The 12/12 Portal Reset: Ground Yourself With the Extended Exhale

What if a single breath could bring you back into alignment?

On this 12/12 energetic portal, a day symbolizing clarity, completion, and stepping into a new cycle, I’m sharing a simple grounding Breathwork technique you can use anytime you feel overwhelmed or overstimulated.

This Magic Mini is all about slowing down, softening your system, and reconnecting with who you’re becoming as the year comes to a close.

The holidays can stir up noise… expectations… emotional triggers… and all the energy that pulls us out of ourselves. But your breath is always your anchor. And today, we’re tapping into the extended exhale, a nervous system reset that mirrors the energy of 12/12 beautifully.

This practice is tiny, accessible, and powerful. No mat. No quiet room. Just you, your intention, and your breath.

🔹 In this Magic Mini, listeners will learn:

• What the 12/12 portal represents energetically (even if you’re not into numerology).
• Why the extended exhale breath is the perfect nervous system reset for this time of year.
• How lengthening your exhale signals safety to your body
• Everyday moments when this breath can help you ground instantly
• A simple guided 3–6 breath pattern you can use anytime, anywhere

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

When the world turned dark for Laura, one breath at a time became her way back to calm, clarity, and control.

What if the way you breathe could change how you live?

In this powerful episode of Breathwork Magic, host Amanda Russo is joined by Laura Bratton, a speaker, coach, and longtime Breathwork enthusiast whose journey began in the midst of personal crisis.

As a teen facing rapid vision loss, Laura experienced intense anxiety and panic, living in a cycle of shallow breathing until one simple instruction changed everything:

“Breathe from your diaphragm.”

Together, they explore how that single moment evolved into a deeply embodied Breathwork practice. Laura shares the tools that helped her shift from survival mode to presence: box breathing for immediate calm, body scans to either energize or unwind, and mindfulness to gently observe and shift thoughts. The conversation also explores how Reiki and gentle yoga complete a healing triangle of breath, energy, and awareness.

If you’ve ever thought “I already know how to breathe,” this episode meets you exactly where you are... offering both the science and soul of why conscious breathing is one of the most accessible and powerful tools for navigating life’s challenges.

🔹 In this episode, listeners will learn:

• How Breathwork became Laura’s anchor through trauma, vision loss, and anxiety
• The calming power of box breathing and how it resets the nervous system
• How mindfulness creates awareness of breath patterns and emotional states
• The difference between using Breathwork as a tool vs. living it as a lifestyle
• Why body scans serve both morning intention and nighttime release
• How Reiki and yoga deepen the mind-body connection
• Why Breathwork doesn’t eliminate panic, but transforms the way it’s experienced

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:
~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What happens when a simple sigh becomes your superpower?

When In Doubt, Sigh It Out...

Magic Minis #1

Breathwork isn’t just a wellness tool... it’s a way to ground, reset, and reclaim your energy in any moment. In this first episode of Magic Minis, a new series from Breathwork Magic, I dive into one of the most underrated and accessible Breathwork practices: the intentional sigh.

We sigh naturally when we’re overwhelmed, stressed, or even relieved. But what if you could use that same breath on purpose to calm your nervous system, clear out tension, and shift your mindset instantly?

That’s the magic of the sigh, and it’s something you can do literally anywhere... no mat, no meditation, no rules.

🔹 In this episode, listeners will learn:

• What makes the sigh such a powerful and natural breathwork tool
• How intentional sighing helps reset your nervous system in seconds
• Everyday moments when the sigh can help you shift out of stress
• Why it's perfect for parents, professionals, and anyone on the go
• A simple, guided sighing practice you can try right now
• The science and the soul behind this soothing breath technique
• How even three deep sighs can transform your mood and mindset

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:
~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What happens when functional medicine meets the healing power of breath?

Breathwork isn’t just a wellness trend, it’s a powerful bridge between the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.

In this inspiring episode of Breathwork Magic, Amanda is joined by Dr. Lara May, a functional medicine pharmacist, Reiki master, and certified life and health coach, who shares her personal and professional evolution into the world of breath.

Listeners will discover how Lara blended her Western medical background with Eastern practices like Kundalini yoga and energy healing to uncover the transformative effects of intentional breathing. From balancing pH and calming inflammation to overcoming emotional blockages and releasing trauma, Lara offers both science-backed insight and heart-centered wisdom. This episode is a guide to reclaiming your breath, your power, and your peace.

🔹 In this episode, listeners will learn:

• How Lara discovered the true power of breath through yoga and clinical experience
• The link between CO2, oxygen, and inflammation and why breath matters
• How Breathwork supports detox, adrenal health, and nervous system healing
• Kundalini yoga’s impact on energy, awareness, and even caffeine addiction
• The role of intention, forgiveness, and journaling in emotional healing
• Simple breath practices to downshift at night and realign with calm
• Why Yoga Nidra and "brain breaks" are powerful tools for stress relief

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:
~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What happens when perimenopause brings sleepless nights, stress, and anxiety… and you finally discover the power of your breath?

In this empowering episode of Breathwork Magic, host Amanda Russo sits down with Amita, co-founder of Nourish Doc, a holistic wellness platform dedicated to supporting women through every stage of hormonal transition. Together, they explore how breathwork, yoga, and other holistic practices can ease the challenges of perimenopause, menopause, and beyond—offering natural, accessible alternatives to medication.

Amita opens up about her own struggles with debilitating perimenopause symptoms, how she discovered the healing potential of pranayama, and why simple daily practices like alternate nostril breathing, bee breath, and cooling breath became essential tools in her journey. She also shares how routine, yoga, and meditation helped her overcome chronic fatigue, improve her metabolism, and reclaim her energy.

