Breath as a Portal: Conscious Connected Breathwork with Laurie Angress

In this episode of *The Yoga Therapy Hour*, Amy Wheeler welcomes yoga therapist, meditation teacher, and breathwork facilitator Laurie Angress for a thoughtful conversation about conscious connected breathwork and its potential to serve as a portal into deeper self-awareness, healing, and connection. Laurie shares her personal journey into breathwork, including how curiosity led her to explore a practice that initially felt unfamiliar, despite decades of experience in yoga, meditation, and yoga therapy. What she discovered was a powerful yet accessible approach that helped her access emotional release, profound stillness, and deeper layers of inner knowing. Together, Amy and Laurie explore: - What it means to think of breath as a "portal" - The relationship between breath, presence, and self-discovery - How conscious connected breathwork differs from traditional prāṇāyāma practices - The role of curiosity, beginner's mind, and willingness in transformational practices - Laurie’s experience training with Seven Directions Breathwork - Why trauma-sensitive facilitation and nervous system awareness are essential in breathwork settings - The importance of agency, choice, and pacing during intense inner experiences - Emotional release, embodiment, and the wisdom that can emerge through breath - Music as a supportive element in the breathwork journey - The distinction between ethical breathwork facilitation and cathartic group experiences - How breathwork may support the integration of plant medicine experiences - The intersection of breathwork, meditation, Yoga Nidra, and contemplative practice - Presence as the ultimate goal—not fixing, changing, or seeking a particular outcome Laurie also shares a deeply personal story about a breathwork session that occurred just hours before the passing of her aunt. The experience became a powerful reflection on love, grief, support, and the mystery of human connection. Throughout the conversation, Amy and Laurie emphasize that conscious connected breathwork is not about chasing extraordinary experiences. Rather, it is about creating a safe and intentional space where individuals can meet themselves more fully, cultivate presence, and reconnect with what matters most. Whether you are a yoga therapist, meditation practitioner, healthcare provider, or simply someone curious about the healing potential of breath, this episode offers a grounded and compassionate exploration of how breath can become a bridge between the seen and unseen, the conscious and unconscious, and the ordinary and sacred dimensions of life. **About Laurie Angress** Laurie Angress is a Certified Yoga Therapist, meditation teacher, Yoga Nidra facilitator, and Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator. Her work integrates nervous system awareness, mindfulness, embodiment practices, and breathwork to support healing, self-discovery, and connection. Laurie is passionate about creating trauma-sensitive spaces that honor the unique experience of each individual while inviting greater presence, compassion, and inner wisdom. www.MindfulYogaTherapy.net @illuminated\_breath on IG **Key Takeaway** "The breath is always available to us. Sometimes it helps us relax. Sometimes it helps us release. Sometimes it helps us remember who we are."   Contact Amy Wheeler: www.TheOptimalState.com   Our Book is Coming Summer 2026! **"Application of Therapeutic Yoga in Integrative Health"** by Wheeler & Sullivan   Optimal State Mobile App for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/optimal-state/id1604424804   The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-therapy-hour-with-amy-wheeler/id1564687158   School of Integrative Health at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health   Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy   Explore NDMU’s Post-Master’s Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices   Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification