'Functional Breathing Reset'
An experiential dive into Breathing Psychophysiology and Breathwork for improving client outcomes.
With Guest Facilitator, Lisa Kusch, Masters in Applied Breathing Sciences and Registered Psychotherapist.
Saturday & Sunday, March 22-23, 2025
(Saturday 9-9 & Sunday 10-4)
Light of the Prairies Retreat Center
(22115 Mun 51 N, Lorette, MB ~ 15 min SE from Wpg South perimeter)
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"Breathing is much more than mechanics. Breathing habits arise from all sorts of circumstances in our lives. Breathing is learned and it also learns."
~ Dr. Peter Litchfield, PhD Behavioral Psychology
What to expect & takeaways
Saturday (9-5) ~ 'The Art & Science of Habit Hunting'
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Learn the Science of C02, how Respiration & Breathing are not the same thing, and the 3 primary breathing habit types.
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Breathing techniques - playful explorations to determine 'friend and foe'.
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Breathing Mechanics ~ Exploring and Restoring your 'Open Healthy Breath'
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The 'Wedge of Awareness'~ Recognize your own breathing beliefs and triggers.
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Antics & Unconscious Suffering ~ Breath as the doorkeeper of experience
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Breathwork as a tool to alter states of consciousness.
Saturday Evening (7-9) ~ 'Conscious Breathwork Journey'
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Dyad and Intention setting
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Experience conscious connected breathwork journey
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Practice holding space for others during their journey
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Integration Circle
Sunday (10-4) ~ 'Integrating breathing science into your personal and professional practice'​
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Practices for personal breathing recovery.
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Exploring State-Change in Breathwork as a recovery tool.
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Mindful somatic movement & Bodymind Ballwork to befriend breathing
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Helping clients develop breathing habit awareness.
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Techniques for breathing habit hunting and low tech solutions.
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Ethics in touch and non-touch support
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Ask the expert Q&A: Using breath as an anchor in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy & more
Who is this training for?
Professionals who want to learn how to integrate functional breathing into their practices such as;
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Therapists and counsellors (i.e. Psychotherapists/counsellors/teachers)
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Physiotherapists, Athletic Coaches, massage/manual therapists
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Medical professionals
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Breathwork facilitators & Yoga teachers
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Birthing professionals (although this isn't specific to pregnancy and birth).
'Given the high frequency of incorrect breathing patterns in the adult population, attention to the symptoms of hyperventilation should be part of every psychological evaluation, regardless of the specific complaints.'
~ Herbert Fensterheim (1994), PhD Psychology & Author
What's Included
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​Experiential (and often, playful) learning including real-time tracking with educational capnogaphy - see your breathing on a screen!
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In-depth science, theory and application of how breath learns
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The Open Healthy Breath Reset Framework
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40 min personal Conscious Connected Breathwork Journey
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Lunch, snacks, tea and coffee (Saturday Supper is on your own)
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Free-time in nature (14 treed acres with walking paths) - This is a beautiful place to spend Equinox weekend.
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Bodymind Ballwork (mindful myofascial release with balls) and somatic movement to befriend breathing mechanics
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2 manuals 'Reflexive Breathing Reset' & 'Breathing Lessons for Clients'
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LOW TECH Breathing Assessment Toolkit ($75 value) for personal and client use
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Optional overnight accommodations can be arranged at retreat center ($80-$100 /night) - limited space.
Early Bird: $599+GST
After Feb 15: $650 +GST
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​Advanced registration with full payment is required.
Max 14 participants.
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Precautions:
~The Conscious Connected Breathwork session is NOT suitable for pregnant women (observation only).
A registration form, including breathing habits and medical history is required.
~ No refunds or transfers~
Meet Your Facilitators
Lisa 'LV' Kusch
Saskatoon, SK
LV provides a psychophysiological approach to breathing, wellness, recovery, and mental health using a sensory-motor model. Specializing in behavioral biofeedback & Somatic Breath Therapy, she provides integrative tools for recovery.
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Formerly a mid-wife, she is a registered psychotherapist (CPPA), CBBA (Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst) and completed a masters degree in Applied Breathing Sciences through the Graduate School of Behavioral Health Sciences.
LV also completed 1500 hours of training as a breathwork facilitator/trainer in accordance with the Global Professional Breathwork Association, is the Canadian National Representative to the International Breathwork Foundation, and serves on the IBF science and research committee.
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Lisa is known for her laugh, her compassionate generosity, and using her super brain power to create playful and creative learning environments.
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Joy Onyschak
Winnipeg, MB
Joy has a passion for helping people recovering from chronic stress and trauma befriend their bodies and restore self-trust through felt sense.
She is a Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst, Somatic Practitioner, Circle Way Host and Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator.
She has 15 years experience leading groups and individuals back home to themselves through yoga, Bodymind Ballwork, Somatic Movement and Breathwork.
In addition to her 1:1 practice, she co-hosts intimate retreats and events that are meaningful, nourishing, and create connection.
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Known for being authentic and welcoming, Joy has a knack for finding 'top shelf' teachers and loves sharing the wisdom with her clients and community.
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Questions or trouble booking? email joy@joysomatics.ca or text 204-918-2829
Can't make this event, and want to stay in the loop? Sign up for Joy Somatics' monthly newsletter.
The Science of C02 ~ Supportive Research & Podcasts
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These research applications highlight capnometry's versatility in psychological and physiological assessments;
~ ​Anxiety disorders which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are common psychiatric conditions associated with significant social, occupational, physical, and economic costs. Capnometry assisted interventions that target the respiratory dysregulation with associated with anxiety disorders have demonstrated considerable therapeutic benefit.(Divya K Madhusudhan, 2020.)
~Capnometry, a non-invasive technique measuring end-tidal CO2, has diverse applications in psychology and medicine. In panic disorder treatment, capnometry-assisted respiratory training has shown efficacy in reducing symptoms by correcting hypocapnia and altering breathing patterns (Meuret et al., 2001; Meuret et al., 2010). This approach, known as CapnoLearning, helps patients understand and self-regulate their breathing behaviors (Litchfield, 2011).
~Capnometry is also beneficial in asthma management, where hypocapnia is associated with symptom exacerbation (Meuret & Ritz, 2010).
~Beyond respiratory disorders, capnometry is valuable in assessing ventilation in altered mental states, detecting metabolic acidosis, and monitoring patients during procedural sedation (Krauss & Boston Ma, 2008). ​
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Listen to 30 min podcast interviews of Lisa Kusch (by Megan Baerg of Neuroacrobatics) about the science of C02 and how breath learns.
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