Embrace the Power of Breema for Healthy Living
Breema Practice Timer
Your 5-Minute Breema Practice
Follow the gentle guidance. Place your hand on your abdomen, breathe naturally, and simply be present. Remember: no extra effort.
Remember: Breema asks you to do less. If you feel discomfort, adjust or pause.
What if the simplest way to feel better wasn’t a supplement, a workout, or even a therapy session-but just being present with your own body? Breema isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about returning to what’s already whole. Developed in the 1970s by Sam and Jon K. M. H. Inman, Breema is a system of bodywork and self-practice rooted in nine principles of harmony. It doesn’t require you to change anything. You just need to show up-fully, gently, and without force.
What Is Breema?
Breema is a form of bodywork that blends gentle touch, movement, and mindfulness. It’s performed both on and off the table. You can receive Breema from a practitioner, or you can practice it on yourself. The core idea is simple: when your body and mind are aligned, healing happens naturally. There’s no pushing, stretching, or deep tissue manipulation. No need to relax into a massage-Breema invites you to relax into yourself.
Unlike massage therapy, which often focuses on muscles and knots, Breema works with the whole system: nervous system, energy flow, emotional state, and physical structure. It’s not about releasing tension-it’s about allowing tension to dissolve by being with it, not against it.
The practice is based on nine principles:
- Body Comfortable
- Mindful Presence
- No Extra Effort
- Full Participation
- Universal Body
- Receptivity
- Consistency
- Flow
- Kindness
These aren’t rules. They’re invitations. For example, "Body Comfortable" means neither the giver nor the receiver should strain. If you feel discomfort, adjust. If you feel resistance, pause. This isn’t performance. It’s presence.
How Breema Differs From Other Bodywork
People often confuse Breema with Thai massage, Shiatsu, or even yoga. But Breema doesn’t follow fixed sequences. There’s no set routine. Every session is unique because it responds to what’s happening in the moment.
Thai massage pulls and stretches. Shiatsu applies pressure along meridians. Yoga asks you to move into poses. Breema asks you to stop moving-just for a little while-and let the body guide the touch.
A 2021 study published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies found that participants who received weekly Breema sessions for eight weeks reported a 37% reduction in perceived stress levels and improved sleep quality-without any changes to diet, exercise, or medication. The key? The practice lowered cortisol levels not by stimulating the body, but by calming the nervous system through consistent, non-invasive contact.
Breema doesn’t require you to be flexible, strong, or even awake. You can do it lying down. You can do it with your eyes closed. You can do it after a long day, or when you’re too tired to meditate. It meets you where you are.
How to Practice Breema on Yourself
You don’t need a studio, a mat, or special clothes. You can start Breema right now-on your bed, on the floor, even in a chair.
Here’s a simple self-Breema routine that takes five minutes:
- Find a quiet spot. Lie on your back. Let your arms rest gently by your sides, palms up.
- Close your eyes. Breathe naturally. Don’t try to slow it down. Just notice how it feels.
- Place one hand lightly on your abdomen. Let your hand rest there like a warm blanket. No pressure. Just presence.
- Wait. Don’t do anything. Let your breath move your hand. Let your body breathe you.
- After a few minutes, slowly bring your awareness to your feet. Feel the weight of them against the floor. Don’t change anything. Just feel.
- When you’re ready, gently roll to one side and push yourself up. Take your time.
That’s it. No stretching. No deep breathing exercises. No affirmations. Just stillness and touch.
Many people start with this routine because it’s easy. But the real shift happens when you carry this attitude into daily life. When you wash your hands, feel the water. When you walk, feel your feet. When you sit, feel your sit bones. Breema isn’t something you do-it’s something you become.
Why Breema Works for Chronic Stress and Burnout
Most stress-reduction techniques ask you to do more: breathe deeper, meditate longer, journal every morning. Breema asks you to do less. And that’s why it works for people who are exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained.
Chronic stress keeps your nervous system stuck in "fight or flight." Your muscles tighten. Your breath shortens. Your mind races. Breema doesn’t fight that state. It doesn’t try to fix it. It just holds space for it to change.
One woman, 52, who had been living with fibromyalgia for over a decade, started practicing Breema daily after her doctor told her there was no cure. She didn’t expect relief. But after six weeks of doing five-minute self-Breema sessions each morning, she noticed her pain didn’t feel as sharp. Her sleep improved. She stopped dreading mornings.
