In the heart of Tri-Cities, WA, where the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima rivers converge, our community thrives on connection, resilience, and the collective pursuit of community. Within this vibrant setting, non-profit organizations play a pivotal role, creating a community where some might feel they have lost their own and some might even find a place of refuge.
As a social worker with a decade of experience working in the non-profit realm, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges nonprofits face whether securing funding, meeting the demands of the people they serve that continue to grow, and being able to provide support to their staff and volunteers.
When nonprofits are trapped in this cycle, I believe that it leaves them vulnerable to creating trauma; sometimes leaving both sides (employees and management) pointing fingers at each other. This only creates more stress and tension and could possibly lead to burnout and high turnover rates, two things non-profit organizations cannot afford.
With my knowledge and experience as a social worker and with the additional tool of being Certified SomatIQ™ Breathwork Practitioner, there can be a transformative power of integrating these practices into your nonprofit. This article is an invitation to explore together how somatic breathwork can nurture healing and support within your organization and the communities you serve.
Trauma, something probably everyone has experienced at least once in their life (this also includes things like surgeries, giving birth, burning your hand on a stove, and other types of physical traumas that can be seen as things you can “heal” from), often remains shrouded in misunderstanding. How?
Well, two people can experience a similar trauma and yet both can have different experiences. One might be stuck in the horror of the trauma while the other seems as though it never affected them in the first place. Tragically, I was in the car accident that my sister, Stacy, died in and unlike others, I never had survivor's guilt. I was 16 turning 17 and as soon as I passed my license test, I was driving. Other people can get traumatized from a car accident that even the thought of driving makes them tense up in fear, let alone get into a car.
But here's a truth I've held close from my own journey: healing begins when we acknowledge our trauma and create spaces to address it — not just mentally, but physically and emotionally through our bodies.
Somatic breathwork, a practice that has personally guided me into the intuitive connection between my breath and the mind/body connection. It has been 21 years since Stacy died and even though I now facilitate grief workshops and a queer siblings grief group, there was grief stored in me that I never knew I had. It wasn’t until maybe the sixth somatic breathwork session that I wanted to cry even before the session began. Through the Soma+IQ™ Method, I was able to alter my state of being and to connect with my grief, offering a pathway out of the stress and anxiety that trauma often leaves in its wake.
The science is clear: controlled breathing practices can soothe our nervous system, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and foster a sense of calm and groundedness. For those of us in the trenches of non-profit work, this isn't just theory; it's a lifeline. It's about offering ourselves and those we serve a tool that's always available, requiring no special equipment, just the willingness to pause and breathe.
The journey to integrating somatic breathwork into your non-profits begins with you, the leaders, the staff, and the volunteers who form the backbone of our missions. Here's how we can start:
Tri-Cities is home to an incredible wealth of knowledge and resources in the areas of health, wellness, and healing. By partnering with local somatic practitioners (me, duh! 😛), I can lead expert-led workshops and training sessions directly to your teams, empowering them not just with the knowledge, but guide them through a transformative experience so they can experience the benefits firsthand.
One of the most profound lessons my practice has taught me is the importance of safety and trust in healing, not just withing ourselves but also in the context of others. As I introduce somatic breathwork, we will prioritize creating environments where everyone feels safe to explore their inner landscapes to get their minds to shut up so their body can talk.
Although this will sound like upselling, and even though doing one session can be transformational, in order to create safety, there will probably be a need for 3-4 sessions. Why?
Well, I am a new person and you don't know me. Your staff and volunteers do not know me. There is this sort of nice effect that happens being the professional/expert. To me, this is superficial and healing happens underneath the surface and that happens through connections and feeling safe.. I am not here to fix or heal people but to guide them through somatic breathwork practices so that they understand that the power of healing comes from within.
My work doesn't stop within the walls of one non-profit organization. Engaging the broader Tri-Cities community is vital in spreading awareness about the healing potential of somatic breathwork. Community events, social media campaigns, and collaboration with local media can all serve to demystify breathwork and invite wider participation. Yes, everyone reading this (or not) knows how to breathe. This is something that our body naturally does and we rarely have to think about it.
Did you know that a person who lives until they are about 80 takes about 672,768,000 breaths in their lifetime?
Yes, over six hundred and seventy two MILLION.
What happens to your quality of life if half of those breaths you breathe, are shortening your lifespan?
Now, imagine the ripple effect as more individuals discover breathwork not as an abstract concept, but as a practical, accessible tool for managing stress and fostering emotional well-being. It's about building a community where the power of breath is recognized and celebrated as a cornerstone of health and resilience. And I need your help to do it!
As we stand at this juncture, looking out at the rivers that unite us and the community we're part of, I extend an invitation to you. Whether you're leading a non-profit, volunteering your time, or simply seeking ways to contribute to our collective healing, consider how somatic breathwork might play a role in your journey and the journey of those around you.
Somatic breathwork is healing.
Somatic breathwork is suicide prevention.
Somatic breathwork is community.
And when done in community, true healing beings.
Let's breathe new life into our work, our missions