🔹 Episode Highlights
[2:30] – Amita’s personal struggles with perimenopause and why she began seeking holistic solutions
[3:24] – The moment she discovered Breathwork and the evidence behind pranayama
[5:20] – How Breathwork helped her manage stress, anxiety, and sleep
[11:37] – Breathwork techniques for cooling the body, calming the mind, and boosting energy
[14:53] – How yoga, meditation, and Breathwork together transformed her metabolism and fatigue
[20:05] – Why habit and daily routine are key to sustaining healing practices
[23:26] – Advice for beginners: starting small, staying consistent, and seeking guidance

This episode is a must-listen for women navigating midlife changes or anyone seeking simple, natural tools to support energy, balance, and emotional wellbeing.

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What happens when years of shallow breathing, unprocessed emotions, and a fast-paced lifestyle finally meet the healing power of breath?

In this inspiring episode of Breathwork Magic, host Amanda Russo speaks with Alicia, an Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Consultant with over two decades of experience in marketing, public relations, and entrepreneurship. Alicia shares her personal journey from living in constant tension to discovering Breathwork, a practice that helped her release deeply stored childhood trauma, calm her nervous system, and reconnect with her body in a profound way.

Amanda and Alicia explore the many layers of breathwork’s impact, from emotional release and nervous system regulation to improved endurance, better sleep, and everyday mindfulness. Alicia also offers practical, accessible techniques for calming anxiety on the spot, insight into why so many people breathe incorrectly (especially women), and her evolving perspective on “healing” as a return to the soul rather than fixing something broken.

🔹 Episode Highlights

[2:21] – Alicia’s first introduction to Breathwork and the emotional shift it sparked
[3:53] – The beach session that released years of stored childhood trauma
[6:22] – How societal habits lead women to breathe incorrectly and hold tension
[10:29] – Breathwork’s surprising impact on physical endurance and stamina
[11:58] – Nightly breathwork practices for deeper, more restful sleep
[20:59] – Quick, discreet ways to regulate the nervous system anywhere
[24:31] – Naming emotions without judgment to promote emotional health
[32:01] – Upcoming retreats and the shift from “healing” to soul reconnection

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking simple yet powerful ways to release emotional blockages, regulate their nervous system, and reconnect with their true self, one conscious breath at a time.

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What happens when athletic discipline, emotional blocks, and deep breathwork collide?

In this soul-stirring episode of Breathwork Magic, host Amanda Russo sits down with Jure, a former professional table tennis player turned somatic Breathwork specialist and mental performance coach, for a deep and transformative conversation on healing, embodiment, and nervous system reprogramming through the breath.

Jure opens up about his evolution from competitive sports into the world of Breathwork, and how his journey led him to realize that breath alone isn’t enough, it must be integrated with emotional awareness, somatic intelligence, and the healing of subconscious trauma.

Amanda and Jure explore the nuances of nervous system regulation, what it truly means to slow down, and why real transformation comes from tuning into the breath and the body. From athletic performance to conscious parenting to spiritual growth, this episode is a full-spectrum reminder of what becomes possible when breath is used with intention.

🔹 Episode Highlights

[2:29] – Discovering the breath: yoga at 14, early athletic pressure, and waking up to the body
[4:22] – Nose breathing, diaphragm work, and the first glimpse of inner stillness
[6:34] – When breathwork alone isn't enough: trauma, fascia, and emotional awareness
[8:35] – Using breath to navigate chronic pain and high-performance sport
[11:18] – Teaching clients to breathe with their whole bodies and subconscious
[15:35] – Coaching evolution: from surface-level advice to deep transformational guidance
[19:31] – Moms as athletes: stress, resilience, and the feminine nervous system
[24:17] – Why safety is foundational for real breathwork breakthroughs
[29:13] – The epidemic of rushing and how slowing down rewires your life
[35:45] – Meditation vs. dynamic somatic breathwork: a new approach to embodiment

This episode is a must-listen for anyone on a journey of healing, high-performance recovery, or conscious self-discovery. It offers a grounded, honest look at Breathwork beyond the hype.

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

What if the breath isn’t just a tool but the gateway to your truest self?

In this expansive episode of Breathwork Magic, Amanda Russo welcomes Manal, the founder of Maintain and a transformational guide in emotional healing and spiritual alignment. Together, they dive into a rich, inspiring dialogue about the breath as our most powerful access point to presence, peace, and personal growth.

Manal shares how Breathwork shifted from a practice to a way of being—and how it helped her access emotional clarity, spiritual alignment, and ease in the body. She introduces the Butterfly Breath, a fast-acting technique that instantly quiets the mind and calms the senses, and reveals how our relationship with breath reflects our willingness to surrender, grow, and truly be. This is an episode for anyone feeling disconnected from their body, mind, or purpose and ready to awaken to what’s already within.

🔹 Episode Highlights

[2:59] – The moment we’re born, we breathe ~ Manal reflects on the sacredness of that first inhale
[5:38] – The story behind “Maintain” and how her brand reflects inner attainment
[9:02] – Exploring the four-body model: physical, emotional, mental, and egoic
[16:34] – A live walkthrough of the Butterfly Breath technique for instant calm and clarity
[23:00] – How breathwork supports her cold plunges, acupuncture, and everyday awareness
[25:56] – What to say when someone claims they “don’t have time” to breathe
[33:03] – Confronting resistance, emotional buildup, and the metaphor of 1,000 elephants
[38:39] – Why some people avoid personal growth and what grumpy old men can teach us
[44:20] – Manal’s manifestation formula: know it, trust it, feel it, be it

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

🔹 Connect with Manal:

Manal's Website https://www.mattain.me/

Instagram @mattainbymanal

Manal on Insight Timer