than background. It is a co-facilitator of the process.

The music sets used in each session are carefully curated to support the breath and open access to expanded states of awareness. Music can help bypass the analytical mind, stir emotion, amplify movement, or carry you into deep stillness.

Each track is selected not for entertainment, but for energetic resonance to serve your process moment by moment. The music becomes part of your internal landscape, helping you navigate the unfolding terrain.

You may find yourself reacting strongly to certain sounds or rhythms. That’s not a distraction. It’s the Journey working on you. Let the music move you. Let it evoke whatever wants to rise. The music shapes the emotional field of the Journey, often bringing forward what words or breath alone might not access.

Two Common Fears and How to Work with Them

It’s completely normal to feel some hesitation before your first session. Most participants carry one (or both) of these fears:

1. “What if too much happens?”

Your inner wisdom will only bring forward what you’re ready to process. That said, breathwork Journeys can stir strong emotions. You might cry, shake, feel waves of energy, or be surprised by what surfaces.

We generally suggest staying with your breath and allowing the intensity to move through. As stated above, when in doubt, amplify, but if you ever feel unsafe, you can always message the facilitator directly in the Zoom chat if you need support.

Also, remember that you are always in charge of your pace. If anything ever feels overwhelming, slow your breath to a natural rhythm. This will ground you and bring you back to your baseline quickly.

2. “What if nothing happens?”

If you find yourself stuck in your head, aware of your room, or thinking “this isn’t working,” you’re not alone. Many people experience this at first.

Instead of trying to force something to happen, breathe into and amplify whatever is there, even if it’s boredom, frustration, or skepticism. Let that be big. Often, the breakthrough is on the other side of that exact emotion.

And if you feel called to make sound, do it. Moaning, sighing, humming, or even yelling into a pillow can help drop you deeper into your body and out of your head.

The breath will take you there, if you let it.

How to Prepare for Your Online Session

Creating the right container matters. The more intentional your setup, the deeper you’ll likely be able to go.

Here’s how to prepare your space, body, and tech for your Centerline Breath Journey:

Your Physical Space

Choose a quiet, private room where you won’t be disturbed.
Turn off notifications on your phone, computer, or smartwatch.
Consider placing a Do Not Disturb sign on your door if others are home.
Make sure the area around you is clear of sharp corners or furniture, especially around your head and arms, in case of movement during the session.
You may choose to lie on a yoga mat, couch, or bed, or sit upright in a comfortable chair. Both are valid, but we recommend that you do not stand during the experience.

Audio Setup + Technology Tips

Over-the-ear headphones are ideal for immersive sound.
Wired earbuds are a good second option.
External speakers can work if they’re high-quality and you won’t disturb others.
If using a mobile device, install the Zoom app in advance and use headphones.
Make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in.
Use the strongest internet connection available. Hardwired is best, Wi-Fi is good, mobile-only may be unreliable.
Close out of unnecessary tabs, apps, or programs to avoid distractions or bandwidth issues.

What to Have Nearby

A blindfold or eye mask (recommended for depth)
Water bottle
Blanket
Tissues
A pillow (great for yelling or making noise if needed for sound release or for something to hug)
A small cup, container, or bag (in case you need to spit or clear your throat)

Before You Breathe

Avoid large meals at least 60–90 minutes before the session. A full stomach can pull your energy toward digestion and away from your inner process.
Use the restroom before we begin.
Consider turning the lights down or using soft lighting.

Session Flow

The structure of the session will look like this:

Opening Talk (20-30 minutes):
We’ll explain the philosophy and practice of the breath, including reminders about safety and technique.
Breathwork Journey (about 1 hour):
You’ll lie down or sit comfortably and begin breathing to music. Your eyes will be closed or covered. Your job is simply to keep breathing and stay with the experience.
Optional Group Sharing (15-20 minutes):
After the session, there will be time for participants to share their experience in the Zoom chat or by unmuting. Sharing is optional. Listening is welcome, too. A facilitator will stay on the call long enough to answer whatever questions people have about their experiences.

The Breathing Technique

At the heart of your Centerline Breath Journey is a simple but powerful tool: diaphragmatic circular breathing. We’ll discuss this at the beginning of the session, but here’s what you need to know ahead of time.

