Why Guided Breathwork Works

When life gets loud, your breath is the quiet doorway back to yourself. Guided breathwork is one of the simplest, most effective ways to shift your energy, fast. With a trained guide leading the way, you get to drop out of your head, settle into your body, and let your breath do what it was designed to do: rebalance, restore, and recharge.

Why it’s so beneficial:

It calms your nervous system.

Just a few minutes of intentional breathing signals your body that it’s safe to relax. Stress softens, shoulders drop, and clarity returns.

It boosts energy naturally.

Slow, nourishing breaths wake up circulation and help your qi flow more freely. Many people walk away from a session feeling brighter and more alive.

It helps you release what you’ve been holding.

Guided breathwork sessions offer a safe space to let go; ension, emotions, old thought patterns and make room for something lighter.

It reconnects you to yourself.

When someone else holds the structure, you can fully sink into the experience. No overthinking. No doing it “right.” Just breathing.

It supports your practice in martial arts, meditation, and daily life.

A more grounded breath means a more grounded you. From your stance to your spirit, everything moves more smoothly when your breath is centered.

Guided breathwork isn’t just a technique, it’s a reset button we often forget we have. And the best part? It’s available to everyone, anytime, one inhale at a time.

Join us for our free Breathwork Mondays sessions. Every time we do this, there’s a moment when the whole space softens and you can feel the calm settle in.  No experience needed, just bring whatever’s with you that day. Practice seated in a chair or however is most comfortable for you.

We meet in the Movement Room at Seattle Asian Medicine & Martial Arts 12025 Lake City Way NE, Seattle

Mondays at 7:00pm

Lot, street, and nearby neighborhood parking available.

Email RSVP requested to reserve your space, via sammabenevolentsociety@gmail.com

#breathwork #seattle #martialarts #mindfulness

Feeling drained? Breathe and recharge your qi. 

Martial arts isn’t just about movement. It’s a full spectrum of external strength and internal balance. The Minor Universal Circulation (Microcosmic Orbit) meditation helps restore that flow.

energy rising up the spine

softening down the front

leaving you centered, calm, and bright

Winter is Yin Season. Here’s How to Eat for It.

(TCM Wisdom for Winter)

Winter invites us to slow down, nourish deeply, and rebuild our roots. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this season is linked with the Kidneys, our well of vitality. So, the way we eat now can help us stay grounded, warm, and strong through the cold months ahead.

Warm, cooked, and comforting is the theme. Think stews, congee, roasted vegetables, and slow-simmered broths that support digestion and protect your inner heat. Black beans, mushrooms, sesame, walnuts, seaweed, miso, and dark leafy greens are winter powerhouses that help replenish Kidney energy.

A little saltiness is supportive, but go gently; enough to nourish, not overwhelm. Add warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves to keep your Qi circulating and your hands and feet toasty.

Most of all, winter eating is about listening inward. Choose foods that help you feel steady, rested, and restored. When we honor the season, our body responds with clarity, resilience, and a quiet hum of strength.

Try this Nourishing Miso and Mushroom Bowl recipe for A warm, comforting lunch to support balance, vitality, and inner heat.

Ingredients (1–2 servings)

• 1 cup cooked brown rice or warm barley

• 1 cup mixed mushrooms (shiitake, oyster, cremini), sliced

• 1 small handful spinach or chopped bok choy

• 1 tbsp black sesame seeds

• 1–2 tbsp miso paste (white or red)

• 1 tsp freshly grated ginger

• ½ cup tofu cubes or shredded chicken (optional)

• 1–2 tsp sesame oil

• 1 ½ cups warm water or broth

• Pinch of sea salt

• Optional: sliced green onions, splash of tamari, or a sprinkle of chili flakes

Directions

1. Warm your base: Add warm rice or barley to your bowl. Keeping grains warm and cooked supports digestion and the Kidney system during winter.

2. Sauté the mushrooms: Heat sesame oil in a small pan, add ginger, then mushrooms. Cook until soft and fragrant. Add a small pinch of salt.

3. Add greens + protein: Stir in spinach or bok choy and your tofu or chicken (if using). Sauté just until the greens wilt.

4. Prepare the miso broth: In a separate bowl, whisk miso paste into warm water or broth. (Be careful not to boil, miso likes a gentle heat.)

5. Assemble: Pour the miso broth over your warm grains. Top with the mushroom mixture.

6. Finish: Sprinkle with black sesame seeds and green onions. Add tamari or chili flakes if you like a little extra depth or warmth.

Why this works for winter (TCM perspective)

• Mushrooms, miso, seaweed, sesame, and dark greens can help nourish the Kidneys and replenish deep energy.

• Warm, cooked foods can help protect digestive fire and support Qi.

• Ginger and sesame oil can help circulation and keep the body warm.

• Earthy grains can help keep you grounded and steady.

A bowl like this is simple, comforting, and perfectly aligned with winter’s inward, restorative energy. Enjoy and stay warm.