This Rebirthing Breathwork (RB) Group Workshop coming up soon (Sat 19/7/25 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Zamia Theatre, MT Tamborine) – what is it all about? The official explanation of this technique is as follows: RB is a complete technique that works mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically. It is considered absolutely safe because the body and mind use their own built-in protective mechanism to always uncover only enough for our safety and security.
Sounds amazing, but is there any science to back it up or is this whole thing based on anecdotal evidence? The science states that RB is a technique that uses the breathing rhythm to activate a somatic- cognitive cycle. When allowed to unfold, this cycle spontaneously brings unresolved issues to consciousness and leads to their resolution. These unresolved memories are stored in your amygdala, that primitive part of the brain that is associated with fear, emotions, and motivation. When we experience something new the hippocampus communicates with the amygdala’s stored emotions and searches its database for a similar past experiences in order to resurface a similar emotional reaction to the new experience. In this way, according to scientific research, very few decisions are actually made consciously. Rather they are a response to feelings, which are reproduced in accordance with our stored experience.
Wow, so I thought I was in control, making these lovely rational decisions, but instead my decisions are based on this storehouse of memories and feelings most of which are laid down from birth to age 5. Not ideal, particularly if these memories are traumatic. So, we end up asking ourselves: Why do I keep behaving like that? Why do these things keep happening to me? Why do I keep attracting that situation? No wonder your life might not be unfolding in the perfect sequence your rational brain desires – you are hostage to this database of old memories and trauma.
Birth is the miracle of life itself. Birth is triggered by the foetal trigger. As the foetus’s due date approaches, it releases a substance that signals the mother’s pituitary gland to release oxytocin into the bloodstream. Oxytocin travels to the uterus and stimulates contractions, which are essential for cervical dilation and the progression of labour. If this birth miracle is not allowed to progress naturally, a very different outcome for the baby can result. Caesar babies, induced births, premature births, medical emergencies for mum and baby – the outcome will be the same (a beautiful baby and a healthy mum, thank goodness for life saving interventions!) but the experiences and its lasting influence on the adult will be quite different.
This is the magic of rebirthing breathwork, all this stuff comes up. See if you can recognise yourself or your children in these birth scripts:
C. sections: You don’t get to choose your birth. There are two kinds of C sections, scheduled and emergency: A scheduled C. section is when the child is assisted in coming into the world, whether they’re ready or not. The parents, in consultation with hospital staff, make that decision. This child is spared the pain, or effort, of having to get out themselves. There is no struggle. Normally it’s the child who initiates birth, they come out when they’re ready but for those born via a scheduled C section, no struggle means no effort. So, what could I see in my life that could validate this hypothesis: I have a problem with decision making. I couldn’t make that very first decision, someone else did it for me, so I might quite happily just hand over a lot of the tough stuff to others. They can decide for me. Innovation won’t come naturally for me, why innovate? My greatest desire could be to find that ONE task (the birth canal) that completes me.
An emergency C. Section signals danger – something went wrong. There were complications with mum or the baby: baby can’t breathe, baby is in the wrong position, baby is premature, nothing is right. In this case there is struggle, fear and drama, but no effort on the part of the baby. Birth comes as a relief, while at the same time a confirmation of failure for the baby to complete its task. The script runs ‘no matter how much I struggle I’ll never succeed. I may as well give up’. Years later this can lead to feelings of wanting to be helped while at the same time being resentful of those who help you. Often this type are drawn to drama, it’s the only time they feel really alive.
Drugged births: Mum had to have an anaesthetic, and this crossed the placenta, drugging the baby. So how could this play out for the baby, now an adult? Often, they remember being fully present and then things go blank. Their own birth is a non-event for them. They might feel cheated, excluded and incomplete because they were not involved in the whole event. In daily life they might drop out of tasks to rejoin later, when that activity is over. They can either overcompensate by being control freaks determined to manage each stage of the outcome right to the end or procrastinate, shrug their shoulders and not complete anything. There is always something bigger than them out there that will take over, so why bother?
Induced births: There you are contemplating leaving this beautiful warm space and suddenly you are hurried along, against your will, through physical and pharmaceutical means. Adults from induced births hate to be hurried, are resentful of others dictating their pace and often invading their space. The contrast could be adults who don’t know how to start, who need others to give them a push and decide for them.
Wrong sex: Often they become over achievers, proving everyone wrong: I AM just what you wanted. They often must be the right one, look the part, act the part. The downside of overachievement is that they might really struggle to find out who they are and what they really want from life.
There are so many more. It’s fascinating stuff! Perfect for those who want to grow and change and grab life with both hands! We are filling fast, hope you can join us! Love and namaste Margot