Artwork by Jason Parete, 2022

Artwork by Jason Parete, 2022

Artwork by Sophie Hinch, 2022

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Our lives are held together by breath. This session, we will be joined by special guest Jason Parete, who will guide us through an embodied session that explores what the breath does for us.

All together, they share a story. Explore what this story looks like to you! 

Create an interconnection between 3 breaths:

1. Yoga breath for mind-body connection
2. Breathe for movement & flow
3. Breathe to activate throat chakra (sound)

Suggested Materials: 

• paper and mark-making tools (pencils, charcoal, markers...)
• Comfortable clothing for breathing exercises
• Space to move (arm span) and/or sturdy chair

3 Breathing Techniques 

Explore how your breath shows up in different ways. For each technique:

• Get into a comfortable position, either sitting or laying on your back.
• Try to keep your eyes closed. 
• After each breathing technique, complete a mindfulness check-in by using a pencil & paper to jot down your observations. 

Relaxation + Grounding: 

1. Mind-Body Connection 
   • Ujjayi pranayama “life force”
   • Seated or lying on your back
2. Movement / Flow
   • Yoga asana
   • Seated or standing
3. Sound Vibration
   • Throat chakra
   • Seated or standing

Mindfulness Check-In

Reflect on the various breathing techniques:

• Did any emotions emerge?
• Did you notice differences between exercises?
• What body sensations did you observe?
• Did memories, images, colours emerge?
• How do you feel? Compared to when we started?

Art-Making

Reflect and create a work of art inspired by the breathing exercises. You may want to focus on: 

• The cyclical nature of the breath (the rise and fall, the inhale and exhale)
• Repetition, shapes, & patterns
• Connection to body, emotions, sensations
• Allow the breath to guide your art movements
• Explore mixed mediums to represent the breath
• Explore this as an intimate & authentic experience

About the Guest Facilitator: Jason Parete 

Jason Parete is the co-founder of GoBe, a social business that creates products and opportunities that inspire connections everyday. He is passionate about developing proactive solutions in the areas of identity and belonging that are found in:  homelessness, mental health & wellness, expressing sexuality & gender, and suicide prevention.  Jason is instrumental in recruiting progressive thought leaders across specific disciplines to collaborate a unique GoBe perspective that can have applications in everyday life and our collective future. A trained yoga instructor, Jason incorporates breath work in his everyday life from yoga, to cycling. Jason is currently and AGW Intern, completing his studies in Visual Art & Psychology and hopes to begin his Masters of Social Work this coming fall.