Breathwork is the practice of consciously controlling your breathing rate, rhythm, and volume to change your physical and mental state on demand. Slowing the breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering heart rate and stress hormones. At Breathing Room in Cape Town, sessions combine guided breathing techniques with music and meditation to improve focus, sleep, and resilience.

Breathing Room runs weekly in-person breathwork sessions in Cape Town's southern suburbs and city bowl, including Yogaway in Newlands, Ishta at Constantia Nek, and Themis in Oranjezicht. Sessions run on weekday evenings and typically last 90 minutes. Online sessions are also available. View the current schedule and book at breathing-room.co.za/sessions

A Breathing Room session lasts around 90 minutes. You'll lie down or sit comfortably while being guided through rhythmic breathing techniques set to music, including periods of breath retention. Most people experience deep relaxation, mental clarity, and a noticeable mood lift. No experience is needed — every technique is explained and you stay in control throughout.

SOMA Breath® is a structured breathwork system combining rhythmic breathing, breath retention, music, and guided meditation, based on pranayama techniques and supported by research into intermittent hypoxia and heart rate variability. Breathing Room's founder, Jennifer, is a certified SOMA Breath® instructor, and SOMA techniques form the foundation of Breathing Room's classes in Cape Town.

Controlled breathing has measurable physiological effects documented in peer-reviewed research, including reduced blood pressure, lower inflammatory markers, and improved heart rate variability. Slow breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, shifting the body out of its stress response. Breathing Room's approach is grounded in this evidence rather than in spiritual or esoteric frameworks.

Breathwork is safe for most people, but certain techniques — particularly breath retention — are not recommended if you are pregnant, have epilepsy, cardiovascular conditions, severe asthma, or a history of panic disorder without guidance. Breathing Room screens for these before sessions and adapts techniques where needed. If in doubt, consult your doctor and let your facilitator know beforehand.

No. Breathing Room sessions are designed for complete beginners — most first-time attendees have never done structured breathwork. Everything is guided step by step, you can't do it "wrong," and you can return to normal breathing at any point. Wear comfortable clothing and avoid eating a heavy meal in the two hours before class.

Meditation typically trains attention through stillness and observation, which can take months to produce noticeable effects. Breathwork actively changes your physiology — heart rate, oxygen and CO₂ balance, nervous system state — within minutes, making it faster and more accessible for people who find traditional meditation difficult. Breathing Room sessions combine both: active breathing techniques followed by guided meditation.

Yes. Breathing Room delivers workshops for corporate teams, executives, and high-pressure professionals in Cape Town and online, framed around performance rather than wellness: focus, decision-making under pressure, and nervous system regulation as a leadership skill. Programmes are tailor-made and range from single workshops to ongoing team sessions. Contact jennifer@breathing-room.co.za to discuss your team.

Group session prices vary by venue and event but start at R350; current prices are shown when you book through the schedule at breathing-room.co.za/sessions. Corporate workshops and one-on-one coaching are quoted individually based on format and group size, but generally start at R3,500. Bookings are made online via Calendly, or by contacting jennifer@breathing-room.co.za or +27 72 106 4268.