Most of us have heard of breathwork, but few of us truly understand what it can unlock — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. In this Quick Hits episode, certified breathwork practitioner and intuitive healer Kyla Erlandson shares why intentional breathing may be one of the most powerful tools available to women who are ready to stop running from discomfort and start healing from the inside out.

What if the most profound healing tool available to you required nothing more than your own breath?

Kyla Erlandson has spent more than 15 years supporting women through some of the most challenging seasons of their lives — and breathwork has been at the center of that work. In this Quick Hits episode, I'm sharing one of our most replayed conversations, because what Kyla says about breath, emotion, and the body is something every woman needs to hear.

This is a short clip from a full episode, and I promise — it will leave you wanting more. If you want the complete conversation, the link is  below.

Breathwork has been used for thousands of years across cultures as a tool for healing, emotional release, self-discovery, and spiritual connection. But most of us move through our days barely thinking about our breath, let alone using it intentionally. Kyla explains why that's such a significant gap — and how closing it can change everything.

What I love about this conversation is how Kyla connects the dots between the body and the breath in a way that is both deeply practical and deeply honest. She doesn't sugarcoat how hard it can be to slow down, feel, and actually let yourself heal. But she also makes a compelling case for why it's worth it — especially for women who have spent years putting everyone else first.

This conversation is an invitation to stop living entirely from the neck up and start listening to what your body has been trying to tell you.

Full You Tube Episode 

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In This Episode, We Discuss

• Why one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is time and space to reconnect
• How Kyla discovered breathwork and why she felt called to pursue it more deeply
• The different levels and styles of breathwork training
• How breathwork can help uncover emotions, patterns, and pain we may have been avoiding
• Why so many women are conditioned to care for everyone else before themselves
• How making time for yourself can reinforce your sense of self-worth
• Kyla's experience with codependency and how it affected her relationships
• Why healing often requires us to stop running from discomfort and learn to sit with it
• How breathwork can support greater peace, clarity, and emotional resilience
• What can surface during a somatic breathwork session
• The powerful connection between breathing patterns and the nervous system
• How intentional breathing can influence circulation and physical sensations in the body
• What Kyla hopes to help clients experience during a breathwork session
• How somatic breathwork differs from traditional talk therapy
• The most common struggles Kyla sees women bringing into her practice
• Why women need space to process emotions, stress, expectations, and old patterns
• How breathwork can help you reconnect with emotions that may have been suppressed
• What it means to reclaim the powerful, intuitive woman you already are

Frequently Asked Questions

What is somatic breathwork and how does it differ from regular breathing exercises?

Somatic breathwork is a guided practice that uses intentional, connected breathing patterns to help the body access and release stored emotions, tension, and trauma. Unlike simple relaxation breathing or box breathing, somatic breathwork is typically done in longer sessions with a trained practitioner and may bring up intense physical sensations or emotional releases. The goal is to engage the body as a source of healing rather than focusing solely on the mind.

Can breathwork really help with emotional healing?

Many breathwork practitioners, including Kyla Erlandson, report that clients regularly access and release emotions during sessions that they were not able to reach through talk therapy or other modalities alone. The body stores emotional memory, and intentional breathing can create the conditions for that material to surface and move through. While breathwork is not a substitute for professional mental health care, it may be a powerful complement to it.

Is breathwork safe for everyone?

Breathwork practices vary widely in intensity, and some forms — including certain somatic breathwork styles — may not be appropriate for people with specific health conditions, including cardiovascular concerns, a history of trauma, or certain respiratory issues. It is always advisable to work with a trained, certified practitioner who conducts an intake process and can adapt the session to your needs. If you have health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider before beginning an intensive breathwork practice.

Why do so many women struggle to prioritize themselves?

Kyla speaks directly to this in the episode. Many women are socialized from an early age to be caretakers — to put partners, children, aging parents, and colleagues before themselves. Over time, this can become so habitual that carving out time for personal healing feels selfish, indulgent, or simply impossible. Kyla sees this pattern repeatedly in her practice and believes that helping women give themselves permission to slow down is one of the most important parts of her work.

What might I experience during a somatic breathwork session?

Experiences vary widely between individuals and sessions. Some women report physical sensations such as tingling, warmth, or changes in circulation. Others experience emotional releases — tears, laughter, or the surfacing of memories. Some feel a deep sense of peace or clarity. Kyla emphasizes that there is no "right" experience and that the session is designed to be a safe, supportive space for whatever needs to come through.

How is breathwork connected to the nervous system?

The breath is one of the only autonomic bodily functions we can consciously control. By intentionally changing our breathing patterns, we can directly influence the balance between the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) branches of the nervous system. This is why certain breathing techniques can help reduce anxiety, lower stress responses, and create a greater sense of calm — and why somatic breathwork can be so effective for women carrying chronic stress or unresolved emotional tension.

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About Kyla Erlandson

Kyla Erlandson is a trained and certified breathwork practitioner, intuitive guide, and healer with more than 15 years of experience supporting and empowering women through a variety of healing modalities. Her work integrates somatic breathwork, meditation, and energetics to help women reconnect with themselves, move through stored emotions, and step into greater wholeness. Kyla is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where women can stop running from discomfort and begin to truly heal.