The Living Breath

Breathwork with Marie Doherty · Online

The breath is with us through every moment of life. It changes with our movement, emotions, sleep, conversations and the demands of an ordinary day.

My work begins with getting to know that breath - through curiosity, awareness and understanding - before deciding whether anything needs to change.

A Different Relationship With Breath

There are many ways to work with breath. Some are practical, helping us understand the breathing patterns that accompany us through everyday life. Others are more experiential, inviting us into rest, exploration, emotion, deeper awareness and sometimes places we hadn't expected to go.

I work with both.

I'm fascinated by the science of breathing - the extraordinary relationship between breath, body, brain and nervous system. But I'm equally fascinated by what happens when we begin to explore breath as an experience rather than simply a function.

There is something rather wonderful about the breath. It is so ordinary, so constant, and yet it can open the door to experiences, sensations, memories and moments of connection that we don't always have words for. Some we can understand through science. Others leave us with questions, and I'm quite comfortable with that.

Over time, my own approach has become gentler. I don't believe that more intensity necessarily means more depth, or that a powerful breathwork experience needs to involve dramatic release.

Sometimes a small change in the way we breathe makes a meaningful difference. Sometimes an active practice is exactly what is needed. And sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is stop trying to change the breath and simply listen.

My work brings together breathing science, functional breathing, breath awareness and conscious breathwork, with room for curiosity, mystery and the unexpected.

Observation before intervention. Gentleness without forcing. And space for whatever unfolds, without needing to turn it into a dramatic transformation.

A Little About Me

I've spent many years exploring breath, first through its practical possibilities and then through the deeper experiences it can open.

What continues to fascinate me is how something so ordinary can hold so much.

My work brings together science, teaching, experience and curiosity, with room for the things we don't yet understand.

Ways to Work With Me

There isn't just one way to work with breath, and there isn't one right place to begin.

Some people come wanting to understand their everyday breathing. Others are looking for rest, or feel drawn to explore the deeper and sometimes mysterious dimensions of breathwork.

I offer three individual pathways, each shaped around you, your needs and your curiosity.

Anáil Bheo - The Living Breath

Understand your everyday breath.

Our breathing patterns are shaped by so much more than we might realise, our habits, posture, movement, emotions and the demands of everyday life.

Anáil Bheo is an opportunity to become more familiar with the way you breathe, exploring the science and practicalities of functional breathing alongside simple, supportive practices.

We begin with observation rather than correction, developing awareness and exploring changes where they may be helpful.

For those experiencing difficulties with their breathing, wanting to understand their breathing habits, or simply curious about how the breath influences everyday life.

Explore Anáil Bheo →

Anáil Scíthe - The Breath of Rest

Space to settle, soften and rest.

Rest isn't always as simple as stopping. Sometimes the body is still carrying the pace of the day long after we've sat down.

Anáil Scíthe is a guided breathwork experience offering time away from demands, expectations and the need to be doing something.

We may explore gentle breathing practices, breath awareness, relaxation, imagery or stillness, allowing the session to unfold at a pace that suits you.

There is nothing to achieve here, and no particular way you are expected to feel.

Explore Anáil Scíthe →

Anáil an Iontais - The Breath of Wonder

Curiosity, discovery and deeper exploration.

There is so much we understand about the breath. And still so much that invites us to wonder.

Anáil an Iontais offers a space to explore beyond everyday breathing, through a deeper, individual breathwork journey.

You might arrive with a question, something stirring that you cannot quite name, or simply curiosity about what may unfold.

Rather than following a predetermined theme or destination, we begin with you. The journey may include conscious connected breathing, gentler breath practices, imagery, sound, silence and time for reflection.

There is room for emotion, imagination, the unconscious and the unexpected, without any expectation of catharsis or dramatic transformation.

You can choose a single journey or a series of sessions, allowing your exploration to deepen and unfold over time.

Explore Anáil an Iontais →

The Science and the Mystery

The more I learn about breath, the more fascinated I become.

There is extraordinary science behind something we do thousands of times every day. The relationship between breathing, the nervous system, movement, emotion and the brain continues to offer so much to explore.

And then there is the experience of breathing.

The unexpected sensations, the images that sometimes arise, the emotions, the quiet moments of connection, and the things we don't always have words for.

I'm interested in both.

Science helps us understand and work responsibly with breath. Experience invites us to be curious about what we notice. And mystery reminds us that we don't need to have an explanation for everything.

For me, breathwork lives somewhere in the meeting of all three.

What Happens in a Session?

We begin with a conversation.

You might have something particular you'd like to explore, or you may simply be curious about breathwork and unsure where to begin. Both are welcome.

I'll ask a little about your breathing, your experience and what has brought you here. Together, we'll consider what kind of session feels appropriate.

Depending on the pathway, our time might involve observing everyday breathing patterns, learning practical techniques, exploring gentle breathwork or moving into a deeper guided journey.

Some sessions are quiet and restful. Others are more active or exploratory. There may be moments of stillness, imagery, sound, conversation or unexpected discovery.

I bring my knowledge and experience, but I don't believe in imposing a particular experience on someone.

You remain an active participant in the process, with space to make choices, ask questions, pause or change direction.

And whatever happens during a session, we leave room afterwards to notice, reflect and integrate, rather than rushing to explain or interpret everything.

Learning to Work With Breath

50-Hour Breath Coach Training with The Exhale Awakening

Perhaps your curiosity about breath goes beyond your own experience.

Perhaps you'd like to understand it more deeply, bring breathing practices into your existing work, or learn how to support others through breath.

Through The Exhale Awakening, I co-teach our 50-hour Breath Coach Training, bringing together breathing science, practical skills, experiential learning and ethical, supported practice.

This isn't simply about collecting breathing techniques. It's about learning to understand the breath, developing the confidence and discernment to work with others, and discovering the value of your own experience along the way.

The training is also the first stage of our 400-hour Breathwork Facilitator Training, for those who feel drawn to continue.

Explore Breath Coach Training →

Breathwork With Others

Much of my individual work is quiet, personal and shaped around the person in front of me. But there is also something special about breathing in community.

Through The Exhale Awakening, which I co-founded with Sharyn, I offer group breathwork experiences, online gatherings, retreats and professional breathwork training.

Our work brings together science, experiential learning, curiosity and ethical practice, with space for both gentle and more active approaches to breath.

Whether you're looking for a shared breathwork experience or feel drawn to learning how to work with breath yourself, you're very welcome to explore what we offer.

Explore The Exhale Awakening →

Where to Begin

You don't need to know which breathwork pathway is right for you.

Perhaps you're curious about your everyday breathing. Perhaps you're longing for some rest. Or perhaps there's something about the breath that has been calling you towards deeper exploration.

Sometimes those things overlap.

If you're unsure, tell me a little about what brings you here, and we can explore where you might begin.

Help Me Find Where to Begin →

You don't need to be fixed.
Sometimes you simply need space to breathe, to be heard, and to find your own way.

Go mall agat féin.