There is no single “correct” way to breathe, but these principles will help you drop into the process more quickly and stay engaged:

How to Breathe

Start with mouth breathing.
Inhale and exhale through your mouth. This moves air more quickly and signals the body that it’s safe to release. (You can switch to nose breathing if your throat becomes dry or if mouth breathing feels uncomfortable.)
Use your diaphragm.
Breathe deeply into your belly so it expands on the inhale and contracts on the exhale. Normally in life we breathe in a very shallow manner where only our chest moves so this will be a very different breathing technique than your normal everyday breath.
Breathe faster than normal.
Think of it as energized, not frantic. You’re moving more air than in your everyday breath, but in a relaxed state.
Keep the breath circular.
Don’t pause at the top or bottom. Let each inhale roll into the next exhale like a flowing wave.

What It Might Feel Like

At first, the breath may feel awkward or mechanical. That’s normal.
After 10–15 minutes, most people find their body takes over. Let it.
If thoughts come in, such as “Am I doing this right?” or “When will the music end?”, that’s a sign your thinking mind is waking back up. Simply return to the breath.

As long as you’re moving more oxygen than normal and staying connected to your body, you’re doing it right.

This is a process of allowing, not a performance. Your only job is to show up, trust your breath, and let your body do what it wants to do.

Our Agreements

To ensure safety, integrity, and mutual respect during this shared experience, we ask that all participants agree to the following:

Confidentiality is essential.
Do not share or discuss another participant’s experience verbally, online, or otherwise in any way that could identify them.
No recording.
Please do not audio or video record any portion of the session.
Self-responsibility.
You agree to listen to your body, stay present with your experience, and take care of yourself during and after the session.

Integration: What Happens After the Journey

Your session may feel intense, gentle, surprising, quiet, or anything in between. Regardless of how it looked, what follows matters just as much as what happens in the session itself.

At The Infinite Center, we hold that integration is where insight becomes lived experience.

Post-Session Support

After the breathwork Journey, we’ll stay on Zoom for optional group sharing mentioned above. You can:

Share what arose (via chat or voice)
Listen quietly while others reflect
Ask questions about what you experienced

Whether you speak or not, your presence contributes to the container.

Personal Integration Tips

Here are some ways to care for yourself in the hours and days after your session:

Be gentle with yourself.
Give yourself space. Avoid jumping into high-demand tasks or intense social interactions immediately after the session.
Let your experience settle.
You may still be in an expanded state. Avoid making major decisions right away. Clarity will often come more fully after a night of rest.
Stay hydrated.
Drink plenty of water to help your body move and release what was stirred.
Move intuitively.
Gentle stretching, a walk, or freeform movement can support integration.
Express what you felt.
Journaling, art, music, or even talking with a trusted friend can help anchor your experience. If something difficult came up, know that’s part of the process. Reach out to us if you need support.

Contraindications & Medical Precautions

Please do not participate in this session if any of the following apply:

Pregnancy
Epilepsy
Detached retina or glaucoma
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease or prior heart attack
Diagnosed bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or manic disorder
Stroke, TIA, seizure, or other serious neurological conditions
History of aneurysms in your immediate family
Use of prescription blood thinners (e.g., Coumadin)
Hospitalization for psychiatric reasons or emotional crisis within the last 10 years
Severe osteoporosis or unhealed physical injuries that could be aggravated by intense movement

Note: If you have asthma, you are welcome to join, but please keep your inhaler nearby just in case.

Continued Support with The Infinite Center

Breathwork is a powerful tool, but it becomes truly transformative when practiced regularly and paired with reflection, coaching, and community. After your session, we invite you to explore other offerings from The Infinite Center:

The Infinite Reset: A 30-day guided reset designed to help you interrupt stress patterns and build a breath-based foundation for clarity, presence, and personal leadership.
1:1 Coaching & Integration Sessions: Personalized support to deepen what emerged in your breathwork journey and apply it to your real life, work, and relationships.
Ongoing Centerline Breath Journeys: Join us for regular breathwork experiences, both online and in-person, to continue building the neural connections to your inner wisdom.

You’re not meant to do this alone. We’re here to walk with you.

Final Words

You’ve taken an important step by showing up for this session. Whatever unfolds, big or small, is part of your journey back to your center.

We’re honored to hold this space with you.

With appreciation,
Alice Dommert + Jarrod Matteson
Founders, The Infinite Center