A Guide to Integrating Osteopathy With Breathwork
Kerry Dowson BSc. (Hons) Ost. shares her experience and training resources
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Welcome to a new practitioner profile, as part of our series where I interview complementary healthcare practitioners about their career paths, specialities and their wide range of work experiences. Last time I spoke with acupuncturist Sean Cleere about his international career trajectory that brought him to running a busy multi-bed clinic in London today. I hope these conversations leave you feeling inspired, support you in your own career or simply give you new insight into what’s happening across this space!
As a registered Osteopath and Breathworker, Kerry Dowson BSc. (Hons) Ost. has integrated her knowledge of osteopathy with breathwork to create a unique approach to her work. Kerry qualified from the British School of Osteopathy and has trained extensively in many breathwork modalities. In particular, she has focused on the Biodynamic Bodywork and Trauma Release System for stress, anxiety management and trauma release. We spoke with her about the trajectory that brought her to this combination, and her experience combining these two approaches in treatments.
Hi Kerry! Thank you for sharing your story with the Circe Health community! You have worked as an osteopath in the NHS, at the Notting Hill Osteopathic Practice for over 20 years, at Brentford football club and ran a clinic at Queens Gate Girls school. It's quite the roster!
At what point in your career did you decide to add breathwork into your osteopathy treatments, what inspired you to do so and how did you find the training that suited you?
“As osteopaths we are taught about structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) and how to apply this knowledge to our patients to enhance their wellbeing. Osteopathy has many branches, cranial, visceral, structural. I have always used breathing and respiration with osteopathy for patients who have asthma, pneumonia, COPD, blocked ears and noses. However in 2018 while I was on holiday in India, I came across the Conscious Connect Breath technique. I reluctantly went to a workshop with a friend who was keen to experience it. I was sceptical about it and not wanting to work on my holiday. But, to my amusement and curiosity, at the end of my first breathwork session I noticed a boiling hot tear pour out of my left eye and fill my ear. My curiosity was ignited.
As the Conscious Connected Breath technique is very easy to learn, I came back to London and without any training introduced this breathing to a client. I burnt my fingers badly. So immediately I decided to continue my training with Nicola, the person I had met in India as she ran a comprehensive breathwork training in Brighton. I found the first part of the training interesting, but the following weeks were repetitive and nothing new expect my experience. I was ignorant that breathworkers have to do their shadow work first. As I was still curious afterwards, I immediately trained with Breathguru, Alan Dolan, thinking I would learn even more. I think I was on his second ever training course. I found these two trainings very similar around technique as they are based on the Transformational Breathwork training, but still it was not enough for me. Searching further, I came across the BBTRS training and it appealed because of the bodywork aspect. However there was little bodywork training on the course, but it was the training that really influenced my interest in breathwork and I continued to practice it. I’ve also dappled with Alchemy of Breath, Breathing Space and Steph Magenta’s work and am constantly learning about all different types of breathwork. I’ve incorporated yoga breathwork and using all the techniques from my osteopathic practice too.”
The aim of your combined treatments is to create space for somatic release, self-healing, co-regulation and above all embodiment. What is your practical experience like using osteopathy and breathwork combined, and how do both techniques help you and your clients feel the results?
“I love the practical experience and work that I do with clients and patients. Osteopathy is practical. Applying practical elements of osteopathy and understanding that the breath affects the body, mind, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of someone, I thought it a perfect tool to introduce into my daily osteopathic treatments. When a client allows their breath to take them to a deeper part of themselves, and they have a safe, supporting and experienced person working on their body, the bones, muscle and fascia, adding in movement, sound, meditation and manipulation, the results are quite extraordinary and patients make a rapid recovery. I become very humble when someone has a profound insight and they feel better specifically and generally.
In 2019 I began experimenting with patients including breathwork in an osteopathic session, both structural and cranial work, to bring about a physical change in my patients and to my amazement the sessions were so powerful and helpful. Since then it has gone from strength to strength. Breathwork mushroomed in popularity and went viral online during lockdown. It’s not only about the breathwork really, but it’s about the somatic work you do on yourself, the emotional process you do on yourself, the self enquiry, embodiment and understanding of self that enables you to become a breathworker. Developing a deep sense of presence and holding people in their process is the key to supporting change in patients/clients.”
Besides the treatments you offer in clinic, you also host retreats, day events, workshops and support breathwork trainers. And as if that wasn't enough to keep you busy, you recently launched a new clinic space, the Fulham House Studio. What's the story behind opening your own space?
“We developed the property with a view to create a very patient centred, home-from-home feel and approach to osteopathy and breathwork. I use the space to hold breathwork workshops for 12 people and I invite people I have met to host all sorts of events, including trainings for breathwork, aryuvedic yoga massage, facial massage, hosting guest breathworkers from abroad, yin yoga classes and I’m even thinking of inviting a belly dancer to run a short course. The Studio is private, small, personal and a very calm space for people to come to heal themselves and learn, but also it is a supporting place for people who want to run intimate, powerful courses.”
And finally, what's in store for you this year, anything you'd like to share with our community?
“I am currently setting up a Bodywork for Breathworkers course. Keli Carpenter who is based in Canada, asked me to teach body work in her TOSA breathwork training. I taught at the Barcelona retreat and it was such a magnificent experience for me. It was wonderful for me to see the trainee breathworkers using the techniques I have developed with the breath and how they applied them so confidently and efficiently. I’m very excited by this opportunity. I am always learning something new and I am finally plucking up the courage to share and teach what I know. I continue to support BBTRS trainings in person and sometimes online. I’d like to get continued professional development days for breathworkers and hopefully one day I will teach Osteopaths how to become breathworkers. There is so much opportunity out there and I just love my work and sharing it with those who want to experience it!”
That's it - thank you so much for sharing your experiences and insights with our community, Kerry!
Links:
Kerry Dowson’s website: https://www.osteobreathe.com
Breathguru, Alan Dolan: https://www.breathguru.com/
BBTRS training: https://biodynamicbreath.com/
Alchemy of Breath: https://alchemyofbreath.com/
Breathing Space: https://www.makesomebreathingspace.com/
Steph Magenta: https://stephmagenta.com/
TOSA breathwork training with Keli Carpenter: https://theothersideofaverage.com/