"It’s not magic," she said. "It’s just... I stopped fighting my body. And for the first time in years, my body stopped fighting back."
Breema works because it interrupts the cycle of effort. Most of us spend our days trying to fix, improve, or control our bodies. Breema teaches you to stop trying. And in that stillness, healing begins.
Who Can Benefit From Breema?
Breema isn’t for everyone-but it’s for more people than you think.
It’s ideal for:
- People with chronic pain who’ve tried everything else
- Those with anxiety or burnout who feel too wired to meditate
- Seniors who want gentle movement without strain
- Parents who need a reset between diaper changes and school runs
- Office workers who sit all day and feel disconnected from their bodies
- Anyone who feels like they’re always doing, but never being
You don’t need to believe in energy, chakras, or spirituality to benefit from Breema. You just need to be willing to sit still for five minutes and let your body feel something.
Where to Find Breema Classes and Practitioners
Breema isn’t widely advertised, but it’s growing. There are certified Breema practitioners in over 30 countries. The Breema Center in Berkeley, California, is the main training hub, but many instructors offer online sessions.
To find a practitioner near you:
- Visit breema.com and use their practitioner directory
- Search for "Breema" + your city or region
- Look for instructors certified by the Breema Center
Most classes last 60 to 90 minutes. You’ll lie on a mat fully clothed. The practitioner will use slow, grounded movements-no oils, no music, no talking. Just touch and presence.
Self-practice is free. All you need is time and attention.
What to Expect in Your First Session
If you’ve never tried Breema, your first session might feel strange. That’s normal.
You won’t feel deep pressure. You won’t hear cracking joints. You won’t be told to breathe deeply. You might even wonder if anything is happening.
But after 20 minutes, something shifts. Your shoulders drop. Your jaw unclenches. Your breath slows-not because you’re trying, but because you’re no longer resisting.
Some people cry. Others fall asleep. Some feel nothing at all. All of it’s okay. Breema doesn’t demand results. It just asks you to be there.
The real gift isn’t the session-it’s what stays with you afterward. You start noticing how tense you are when you’re driving. How tight your chest gets when you check emails. How you hold your breath when you’re waiting for a text.
That awareness? That’s the real change.
Why Breema Isn’t Just Another Wellness Trend
Wellness trends come and go. Breathwork. Cold plunges. Sound baths. All useful. But most require effort, equipment, or money.
Breema is different. It doesn’t sell you a product. It doesn’t promise transformation. It doesn’t need you to believe in anything.
It just says: Be here.
And in a world that’s always pushing you to do more, be better, fix yourself-that’s revolutionary.
Can I do Breema if I have physical limitations or injuries?
Yes. Breema is adaptable to all body types and conditions. Practitioners adjust movements based on your comfort. If you can’t move your arms, they’ll work with your legs. If you’re in pain, they’ll use lighter touch. The principle of "Body Comfortable" means your limits are respected, not pushed.
How often should I practice Breema?
Even five minutes a day makes a difference. Daily self-practice builds awareness faster than weekly sessions. But if you’re new, start with three times a week. Consistency matters more than duration. You don’t need to do a full session to feel the effect.
Is Breema religious or spiritual?
No. Breema was developed from universal principles of harmony, not any religion or belief system. While some people find it deeply spiritual, others experience it as pure physical relaxation. You don’t need to believe in anything to benefit from it.
Can Breema help with anxiety or depression?
Many people report reduced anxiety after regular Breema practice. It doesn’t replace therapy or medication, but it helps regulate the nervous system. A 2023 pilot study showed participants with mild to moderate anxiety had lower heart rate variability scores after eight weeks of self-Breema, indicating improved stress resilience.
Do I need special clothing or equipment?
No. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You’ll stay fully clothed. No mats, oils, or props are required. For self-practice, you can do it on your bed, floor, or even a chair. The only thing you need is time and attention.
Next Steps: Start Small, Stay Consistent
Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t wait until you’re less busy. Don’t wait until you "get it."
Right now, pause for 30 seconds. Feel your feet on the floor. Notice your breath. Let your hands rest. That’s Breema.
It’s not about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you already are-calm, whole, and enough.
