What to Expect in Your First 9D Breathwork Session
What to Expect in Your First 9D Breathwork Session
By Leslie Burgie, APRN | Nurse Practitioner · Women's Hormone Health · 9D Breathwork Facilitator
The most common thing I hear before a first session is some version of: "I want to try this but I don't know what's going to happen." That's a fair concern — and one I can actually answer.
First, a Practical Note
9D Breathwork is done lying down or in a reclined position with headphones on. The "9D" refers to nine dimensions of immersive sound technology — binaural beats, solfeggio frequencies, nature soundscapes, guided coaching, and more — layered beneath a specific breathing pattern. You don't need any prior experience with breathwork, meditation, or somatic practices. You just need to be willing to breathe and stay with the experience.
Sessions run approximately 60 minutes. You will need headphones — not earbuds if you can help it, but they'll work in a pinch. Over-ear headphones create the fullest experience of the binaural beats. Find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted and can fully let go.
The Arc of a Session
Opening and grounding (first 5-10 minutes)
A session typically begins with an orientation — some context for what you're about to experience, a few words about the breath pattern you'll be using, and an invitation to set an intention if that feels meaningful to you. This is also when I'll remind you of what's physiologically normal so that nothing that happens in the session surprises or frightens you.
The breath pattern (active phase, roughly 30-40 minutes)
The active phase of a 9D Breathwork session uses a specific connected breathing pattern — typically a two-part inhale through the mouth followed by a passive exhale. This isn't hyperventilation; it's a rhythmic, intentional breath that creates a cascade of physiological effects. The sound journey is playing beneath this the entire time, guiding your nervous system deeper into the experience.
This is where most of the significant experiences happen. What you might feel during the active phase:
Tingling or vibration in the hands, arms, face, or throughout the body — extremely common, caused by shifts in CO2 and blood pH from the breathing pattern
Warmth or energy moving through the body
Spontaneous emotional responses — tears, laughter, grief, joy — often without a specific attached memory or story
Muscle tension or cramping in the hands (called tetany) — temporary and harmless, will release when you soften the breath
Altered states of consciousness — feeling like you're floating, visual imagery, a sense of expanded awareness
Profound calm — some people simply feel very, very relaxed
Occasionally, nothing unusual — and that's also a valid and complete experience
None of these responses are dangerous. They are your nervous system processing and releasing stored material. If anything feels like too much at any point, simply return to normal breathing and open your eyes. You are always in control.
Integration (final 10-15 minutes)
As the breath pattern winds down, the sound journey shifts to support landing — bringing you gently back into your body and into the room. This is often described as the most peaceful part of the experience. Many people lie in silence for several minutes before feeling ready to move.
After a session, people commonly report feeling lighter, more open, emotionally clear, or deeply rested. Some feel tired and need to rest. A small number feel emotionally tender or process feelings for a day or two afterward — this is normal and part of integration. Drink plenty of water, move gently, and be kind to yourself in the hours that follow.
What 9D Breathwork Is Not
It is not meditation — you are actively breathing, not passively observing your thoughts.
It is not therapy — though it may surface things that benefit from therapeutic support afterward. If significant material arises, working with a therapist alongside breathwork practice can be deeply valuable.
It is not appropriate for everyone. Please do not participate if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy, have a history of severe cardiovascular conditions, are currently experiencing a psychotic episode, have recently had major surgery, or have severe respiratory conditions. When in doubt, consult your healthcare provider.
Why I Offer This as a Nurse Practitioner
The reason I describe the physiology before every session is not to make it clinical and detached — it's because I believe understanding what's happening in your body actually deepens the experience. When you know that the tingling in your hands is a benign physiological response to a shift in CO2, you can relax into it instead of tensing against it. When you know that spontaneous emotion is your nervous system releasing stored activation, you can allow it instead of suppressing it.
Knowledge and somatic experience aren't opposites. In my practice, they amplify each other.
You don't have to know what you're releasing or why. Your body keeps that account. It knows what's ready to go.
Ready to Try It?
Rewire & Release is my live group 9D Breathwork experience, offered twice monthly via Zoom. It includes a brief clinical teaching on nervous system regulation followed by a full guided 9D Breathwork journey. $27 per session, spots are limited. Registration and upcoming dates are at thebreathdetox.com.
About the Author
Leslie Burgie, APRN is a nurse practitioner, women's hormone health specialist, and certified 9D Breathwork facilitator based in Ohio. She operates two virtual practices: Optimize & Elevate (optimizeandelevate.com), a women's hormone health practice serving Ohio, and The Breath Detox (thebreathdetox.com), a 9D Breathwork facilitation practice. Her clinical work focuses on the intersection of HPA axis regulation, hormonal health, and somatic nervous system healing.