Kym Coco Sierra wilde somatic breathing

The body breathes itself automatically. We don’t have to think about inhaling and exhaling to stay alive. Our system naturally brings oxygen into the lungs and expels carbon dioxide from them. This supplies our tissues with energy and regulates blood pH. At the same time, we can intentionally step in to control the breath. Various pranayama practices in yoga help us cultivate a calm mind. We can also use the power of somatic breathing as another resource to liberate stuck emotions, heal trauma, and hear the whisper of our inner being.

I met Sierra Wilde, an incredible somatic breathing facilitator, in August of 2024 when the grief of losing Steve was still hitting me hard.

By the end of my first session, I was blown away by the impact of this energetic technique. It opened up space in my heart for love again–love for myself, love for others, and love for the new life I was creating without my soulmate by my side.

I am thrilled to introduce you to somatic breathing in this interview with Sierra.

In our discussion, you’ll discover:

  • How is this style of breathwork different from those used in yoga
  • How does this work influence the nervous system
  • Why doing the work with a practitioner is essential
  • Ways somatic breathing enhances our well-being
  • Incredible ways somatic breathing has transformed the lives of those utilizing it
  • And much more!

Photo Credit: Brandi Caskey with Indigo Photography

WHO IS SIERRA WILDE?

Sierra Wilde is a self-proclaimed rebel, so much so that when she was told that the trauma she survived was too big to ever heal, she did the best thing she could. She told them to F* off. Sierra rebelled, experimented, explored, and learned. She apprenticed for years studying breathwork, pattern and belief shifting, and the art of deep transformation. Then left it all behind, went rogue, lived wild and free.

Eventually, Sierra found her way back, returning to the breath through yoga, Pranayama, and deeper steady. Through every twist and turn of her journey, Sierra knew she relied on a common thread of truth: You can transmute trauma into free energy, whether it’s on the dance floor, on the mat, or in the body.

Sierra has alchemized tremendous suffering into one of incredible joy. She’s lives a vibrant life today as a mother, writer, lover, and skilled practitioner in the service of liberation. Sierra believes that healing is meant to be a season, not a life sentence. She embodies her passion by helping clients become free enough to live the life they feel humming in their bones. Sierra knows that you and I deserve that life. It’s our birthright, and it’s possible.

In my recent interview with Sierra, we dive into how the power of somatic breathing completely changed her life trajectory.

MY FIRST SOMATIC BREATHING SESSION

Somatic breathing completely changed the way I viewed myself and the world, too. It all started on a trip to Santa Rosa for dog training. Luna, our second staffy, became reactive after my husband’s transition. I didn’t blame her. The loss of Steve changed life for us all. When my friend there suggested I reach out to Sierra for additional support, I knew this was a smart move. The fact that she had an unexpected opening for me confirmed it.

Two days later, I found myself driving down a narrow, tree-lined road in search of Sierra. Thick roots pushed through the asphalt and made it almost impossible for my 9,000-pound rig to go faster than five miles an hour. I could hear Steve’s voice in my head asking, “where the hell are you taking us?”

I was known for getting us into interesting situations in the past.

The rustic terrain had me doubting my decision, too.

Then Sierra opened the door with her clear energy and bright eyes and I knew this was right where I was meant to be.

The Session

Our somatic breathing session started with the goals I had for our time together followed by a brief meditation.

My soul craved a retreat. I wanted a safe and comfortable place to rest. The past four months on the road had been exhausting. That, and I still wasn’t sure what to do next. I wanted peace and clarity, too.

Next, I reclined on the floor similar to that of a yoga nidra practice. Only, Sierra instructed me to breathe in and out through my mouth. This was very different from yogic breathing. It took me a while to release the tension from my shoulders and neck. Yet as my breath began to find a rhythm, my body surrendered.

Tingling sensations filled my entire being. It was as though I was being plugged into a light socket of energy. I could sense the commitment I made to Steve when we first met–that exhilaration of the unknown guided by a strong inner wisdom. I felt that same sense of commitment to my new relationship with him as I began his memoir, Miracle on the Mountainside. There was freedom and joy and healing in each breath I took.

“Lean into this exhilaration,” I heard my higher self whisper. “Trust the process. Ride this high. You’re on the right path as you chart your own course.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

“It’s okay that others don’t understand,” my heart said soothingly, “It’s okay that you’re doing your best. Give space for your grief. It’s all okay. You’re safe and secure with each breath.”

I let the effervescence under my skin shake me to my core.

Then as Sierra guided my breathing back to normal, I started to laugh. The only phrase running through my mind was, “This is fucking awesome! When can I do this again?”

kym coco swagtail sierra wilde somatic breathing

SOMATIC AND YOGIC BREATHING

After my experience of somatic breathing, I asked Sierra about why it’s different than yogic breathing.

“In yoga,” she explained, “we use conscious breathing techniques to create a certain state in the body. We call these practices pranayama. They’re a way to move prana, or life force, throughout our being. This increases our energy. It clears the mind and creates space to view ourselves and the world differently.”

You can check out some of these pranayama techniques here.

Sierra went on, “Yogic breathing is moving from chaos to control. Somatic breathing, instead, aims to agitate the system. It embraces the chaos. Just like the waves of the ocean are all unique and different, as are the jagged mountain peaks, we embrace the disorder.

“We shake loose the need to be perfect. We let go of the expectation to hold every aspect of our lives together. Most importantly, somatic breathing is a way the stuck beliefs, emotions, and patterns in the body that are no longer serving us get brought to the surface (and can then be released).”

What are the other benefits of somatic breathing?

  • Increased awareness of body signals
  • A release of trauma
  • Reduced stress levels
  • A calming of the nervous system
  • A strengthened the immune system
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Improved intentional living
  • A boosted the connection with our Divinity

While many of the benefits may overlap with that of yogic breathing, the technique is completely different. It’s another tool in your toolbox to create balance for your entire being. In our interview, Sierra shares more about the transformations possible through somatic breathing and where to learn more about it.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Somatic breathing is a powerful resource for vibrant wellbeing. It’s different from yogic pranayama in that it incites chaos, not calms it. Somatic breathing teaches us to ride the waves of the nervous system, like surfers dropping in for an epic rush before returning to the calm between rides. What’s so amazing is that by agitating the body through somatic breathing, we can prevent unwanted stress from getting stored in the body (and release any that has been pent up there from the past). Think a lighter, clearer you without the unnecessary weight of outdated stories or internal programs running behind the scenes.

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