Name: The Breath Haus
Location: 2/3 Victoria Street, Windsor, 3181
Website: https://www.thebreathhaus.com.au/
Form of exercises: Breathwork/meditation
Classes we attended: LSD and Vibrations
Most suitable for: Everyone!
Caution For: People with neurological conditions, heart conditions and pregnant women.
Overall rating: 4.4 stars
Introduction
With Zoe still recovering from Wrist Surgery, The Breath Haus seemed like the perfect choice for us to try this week. Located in the basement of an apartment building in Windsor, The Breath Haus is a studio for breathwork, meditation and yin yoga. For those who are unfamiliar with Breathwork, it is the practice of using one's breathing to calm the brain, activate the parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest system) and fill and empty the lungs to their entirety which stimulates blood flow throughout the body to release toxins. Usually this is guided with different dosages of sets of breathing, for example, breathing in for 4 hold for 4 and out for 4. Additionally, breathwork assists in training our breathing muscle, the diaphragm, which makes our breathing more efficient and can assist in conditions such as back and neck pain and/or assist in your overall cardiovascular fitness.
Overall impressions
The calmness of our souls and of our hearts upon leaving was all that we needed to prove that the Breath Haus is an awesome addition to the busyness of Chapel Street. They have thought of everything to stimulate and calm the senses, from the visuals, and smells upon entry to the feel and sounds throughout the class. If you’re struggling to find the motivation and enjoyment of meditation, this is probably the place for you.
5-star criteria
Fun: 4 stars
Whilst you may not necessarily describe meditation as ‘fun’, The Breath Haus certainly curates meditation in the most enjoyable way possible. The biggest sign was that an hour class, of literally just lying there and breathing, felt like it was only 15 or 20 minutes. There is just enough stimulating the senses (e.g. music, instructions, lights) that keeps the mind able to focus mindfully without drifting off into stressful or unnecessary thoughts (of course everyone’s experience is different and if your mind does drift off this is okay too). The sets of breathing also had great variety that kept the nervous system calm yet stimulated. Warning if you’ve never tried breathwork before, you may feel a similar high to your first glass of wine!
Cost: 3.5 stars
Prices as of 19/1/24
Foundation Unlimited Membership - $49 a week (3 month lock in) (limited to 50 users)
5 pack - $150
10 pack - $280
20 pack - $500
Intro offer - $49 1 week
Single Class - $35
Online Membership - $12/week
Whilst it may seem a little pricey for what is essentially lying down and breathing - it is certainly worth the investment!
Customer experience: 4.5 stars
As already alluded to, The Breath Haus have pretty much thought of everything in terms of customer experience. Upon entering, you are immediately confronted with a beautiful art/light projection on the back wall which makes you feel as though you are part of an exhibition at the national gallery. In addition, the sweet smells or eucalyptus, soulful music and fluffy blankets ensured that the entire experience was a pleasurable one.
The only minor mishaps were that 1. Zoe’s booking had some glitches which meant that she didn’t receive the welcome emails/text messages and if not for Tamar would have had little idea on the pre-class instructions (which included not eating for 2 hours and waiting outside the building until someone was ready to come and collect you). And 2. When we arrived at the apartment building there was a slight weird feeling of not knowing we were in the right place due to it being located in a residential building with no signs (I’m assuming this is purposeful so as to not piss off any neighbours). Luckily there were a few other confused souls that made us realise we were in the right location. Oh and maybe go to the bathroom before you arrive as with only 1 toilet and 30 or so people the lines can get pretty big!
Accurate to description and effectiveness: 5 stars
The breathwork classes are described as “the perfect blend of mind-body relaxation and rejuvenation to cultivate a deep sense of inner calm.., you'll learn to quiet your mind, release tension from your body, and connect with your inner self. With our guidance, you'll be able to tap into your inner wisdom and connect with your highest self”, and we can’t disagree with that at all! We can’t think of a more efficient way to meditate than to be guided for 60 minutes with different levels and dosages of breathing. In addition, the instructions on breathing in through the belly and how to hold/breath out were very easy to follow (even for Zoe) which ensured that the techniques were safe and effective.
Accessibility and safety: 5 stars.
We would recommend this class to, well, pretty much everyone. The only populations to be cautious of are those with neurological conditions, heart conditions and pregnant women which are clearly warned before the beginning of the class. If you struggle to get on and off the floor, perhaps ring and ask if you can perform the sets on a chair or sit near the edges of the room where you can use a chair or wall to assist in standing up again. We didn’t specifically look out if there were chairs available, but we have no doubt there would be.
Overall Total: 22/25 - average 4.4/5
As if Zoe’s incessant yawning upon leaving wasn’t sign enough, it’s safe to say we loved the Breath Haus. In the crazy hustle and bustle of inner city Melbourne in 2024, we all know that we need to put time aside to stop, think and breathe. And to be able to do so in an underground dojo of visual and auditory sensory pleasure, is just a bonus. Go and try out the Breath Haus and thank us later.
Listen to our us discuss The Breath Haus on our podcast
If you want to read more about how we calculate our star ratings click here
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