Your circumstances come first
We talk before booking about where you are in recovery and any health considerations. If there’s uncertainty, I’ll ask you to discuss breathwork with your treating practitioner before arranging a session.
Breathwork alongside addiction recovery
If you’re established in recovery and looking for support with everyday stress, I offer slower, guided 9D breathwork in Port Kembla. I’m Hayley, and I’ll talk with you about how a private session could fit alongside the support you already have.
A breathing practice that fits around your recovery
Recovery can involve rebuilding routines while continuing with work, relationships and other responsibilities. You may already have a plan for difficult moments, yet still find it hard to unwind at the end of the day. If stress or restlessness is what brings you to breathwork, that is where I’ll begin our conversation.
In a session, we work directly with the pace of your breathing. You rest on a mat and follow slower nasal breathing, with music and spoken guidance through headphones. This gives you a specific practice to focus on while I’m there to support you and respond if something feels uncomfortable.
I’m interested in whether that experience is useful within the life and support network you’re building. We can discuss a first session without adding a demanding routine or assuming that you need a stronger breathing experience to make progress.
Working with stress through slower breathing
A deliberate breathing rhythm gives you something concrete to notice: the movement of each breath, whether the pace feels comfortable and how you feel as you rest. I use a slower nasal pattern as the starting point, with the aim of supporting relaxation.
A review of 12 trials involving 785 adults found a modest average reduction in self-reported stress with breathing practices. Most studies had a moderate risk of bias and used different methods. This supports exploring breathing for stress; it doesn’t show that 9D breathwork treats addiction or prevents relapse.
In practice, I guide you through the breathing and leave room for pauses. Afterwards, we can talk about whether you found it easier to rest, what felt difficult and whether you want to try it again. Your response helps us decide what comes next.
Explore breathwork and nervous system regulation
How I approach a session during recovery
A private session gives us time to discuss suitability, explain the breathing and check how you’re finding it. I start with down-regulating breathwork, which uses a slower pattern.
Slower breathing with guidance
I explain the pattern and how to ask for a pause, then you settle on a mat with headphones. You can return to normal breathing at any point. A more activating format is a separate suitability discussion, rather than a required next stage.
Room to reflect afterwards
There’s time to rest and check in before you leave. You can tell me what you noticed without needing to explain your whole history. If something feels relevant to your recovery work, you can bring it to your next appointment with your practitioner.
What clients say about their sessions
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“I went in as a sceptic and came out feeling very different. Wish I'd known about this years ago.”
— Ben James -
“I found that the hosts and process was supportive and the results really rewarding.”
— Nik Hum -
“I felt safe, seen, and genuinely welcomed. They held space beautifully, and the atmosphere was one of non-judgment, encouragement, and deep care.”
— Kiri O'Connor -
“One of the best things I have done was to do a 9D breathwork session at Kora Wellness. The staff were welcoming and accommodating.”
— Stacie Mckee
Questions about breathwork and addiction recovery
Can breathwork help with addiction recovery?
I offer breathwork as a way to explore relaxation and your response to everyday stress alongside an established recovery plan. Research on breathing practices suggests benefits for self-reported stress, but it does not establish my 9D sessions as addiction treatment or relapse prevention. Your treatment, medication and recovery support remain with the professionals and services involved in your care.
I’m early in recovery or going through withdrawal. Can I attend?
Please speak with your treating practitioner before considering a session. I don’t offer breathwork during acute withdrawal or intoxication. Withdrawal can require medical care, so if you have recently stopped or reduced alcohol or other drugs and feel unwell, contact your doctor or alcohol and other drug service. For a later session, I’ll discuss your circumstances and suitability with you rather than use a fixed number of weeks as a readiness test.
Will breathwork stop cravings?
I don’t promise that breathwork will stop cravings or prevent a return to substance use. My starting approach is slower breathing for rest and relaxation. If cravings are difficult to manage, use the support plan you have agreed with your treating team and contact them for help; a breathing session should not delay that support.
How much of my recovery story do I need to share?
I need relevant information about your health, current substance use, medication and recovery support to discuss suitability. You don’t need to give a detailed account of your life or share your story with a group. A private session gives us time to talk one to one, and you can choose how much to say about the experience afterwards.
What if a session feels emotionally overwhelming?
Let me know and stop the breathing pattern. You can return to your usual breathing while we discuss whether to continue. I start with slower breathing and agree how you’ll ask for a pause before we begin. An intense emotional experience isn’t a goal or a sign that a session is working better. If difficult feelings continue afterwards, involve your usual recovery support or treating practitioner.
Can my counsellor or case worker help arrange a session?
Yes. Your counsellor, case worker or other treating professional can contact me to discuss whether guided breathwork is appropriate alongside your recovery plan. We can agree what information would be useful, with your written consent before sharing session feedback. My studio is at 43 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla NSW 2505, welcoming people from Wollongong and across the Illawarra. I confirm availability, duration and price before booking.
Talk through a private session with me
If you’re considering breathwork alongside your recovery, tell me what you’d like support with and any questions you have about attending. We can discuss suitability and what a slower session would involve before you decide.
My studio is at 43 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla NSW 2505, welcoming people from Wollongong and across the Illawarra. I arrange private sessions directly and confirm availability, duration and price before you book.
Book a 1:1 session