Meet your instructor

I'm Valya (Val), a lawyer, Oxygen Advantage® Advanced Instructor and the founder of Breathful Being.

For much of my life, I lived in my head - chasing goals, working long hours and rarely stopping to breathe. I was so stuck in my head that I didn’t ever notice how I felt in my body. Movement wasn’t a big part of my world back then either. 

I didn’t find breathwork by seeking performance; I found it by seeking stillness and safety in a world that rewarded burnout. I spent years searching for the tool that could quiet the noise until I discovered the power of physiological control through the breath. Breathwork found me first, then movement. I practised the Wim Hof method for a while which helped foster a newfound connection to my body. I then joined an outdoor fitness Bootcamp. Since then, I have experienced firsthand how the breath can transform focus, endurance and recovery (both in sports and in my legal career). 

Breathwork became the bridge between my drive, high-performance mindset and a calmer, more embodied way of living. It taught me that strength and softness can coexist, and that balance begins with the breath. 

My personal journey drives my unique practice. I became an Oxygen Advantage® Advanced Instructor to understand the science of breathing at its deepest level. However, my approach is equally guided by the philosophy of felt presence - the art of being fully here, in body and mind. 

I have also trained in conscious connected breathwork (as a Holosomatic Breath Facilitator) and as a Mental Health First Aider. Further studies in trauma awareness with MindBody Breakthrough and contrast therapy with Thermalist® Education (Dr Susanna Soeberg) deepen my understanding of the body’s stress and recovery systems, allowing me to support clients safely and effectively across physical, emotional and nervous system regulation. 

I know what it’s like to live by striving and I am passionate about teaching you how to use your breath not just to perform better but to soften and arrive safely back home to yourself, with the professional integrity and support you deserve. 

Photo by Allegorical Studio