Certified Breathing Practitioner and Evidence-Informed Breathing Educator.

Curiosity has always guided my work.

I've always been fascinated by the human body.

Not just by how it functions, but by why two people can experience the same challenge so differently. Why does one person thrive under pressure while another feels overwhelmed? Why do some people recover quickly while others remain stuck in cycles of stress, fatigue or tension? And perhaps most intriguingly, what role does our breathing play in all of this?

Those questions have shaped both my personal journey and my professional career.

They continue to inspire the way I learn, teach and work with every client who walks through my door.

Today, I'm the founder of The Guided Breath, where I help individuals, workplaces, healthcare professionals, first responders and athletes improve the way they breathe so they can better regulate their nervous system, build resilience, enhance wellbeing and perform at their best.

My role isn't simply to teach breathing exercises.

It's to help people understand one of the most powerful systems they carry with them every day.

About

Nikki

- Certified BioDynamic Breathwork Facilitator & Reiki Practitioner in Geelong & Online

Where it all began

Like many people, I first experienced the impact of intentional breathing through my own life.

What began as a personal exploration quickly became something much deeper.

The more I learnt, the more I realised breathing wasn't simply about relaxation.

It influences our physiology, our nervous system, our sleep, our energy, our emotions, our recovery and the way we respond to life's inevitable challenges.

That realisation sparked a curiosity that has never really stopped.

Every course I completed seemed to open another door rather than provide a final answer.

The deeper I studied, the more I wanted to understand not only how breathing works, but why.

From breathwork to breathing science

Over the years, my work has evolved well beyond facilitating breathing sessions.

I've completed more than 650 hours of professional education across breathwork, functional breathing and breathing science, including certification in the Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® (BBTRS®) and advanced Functional Breathing training through Oxygen Advantage®.

Along the way I discovered something that continues to shape my practice today.

Breathing sits at the intersection of science and human experience.

Respiratory physiology helps explain how breathing influences the body.

Trauma-informed practice reminds us that every breathing pattern has developed within the context of a unique life.

Neither perspective is complete without the other.

That understanding has become the foundation of The Guided Breath.

My philosophy

Breathing is something we do more than 20,000 times each day, yet very few of us are ever taught how to breathe well.

Our breathing patterns are influenced by many factors including stress, lifestyle, illness, injury, environment and life experiences.

That's why I don't believe in one-size-fits-all breathing techniques.

Every person arrives with a different story, different goals and different physiology.

My role is to meet people where they are.

Whether someone wants to improve sleep, reduce stress, prepare for childbirth, recover from burnout, optimise athletic performance or simply feel more at home in their body, my focus remains the same:

To provide practical, evidence-informed breathing education that people can confidently apply in everyday life.

Because understanding why we're doing something is often just as important as learning how to do it.

My approach

Every session is guided by five principles.

Evidence-informed

I integrate current understanding of respiratory physiology, functional breathing, nervous system regulation and human performance with practical breathing education.

Trauma-informed

Safety always comes before technique. My approach recognises that every person's nervous system and life experiences are different, and sessions are adapted accordingly.

Choice-led

Clients remain in control of their experience. I believe meaningful learning happens when people feel informed, empowered and respected.

Individualised

No two breathing patterns are identical. Every session is tailored to the individual rather than following a standard protocol.

Practical

The most effective breathing techniques are the ones people can confidently use long after our session together.

Who I work with

I work with people from all walks of life, including:

• Individuals seeking to improve their health and wellbeing

• Corporate teams and workplaces

• Healthcare professionals

• Mental health practitioners

• First responders

• Athletes and sporting clubs

• Community organisations

• Yoga and wellness studios

Whether you're completely new to breathing practice or looking to refine existing skills, you're welcome here.

Professional training and ongoing learning

I'm a Certified Evidence-Informed Breathing Educator, Functional & Conscious Connected Breathwork Practitioner and Professional Member of the Australian Breathwork Association.

My qualifications include:

• Biodynamic Breathwork & Trauma Release System® (BBTRS®) Levels 1, 2 & 3

• Advanced Functional Breathing training through Oxygen Advantage®

• More than 650 hours of professional education in breathwork, breathing science and nervous system regulation

I believe responsible practice requires continual learning.

Breathing science is evolving rapidly, and I remain committed to ongoing professional development so my work reflects current research while staying grounded in safe, person-centred care.

Why clients choose The Guided Breath

Clients often tell me they appreciate that sessions feel both deeply supportive and highly practical.

They leave with more than an experience.

They leave with a clearer understanding of their breathing, greater awareness of their nervous system and practical tools they can integrate into everyday life.

For me, that's what success looks like.

Not creating dependence.

Helping people build confidence in their own capacity to breathe, regulate and respond to life's challenges.

My Journey

If someone had told me twenty years ago that I'd become a breathing educator, I don't think I would have believed them.

Before founding The Guided Breath, my career took me through business, education, property and interior design. On the surface, those industries seem worlds apart from the work I do today.

But when I look back, I can see the thread that has connected every chapter.

I've always been deeply curious about people.

How we learn.

How we adapt.

How our environment shapes us.

And what helps us truly thrive.

Alongside my professional career, movement became a constant in my own life. Yoga has been part of my adult life for many years, teaching me the value of presence, awareness and the profound connection between breath and movement. That journey naturally led me to Pilates, where I trained as both a Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor. Through teaching movement, I developed a deep appreciation for posture, breathing mechanics, body awareness and the remarkable capacity of the body to adapt and change.

Yet the more I learnt, the more questions I found myself asking.

Why do breathing patterns change under stress?

Why do some people struggle to access their diaphragm?

How does the nervous system influence the way we breathe?

Why can two people perform the same breathing exercise and have completely different experiences?

Those questions led me into the study of breathwork, respiratory physiology and nervous system regulation.

What began as personal exploration became professional education, and that education has grown into a lifelong commitment to understanding the extraordinary relationship between breathing, health, performance and human experience.

In many ways, I haven't changed careers as much as I've followed my curiosity.

Let's work together

Whether you're seeking one-to-one support, workplace wellbeing programs, performance breathing education or simply want to understand your breathing more deeply, I'd love to help you discover what's possible.

I don't believe better breathing is about chasing perfection.

I believe it's about developing awareness.

Because awareness creates choice.

Choice creates change.

And sometimes, learning to breathe a little differently can change far more than the way we breathe.

It can change the way we experience our lives.