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What is SOMA Breath?
A plain explanation of the rhythmic breathwork I teach — what it is, what happens in a session, and what it actually feels like in your body.
The short answer
Breathing in a rhythm, on purpose
SOMA Breath is a structured breathwork method created by Niraj Naik, a former pharmacist who turned to breathing practices after a chronic illness. It takes pranayama — the breathing techniques of yoga, thousands of years old — and arranges them into a sequence set to music.
The core idea is simple. Most of us breathe shallowly, high in the chest, all day long, and the body reads that as low-level alarm. When you breathe in a deliberate rhythm instead, and hold the breath for short, comfortable stretches, the body gets a different message.
You do not need to understand any of it to do it. In a session you simply follow a voice.
The three parts
What a SOMA practice is made of
i
Rhythmic breathing
A steady in-and-out pattern, usually paced to the beat of the music. This is the engine of the practice, and it is the part that quietly changes how your nervous system is running.
ii
Breath holds
Short, comfortable pauses after the exhale. Never forced, never to the point of strain. This is where most people first notice the stillness that the whole practice is pointing at.
iii
Music and voice
The music carries the tempo so you do not have to count, and my voice tells you what to do next. Nothing is left to you to figure out while your eyes are closed.
In your body
What it actually feels like
People are often surprised by how physical it is. The most common experiences, in the order they usually arrive:
- iTingling in the hands, feet, or around the mouth. Harmless, extremely common, and it fades.
- iiWarmth or waves moving through the body, sometimes with a lightness behind the eyes.
- iiiEmotion arriving without a story — tears, or a sudden release, with no memory attached to it. This is normal and it is allowed.
- ivDeep stillness in the holds and afterwards. Most people describe this part, not the breathing, as the reason they come back.
Some sessions are dramatic. Most are quiet. Neither is better, and neither means you did it wrong.
Common questions
SOMA Breath, briefly answered
Is SOMA Breath the same as Wim Hof?
No, though they are cousins. Both use rhythmic breathing and breath holds. SOMA is set to music, is generally gentler, and is built around a full guided journey rather than cold exposure.
Is it a religion or a belief system?
No. It comes out of yogic breathing traditions, but nothing is asked of you except that you breathe. You can be as sceptical as you like and it still works on your physiology.
How often should I practise?
Even a few minutes of slow, rhythmic breathing most days does more than one long session a month. Guided sessions are for going deeper than you would on your own.
Is it safe?
For most healthy adults, yes, when it is guided. It is not suitable in the third trimester of pregnancy, or with epilepsy, serious heart conditions, or recent surgery. If any of that applies, write to me and we will talk it through before you book.
Do I have to be flexible or fit?
Not at all. You are lying down for almost all of it. Breathwork asks nothing of your body except that it is there.
Breathwork is a practice for wellbeing. It is not medical treatment and not a substitute for therapy or medical care. If you are unsure, write to me before booking.
The fastest way to understand it is to do it
Ten minutes of guided breathing will tell you more than this whole page. Start with a free group session, or book a private one.
See 1:1 sessions