How 9D Somatic Breathwork Transformed My Healing Process – The Girl with the Muji Hat

I’m on my way to Manila now, flying aboard AirAsia. As usual, I’m flipping through the in-flight magazine REDCAP—I’ve always loved reading these magazines to pass the time. Today, I came across an article about healing journeys, which got me reflecting on my own path and got me writing this down in my notes…

I’ve realized I haven’t shared much about my experience with breathwork. It’s been over a year now since I experienced a truly transformative session with OHE 9D Somatic Breathwork, which profoundly shifted my understanding of healing.

It all began with a meaningful ZOOM session with light healers Sean and Fiona from OHE, based in Australia. My husband and I met them, I believe, through a sense of divine timing. At that time, my husband was finishing his book on grounding, and he discovered Sean’s work on breathwork exercises. That’s how we ended up meeting these amazing practitioners in Cebu.

Sean and Fiona visited our clinic just before the weekend of the breathwork event. They got their spinal adjustments courtesy of Form and Function Corrective Chiropractic.

The breathwork session was held on a drizzly Saturday afternoon in a cozy function hall at Pacific Cebu Resort in Mactan. It cost 98 AUD, but we received a discount since we came with several people from our clinic. Even at that price, I felt it was absolutely worth it. The session started at 5 p.m. and wrapped up around 10 p.m. Since it was going to be a late finish and we had our kid with us, I booked a family room at the resort for comfort and convenience.

Before we started, Sean and Fiona shared some guidance and set intentions, emphasizing how important it is to feel comfortable hence having the attendees bring yoga mats, eye patches, and pillows. They also talked about listening to the guide’s instructions during the session, especially when to breathe through the nose or mouth, and reminded us to stay calm and just let go. Their words created a warm and trusting atmosphere.

There was an official photographer present, but I never actually saw the photos… they only took pictures afterwards that we saw later. They also reassured us that if we didn’t want to be filmed, we could simply let the organizers know, and our privacy would be respected. For anyone who’s conscious about that kind of thing, there’s no need to worry.

At the start of the event, we laid down on our yoga mats and began some deep breathing, listening closely to Fiona’s calm voice. Then, they gave us headphones, and from there, we heard another guide speaking—though I hardly remember all the words now, I know it was about inhaling deeply, exhaling slowly, with pauses and long, timed breaths. Fiona was checking in on us from time to time; I could hear her whispering to my ears. I assume she did the same for everyone else because I asked my husband and my son. They truly guided us every step of the way, holding space for us to surrender and just be.

The actual breathwork was intense. I vividly remember feeling my body tense up and tears unexpectedly welling in my eyes. Several times, I even cried out loud—an emotional release that felt incredibly cathartic. Despite the stiffness in my body, I felt this strange sense of internal expansiveness, like my mind was breaking free from its self-imposed cage. There was a moment when my body felt pinned to the ground, and I heard Fiona’s voice gently telling me I could go deeper, that I could let go. I truly believed I did, because afterward, I saw myself from afar. In that instant, I finally understood what people mean when they say they had an “out-of-body experience,” because I felt like I was outside of myself, both observing and detached from my physical form.

Around 9:50 p.m., we were gently guided to bring our awareness back to our bodies (or perhaps our consciousness) and then everyone was invited to form a circle and share. Of course, you could choose not to share if you didn’t feel like it. My husband chose not to speak, but I ended up crying even more during the sharing—I guess because I felt so light, so great, like I was stepping into another life. That moment overwhelmed me with gratitude—for my life, for my husband, my son, my clinic staff, my community… for everything…

Listening to others’ journeys added even more insight for me…

I realized how deeply we all just want to be connected and truly feel that sense of belonging. And sometimes, in our pursuit of that belonging, we actually do the opposite. We want to be part of something, yet we push others away. We long to be included, but we isolate ourselves because it feels safer or more familiar. Often, we act this way because we’re afraid—afraid of rejection, of vulnerability, or of showing our true selves. We’ve learned to protect ourselves by building walls, thinking it’s the only way to survive. But deep down, what we really crave is acceptance and authentic connection, and sometimes, it takes the courage to break down those barriers and step into the vulnerability we’re so scared of…

That night, I felt so connected and so grateful for life, for the shared vulnerability, and for the truth that we’re all in this together.

Personally, this experience felt like a much-needed reset. It unraveled some of the deep wounds and patterns I’d been holding onto. It’s true what they say: when we don’t forgive, we suffer. Forgiveness isn’t really for others; it’s for our own mental health. Before that moment, there were so many people I still hadn’t forgiven. But after the breathwork, I felt a kind of release. I no longer felt that ache when I thought of those people or those painful events from my past. The anger and wounds I’d carried began to soften, and I could see so clearly how deeply those emotional scars had shaped my life—yet, I also saw the possibility of freeing myself from them, guiding me toward greater healing and self-acceptance.

Growing up as a devout Christian, my faith mattered greatly.

Over time, however, I questioned some beliefs and the nature of organized religion, often battling feelings of resentment and confusion. These inner conflicts for a while made me feel lost.

Yet, through breathwork, sound baths, and regular meditation over the past two years, I have begun to heal. I’ve come to see that true spirituality isn’t just about rituals but about authentic connection with a higher power—one that exists beyond human control and organized religion.

Prayer, in particular, has been a powerful tool for me—opening my heart and calming my mind. It’s a humble act of surrender, acknowledging a divine presence beyond my understanding. This practice, along with the intentional use of breath and meditation, has helped me cultivate gratitude, trust, and faith amid life’s chaos. I believe wholeheartedly in a higher power, and I now see that genuine spirituality is about connecting with that force with honest, pure intent.

My healing through OHE 9D Somatic Breathwork has opened a new chapter in my life. My journey definitely hasn’t ended—if anything, it has sparked a continuous pursuit of wholeness, acceptance, and spiritual freedom. Healing isn’t linear, and sometimes, all we truly need is one deep breath to start. to start to breathe our way into truth, into the parts of ourselves we’ve been avoiding for far too long. if we do this, if we show up for ourselves with compassion and courage, in time, the scars will soften and our hearts will open wider than we ever thought possible.