Energy Body Breathwork and Somatic Release in Virginia Beach
Class led by Victoria Duarte, mindfulness and somatic coach and trained breathwork practitioner
There is literal electricity in the human body. Our nervous system runs on electrochemical signals: neurons fire using ionic exchanges, muscles contract through electrical impulses, and even our heartbeat is governed by its own internal electrical system. Devices like EEGs and EKGs measure this energy in real time.
On Wednesday, October 28, Healing Arts Center in Virginia Beach is hosting a 60-minute breathwork class called Energy Body Breathwork and Somatic Release. The class is led by Victoria Duarte, a trained breathwork practitioner and a mindfulness and somatic coach with more than fifteen years of practice. Each part of the class name has a specific meaning, and this post explains all three. It also offers one short practice to try at home before class.
What Is the Energy Body?
The energy body is a term for two things: the measurable electricity that runs the human body, and our awareness of how energy and sensation move through us.
Many wisdom traditions recognize an energy system that influences our health and well-being. Chinese medicine calls it Qi, Ayurveda calls it Prana, and Japanese tradition calls it Ki. These are different languages pointing to the same truth, which is that we are more than just a thinking mind. We are living, breathing fields of energy.
When we speak of the energy body, we are talking about both the measurable bioelectricity that drives our physiology and the subtle, intuitive awareness of how energy moves through us. Eugene Gendlin gave that awareness a name, the felt sense, which is the body's way of holding and processing complex inner experiences. It is different from a thought or a feeling. It is a deeper bodily knowing, often described as a sensation, a vibration, or a "charge" in the body. Learning to notice the felt sense is the purpose of energy body work.
What Is Breathwork, and How Does It Relate to Energy?
Breathwork is the practice of changing the pace and depth of our breathing on purpose.
The relationship between breath and energy starts with basic biology. Breathing is automatic and easy to overlook, and it is the first thing the body needs to stay alive. Each inhale brings oxygen into the lungs, and the blood delivers it to every organ. Cells use that oxygen to release energy from the food we eat, and the process produces carbon dioxide, which leaves the body on the exhale.
Breathing is also one of the few automatic functions we can take over on purpose. We can slow it, lengthen it, and direct our attention to it, which is why guided breathing is the starting point for working with the energy body.
In guided breathing, we slow the breath, rest our attention or a hand on one area of the body, and stay with the sensation long enough to notice it change. Slow breathing gives the mind one thing to follow, and many people feel tension ease in the shoulders, jaw, and stomach. A 2018 systematic review in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience looked at 15 studies of slow breathing in healthy adults. It linked the practice with more relaxation and comfort and with fewer symptoms of anxiety.
What Is Somatic Release?
Somatic release is the easing of physical tension that can happen when we breathe slowly and give a tight or heavy area our full attention. Somatic simply means "of the body."
Emotions are part of this too. Naming a sensation and giving it our attention can make a difficult emotion easier to be with. Over time, we get better at noticing an old pattern while it is happening, which gives us a choice about what to do next. Nothing about release is forced, and each person sets their own pace.
Try This Before Class
Pause for a moment and take one slow, full breath. Bring your attention to your shoulders, your jaw, and your stomach, and notice what each one is telling you. Your body may be asking for rest, movement, or simply a pause. Your body speaks in whispers such as fatigue, tension, and foggy thoughts long before it shouts. Learning to listen to these early cues is the first step in working with the energy body.
What One Class Can and Cannot Do
One hour is enough to learn the basic practice and to feel how your body responds to slow, guided breathing. One hour will not resolve long-standing stress or pain, and we will not promise that it will.
Victoria is a coach and is not a therapist. This class supports well-being, and it does not replace medical or mental health care. If you are pregnant or have a heart or breathing condition, please check with your doctor before joining a guided breathing class. A new or worsening symptom is a reason to see a doctor.
Class Details
Class: Energy Body Breathwork and Somatic Release
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Where: Healing Arts Center, 4652 Haygood Rd A, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Led by: Victoria Duarte, mindfulness and somatic coach and trained breathwork practitioner
Cost: Current pricing is listed on the Vagaro class page.
Registration: Pre-registration is required. Reserve your spot on Vagaro, or call (757) 251-9301 with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is energy body breathwork?
Energy body breathwork is guided breathing paired with attention to sensation in the body. The practice uses slow breathing to help people notice the felt sense, which is the body's awareness of an inner experience.
What is somatic release?
Somatic release is the easing of physical tension that can happen during slow breathing and focused attention on the body. Each person sets their own pace, and nothing is forced.
Who teaches the class?
Victoria Duarte teaches the class. She is a trained breathwork practitioner, a mindfulness and somatic coach with more than fifteen years of practice, and a co-founder of Healing Arts Center.
Where is the breathwork class in Virginia Beach?
The class meets at Healing Arts Center, 4652 Haygood Rd A, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. It runs on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, and pre-registration is required through Vagaro.
What can one breathwork class do?
One hour is enough to learn the basic practice and to feel how your body responds to slow, guided breathing. One class will not resolve long-standing stress or pain.
Who should check with a doctor before a breathwork class?
People who are pregnant or who have a heart or breathing condition should check with a doctor before joining. This class supports well-being and does not replace medical or mental health care.
About Victoria Duarte
Victoria Duarte is a mindfulness and somatic coach and a co-founder of Healing Arts Center in Virginia Beach. She has practiced for more than fifteen years and is a trained breathwork practitioner, as well as a trauma-informed Reiki and meditation practitioner. Victoria teaches clients the importance of creating space for self-compassion by tuning into what the body is communicating and finding cues of safety. To work with her one on one, schedule a session on Vagaro.
