Dr Philippa (Pippa) Wheble is a Medical Doctor and experienced Breathwork Practitioner. She is a Certified Transformational Breath Facilitator and Trainer and proud to be accredited by the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance (GPBA). She works as a General Practitioner within the NHS and works as a specialist in Performing Arts Medicine throughout the UK. She runs workshops in music colleges, healthcare and in the corporate setting, introducing breathwork as a technique for personal development and resilience. She lectures on Anatomy and Physiology for breathworkers and taught on Conscious Breathing Modalities at the Graduate School for Behavioural Health Sciences.
She is driven to generate a strong scientific basis to support the introduction of breathwork into the mainstream. She is currently conducting research on conscious breathing for performance anxiety. She is on the board of the scientific journal, Breathing Science. She is passionate about ethics and professionalism in breathwork and serves in the Best Practice Team for Transformational Breath UK in addition to contributing to ethical discussions and guidelines through the IBF and GPBA.
She joined the IBF in 2016 and is an active member of several IBF Workgroups including the Science and Research, Diversity and Inclusivity, United Nations and Professionalism. Elected to the Executive Team from 2017-2022, she served passionately at the heart of the IBF. Pippa is now the leader of the IBF Professionalism Workgroup.
Pippa is an accomplished violinist, viola player and singer with experience of performance anxiety. She has an MSc in Performing Arts Medicine from University College London. Her research thesis was entitled "An exploration of Transformational Breath® for anxiety management in professional voice users". She gathered physiological, psychological and qualitative data from 36 Transformational Breath® sessions demonstrating significant reductions in anxiety, depression, blood pressure and heart rate and significant improvements in well-being. She conducted further research on the physiology of conscious connected breathing, demonstrating significant hypocapnia during the practice. She presented this research at the keynote lecture at the GIC in 2018 https://vimeo.com/292821828. Pippa is keen to further her research in Transformational Breath® and to extend our understanding of all the conscious-connected breathing schools in terms of what each technique involves, the physiological mechanisms at play and the physiological and psychological benefits of each technique.
I deliver conscious connected breathing sessions to individuals and groups, in addition to delivering teaching and workshops exploring anxiety mechanisms and the use of conscious breathing for anxiety management. I am experienced working with healthcare professionals and performing artists and specialise in anxiety and burnout.
When working with a new client I invite them to complete an intake form, ensuring that I have all appropriate medical and contact information and written consent for the practice. During this first session I discuss Transformational breath as a practice, what the client can expect and explore what the client hopes to gain from the practice and any questions that they may have. Creating a safe space for the client is my first priority.
Each session begins with coaching to determine a clear intention for the session. At the start of each session I observe the client's breathing and adjust their body position to open the breath and achieve comfort. Each breathing session lasts about 1 hour. I use coaching to guide the client to achieve an open and flowing diaphragmatic breath, with a relaxed exhale, no tension and no pauses between the inhale and exhale. I use bodywork (placing my hands on areas of tension in the body) to further guide relaxation and opening of the breath. I speak affirmations (positive phrases relating to areas of tension in the body) which are intended to guide the subconscious mind and body to relax. I use music during my sessions.
In Transformational Breath we work with physical, mental-emotional and spiritual levels of being. On the physical level the connected breath and interventions mentioned above serve to release tension held in the body. The breathing pattern also creates a shift in physiology (the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood) which allows the client to achieve an altered state of consciousness. As the tension releases, thoughts and emotions can arise for the client to process. I create a space where anything that arises is perfect and welcome and support my clients to continue to breathe as they process their experiences. Sometimes, I will coach them to make sound or movement, undertake physical effort or hold their breath to support them to move through and integrate (make sense of) these experiences. Once the conscious connected breathing pattern is established in a relaxed way, clients often report a deep awareness of themselves or a deep sense of connection. This spiritual level of the practice can include a variety of beautiful experiences. I support my clients to understand and make sense of whatever happens during their session.
At the end of the session, I support the client to relax and integrate their experience through 15-20 minutes of relaxation. After this time we talk and more coaching can be offered to support the client to find completion if required.
I recommend 3 sessions one-to-one to learn the practice before breathing in a group. In a group setting, my work follows a similar format and flow.
I tailor my approach to every client and for some, sessions will focus on breath analysis, coaching and shorter self-regulation breathing practices. I will meet my client wherever they are and support them to achieve their goals. I prefer to work in person, but can deliver my practice online.
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