What is Westchester Breathes?

Westchester Breathes is an ongoing program offered by the Westchester Library System offering an experience of gentle movement, breathing and relaxation exercises that reduce stress and anxiety and increase a sense of calm and well-being.  These exercises are simple and evidence-based – which is to say …they work!

Westchester Breathes programming – offered online and in-person – gives you the opportunity to learn BREATH-BODY-MIND™ practices.  To invite Westchester Breathes to your organization or learn more about the Resilience Coalition from which this activity evolved, please contact us by email.

How can I participate in Westchester Breathes?

NEWS!!! Free Breath-Body-Mind training opportunities supported by the NY State Office for Mental Health.

  • BBM Level 1 Teacher Training – Applicants for this training are required to have already completed the BBM Fundamentals Course (a 12-hour program) as well as attended at least 6 weekly group practice sessions taught by senior BBM teachers. Click the link for more information and to register.
  • BBM Level 2 Teacher Training – Applicants for this training are required to have already completed BBM Level 1 Teacher Training and should have their own established personal practice. Click the link for more information and to apply.

Via Zoom – Two 2024 OPEN SESSIONS

The Spring series has ended….stay tuned for Fall 2024.

To be notified when we schedule the Fall 2024 series, send an email to outreach@wlsmail.org.  (We will only use your email to notify you of upcoming programs.)

SCROLL DOWN FOR CLASSES WITH OTHER BREATH-BODY-MIND TEACHERS WORKING IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE!

In-Person Classes

Westchester Breathes will be hosted by the JCC-Mid Westchester (Scarsdale) this fall.

Details to be posted soon. Send an email to outreach@wlsmail.org if you’d like to be notified!  Lovely space and ample parking.

Westchester Breathes Wellness Workshops – Returning this Fall – In Person and Online

Thank you to those who joined for the May 31 and June 1 workshops.

Based on the interest and feedback, we are planning to schedule additional workshops this fall.  The workshop would be offered both as an online program and, for those who can make it to Elmsford, NY – an in-person workshop (space limits us to 12 participants).  Possible dates are September 20 and 21. Send an email to outreach@wlsmail.org if you’d like to be notified when scheduling is finalized!  

What is BREATH-BODY-MIND™?

Westchester Breathes is grounded in the work of Dr. Richard Brown and Dr. Patricia Gerbarg – two clinical psychologists who identified, studied, and teach  simple, effective voluntary regulated breathing exercises shown to reduce the experience of stress and increase the ability of the body to self-soothe and heal. Learn about their research, publications and workshops at Breath-Body-Mind.com.  Learn about the impact of their work in disaster relief at Breath Body Mind Foundation.org

The work to make this program available in Westchester County emerged from the work of the Westchester Resilience Coalition.

How can I get involved in BREATH-BODY-MIND™?

More learning and practice opportunities

See the calendar below for BBM sessions with senior teachers who have worked with Westchester Breathes.

Click the here for yet workshops and teacher trainings offered directly by BREATH–BODY-MIND™.

Opportunities from the New York State Trauma Informed Network and Resource Center (TINRC)

Thanks to a multi-year grant, these practice and learning opportunities will be continuing and evolving state-wide through 2025.  ALL of the BREATH–BODY-MIND™ practice sessions, workshops, trainings, and opportunities are available to all New Yorkers and are free of charge.

TINRC BBM Practice Sessions 

Practice Sessions offer basic gentle BBM practices to soothe, balance, and strengthen the nervous system. These sessions are offered every Tuesday at 6am for 30 minutes, 12pm for 30 minutes, and 8pm for 45 minutes. Open to anyone. Offered for free through the New York State Trauma-Informed Network.

TINRC BBM Teacher Training

BBM Level 1 and Level 2 Teacher Trainings are 36 hour live online program spread scross several weeks.  Training is offered for free through the New York State Trauma-Informed Network. Attendees must have attended a 12-hour BBM Foundations workshop before enrolling in Level 1 Training.  2024 sessions will be announced soon.  Please use the link below to be added to a waiting/notification list.