Our Services
Your Nervous System Is Always Learning. So Can You.
Maybe you've read the books, talked it through, tried to relax, exercised, meditated, or taken a vacation. And maybe it worked ... for a few days.
And yet, you find yourself overthinking, reacting in ways you wish you wouldn't, lying awake at night, or feeling like you're always “on.”
But here's the thing. Many of your responses happen automatically, before you're even aware of them. Understanding how your nervous system works can help you recognize those patterns and create new possibilities.
At The Nervous System Studio, we combine nervous system education, breathwork, movement, and somatic practices to help you manage stress, build resilience, improve performance, and support lifelong brain and body health.
Awareness creates choice. Choice creates the opportunity for lasting change.
I'm committed to making nervous system education accessible to all. If the investment isn't right for you right now, send me a note, and we'll find a way.
Our Offerings
From 175 US dollars
150 US dollars
150 US dollars
From 175 US dollars
150 US dollars
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50 US dollars
Ended
40 US dollars
Ended
40 US dollars
Why I Built The Nervous System Studio
Hi, I'm Karen. Yes, the good kind.
For nearly 30 years, I worked at the highest levels of political strategy and communications, advising leaders, navigating high-stakes situations, and teaching around the world, including in regions experiencing conflict. In 2008, I founded and built a multimillion-dollar political consulting firm, leading teams and helping shape some of the country's most consequential campaigns.
It was demanding work, and over time, the constant pressure and responsibility took a toll. Add a divorce, chronic pain, and the challenges of blending a family, and I came to know firsthand what burnout, something I'd only heard about, truly felt like. It was overwhelming.
So I had to take a hard look at my life. What I thought was "drive," I began to recognize as a lifelong habit of pushing through, taking on more than I needed to, and ignoring the signals my body had been sending me for years.
I've always been curious about human behavior, but I had to start getting more curious about my own. That led me down a path of studying neuroscience, trauma, breathwork, shadow and parts work, and the relationship between the brain and body.
I had to question my own assumptions, challenge familiar patterns, and learn that just because something feels natural doesn't mean it's serving me. And I've learned that understanding why we do something isn't always enough to change it. Sometimes we need to experience something different before we can begin to respond differently.
My mother's experience with dementia deepened my interest in how our brains change throughout life and what we can do to support cognitive health as we age.
I created The Nervous System Studio to bring science, education, and experiential practices into everyday life. Through breathwork, movement, and somatic practices, I help people understand their nervous systems, navigate stress, improve performance, and develop new skills that support lifelong brain and body health.
The goal isn't to be calm all the time or to change every automatic response. It's about recognizing our patterns, discerning when they serve us and when they don't, and discovering that we have more choices than we might realize.
I'm still learning. Still practicing. Still human. But I truly believe that awareness creates choice. And choice creates the opportunity for lasting change.
Professional Training & Certifications
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Internationally Certified, Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator
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Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathing Instructor
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Certified Restorative Breathwork® Facilitator
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Certified Pranayama Teacher
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Certified Yin Yoga Instructor
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Certified Somatic Wellness
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TRE® Certification (in progress)
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Internal Family Systems-Informed, The IFS Institute
Continuing Education & Professional Development
I pursue ongoing education in neuroscience, trauma physiology, behavioral science, and somatic practices, learning from leading researchers and practitioners in these fields, including through extensive coursework with the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM).
Teaching & Mentorship
In addition to facilitating sessions and workshops, I mentor breathwork facilitators in training, supporting their development of practical skills, ethical awareness, and confidence as practitioners with Unity Breathwork’s 450-Hour Breathwork Facilitator Certification.
I built this studio because I know what it feels like to carry too much for too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Science:
Research shows that your breath isn't just keeping you alive - it could be your most powerful tool for change.
We’re constantly bombarded by wellness trends promising quick fixes. Breathwork sometimes gets lumped in with them. But the research tells a different story. Universities and medical institutions are now validating what practitioners have long observed: breathwork produces measurable physiological and psychological effects, making it a valuable complement to traditional therapy.
Why Breath Matters
According to a 2023 scientific review published in Life, breathing practices may influence stress, emotional regulation, autonomic nervous system function, and overall well-being. The findings highlight the close relationship between the breath and the nervous system and help explain why breathing practices are increasingly studied as tools to support resilience and self-regulation.
Your Breathing Pattern Shapes How You Feel
According to a 2025 study published in Current Biology, researchers identified individuals with nearly 97% accuracy based solely on nasal breathing patterns. The study also found associations between breathing patterns and measures of anxiety, sleep, and behavior, suggesting that how we breathe may be closely linked to both brain function and emotional well-being.
Measurable Brain Changes
Researchers at the Clinical Neuroscience Department of Brighton and Sussex Medical School used advanced brain imaging to observe people during conscious connected breathing. They found that this rhythmic pattern activated regions tied to emotion and memory, supporting natural release and insight.
Deep Emotional Access
Real-time tracking confirmed that participants could safely access and process stored emotion and memory. The deeper the breathwork session, the greater the positive shift. Across studies, participants reported less fear, fewer negative emotions, and no panic reactions.
Psychedelic-Level Benefits Without Substances
In related studies, scientists described breathwork as a “powerful, non-pharmacological tool” capable of producing metabolic and neurological changes comparable to those seen in psychedelic-assisted therapy, yet achieved entirely through breath and music.
Clinical Improvements in PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression
Research from the Ernst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience in Berlin and the MIND Foundation in Frankfurt found that participants’ well-being improved within a week of conscious connected breathwork, with reductions in depressive symptoms. Other breathwork studies have shown that:
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PTSD survivors experience major reductions in trauma symptoms
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People with anxiety report better sleep and emotional regulation
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Burned-out healthcare workers show lower stress and fatigue
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Those with depression report improved mood and vitality
Breathwork Physiology
During conscious connected breathwork, carbon dioxide levels drop and blood pH rises (becoming more alkaline). Low CO2 causes blood vessels to constrict slightly. At the same time, the Bohr Effect means hemoglobin holds oxygen more tightly, temporarily altering oxygen delivery to tissues. These changes can create tingling or muscle tightness while increasing activity in emotional and memory centers of the brain. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex (the "thinking mind") quiets, allowing deeper awareness to surface. As normal breathing resumes, the body naturally rebalances.
The Science of TRE®
TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is based on the observation that neurogenic tremors are a natural physiological response that may help the body recover from stress and reduce chronic muscular tension. Research has reported reductions in perceived stress along with improvements in well-being, self-efficacy, and quality of life among TRE participants. Emerging studies have also identified changes in heart rate variability (HRV), suggesting TRE may influence autonomic nervous system regulation and stress resilience. Although the evidence base continues to develop, current findings support TRE as a promising somatic approach for stress reduction and nervous system health.
What This Means for You
The evidence is clear: breathwork and trauma release changes how the brain functions, how the nervous system regulates stress, and how we experience emotion. These are not placebo effects; they’re measurable biological shifts that support real healing and transformation.