Breathwork FAQs

What is breathwork?
​Breathwork is the guided use of intentional breathing to support relaxation, nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and spiritual groundedness. It uses specific breathing patterns to help the body engage its natural stress-response and relaxation systems. The practice itself is ancient and has been used for thousands of years across many spiritual and contemplative traditions.

Breathwork sessions offered through this practice are for wellness, educational, and spiritual support purposes only and are not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care.
What might people experience?
Participants may experience a wide range of responses, including:
  • Deep relaxation and stress release
  • A calmer nervous system
  • Improved clarity, focus, and emotional balance
  • A greater sense of peace, presence, and renewal
  • Feeling lighter, grounded, or uplifted
Each experience is unique. While there is no guarantee of any specific physical, emotional, or spiritual outcome, some people experience primarily physical relaxation, while others may notice emotional release, personal insight, or spiritual reflection. Emotional responses can occur, and participants are responsible for their own post-session care and support as needed.
What can I expect in a breathwork session?
You’ll be invited to lie comfortably on a mat, supported with blankets and pillows if needed. Music will be playing throughout the session, and I will gently guide you with verbal cues so you always know what to do.

Your only job is to breathe and listen to your body. You are never forced to go faster or deeper than what feels right for you. You can slow down, pause, or rest at any time.

Some people feel deeply relaxed and grounded. Others may experience emotional release, insight, or a sense of inner stillness. You may feel warmth, tingling, lightness, heaviness, or simply a quiet calm. Every experience is unique.
You may leave feeling peaceful, clear, thoughtful, emotional, energized, or simply more present. Whatever arises is welcome and supported with care.

Breathwork is not about performing or pushing — it’s about allowing your body and nervous system to gently release, reset, and restore balance in their own way.

What to wear / bring: Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to breathe and move easily. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel, a warm blanket and pillow for comfort, an eye mask or long scarf to soften visual input, and a journal or any personal item that helps you feel at ease.
is breathwork safe?
When facilitated by a trained practitioner and supported by appropriate screening, breathwork is generally considered a low-risk wellness practice for many individuals. All sessions are:
  • Substance-free
  • Trauma-informed
  • Gently facilitated
  • Voluntary, always consent-based, and participants may stop at any time
As with any wellness practice that involves physical and emotional engagement, individual responses will vary.
Who is breathwork for?
Breathwork may be supportive for:
  • Individuals experiencing everyday stress, grief, or fatigue
  • Those seeking peace, clarity, and nervous system support
  • Anyone desiring deeper presence, prayerful reflection, or renewal
  • People feeling “burnt out” or overwhelmed
It may also benefit those who already feel well and wish to strengthen their emotional, spiritual, and physical resilience through intentional self-connection.
Who should not participate in breathwork?
You should not participate if you:
  • Are pregnant
  • Have conditions involving the heart, lungs, cardiovascular or vascular systems, blood pressure, bones, eyes, neurological function (such as epilepsy, stroke, seizure, or TIA), or serious mental health conditions
  • Have had recent surgery or injury (medical clearance required)
Gentler options are always available. Guided meditation and Reiki offer deeply restorative experiences and often produce beautiful results without the intensity of breathwork.
If you’re ever unsure, please consult with your primary healthcare provider. Participation is voluntary and involves personal responsibility, as with any wellness practice. Your safety always comes first.
All participants complete a medical waiver prior to participating.

Reiki & Reiki Sound Healing FAQs

What is Reiki?
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive practice that invites deep relaxation, emotional calm, and spiritual grounding. It is received in quiet stillness, through light touch or hands resting just above the body, creating space for the nervous system to settle and the spirit to rest.

I am a Reiki Master, certified directly by William Rand, with lineage tracing back to Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki. I practice Usui Holy Fire® III Reiki, a refined form known for its peaceful, restorative quality. Many people describe their sessions as calming, clarifying, and deeply renewing — a sacred pause for the body, mind, and soul.
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Reiki is not a replacement for medical care and may be received as a gentle, supportive complement.
What Can People Experience During or After Reiki?
​Every experience is unique. Many people feel deep relaxation, peace, emotional release, warmth, tingling, clarity, or a sense of grounding and renewal. Some people feel subtle shifts, while others have more noticeable emotional or spiritual experiences. There is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki — your session will unfold exactly as it is meant to for you.
What Can I Expect in a Reiki Session?
Your session begins with a gentle check-in where I ask about your intention, comfort level, and any medical considerations or areas of sensitivity so I can ensure touch is always safe and supportive.

You will remain fully clothed and lie or sit comfortably on a massage table or lounger, with blankets available for warmth. Soft music will be playing throughout the session to support relaxation. If you’d like, I can also offer a guided meditation or quiet prayer at the beginning to help you settle inward.

During the session, Reiki is offered through gentle hands-on placement or with hands hovering just above the body — always with your consent. Many people enter a deeply relaxed, dream-like or meditative state.

After the session, you’ll have a few quiet moments to rest, take a few breaths, and enjoy a glass of water before getting up.

If you choose, I then offer a gentle sharing circle. This is a quiet, supportive space where clients may share what they experienced — whether that’s a feeling, an image, a sense of clarity, emotional release, or even a new perspective on a situation in their life. Some people leave with a felt sense of peace, others with insight, direction, or a softened heart. Sharing is always optional and held with care.
Is Reiki Safe?
Yes — Reiki is considered a very safe, gentle, and non-invasive practice. It does not involve physical manipulation, pressure, or force. Touch is always light, respectful, and based on your comfort and consent.

Reiki is used extensively in hospitals, hospice settings, and long-term care homes to support relaxation, emotional comfort, and overall well-being. It is often offered alongside medical care as a complementary support.
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Reiki is not a replacement for medical treatment and is received as a gentle, supportive addition to it.
Who Is Reiki For?
​Reiki is for anyone seeking:
  • Deep relaxation and stress relief
  • Emotional balance
  • Nervous system calming
  • Spiritual grounding and renewal
  • Support during life transitions
  • A quiet, peaceful space to rest and reset
People of all belief systems receive Reiki. You do not need to hold any particular spiritual views to benefit.
What Is Reiki Sound Healing?
Reiki Sound Healing blends the gentle, restorative energy of Reiki with the soothing vibrations of sound instruments such as drums, singing bowls, chimes, or tuning forks. Sound helps calm the nervous system and quiet the mind, while Reiki supports emotional balance and spiritual grounding.

Together, this combination is especially powerful in guiding the body into deep rest and helping people soften, reset, and reconnect within.

Death Doula & Compassionate Caregiver FAQs

What is a death doula?
​A Death Doula is a non-medical, holistic guide who supports individuals and families emotionally, spiritually, and practically before, during, and after death. My role is to help people feel informed, prepared, supported, and less afraid as they move through one of life’s most sacred transitions.

I support both the person who is dying and the people who love them — through planning, bedside presence, legacy work, vigil support, and grief care.
What does a death doula actually do?
My role includes support across the entire end-of-life journey, which may involve:
  • Advanced care planning and preparing for future wishes
  • Education on what to expect as death approaches
  • Legacy work and life reflection
  • Bedside vigil and continuous presence when needed
  • Emotional, spiritual, and family support
  • Practical planning, checklists, and paperwork guidance
  • Support with contacting the funeral home
  • Grief and bereavement support after death
My work helps families feel less overwhelmed, more prepared, and more grounded — so they can focus on love, presence, and peace rather than fear and confusion.

Who Are Death Doula Services For?
​These services are for:
  • Individuals wishing to prepare for end of life or approaching end of life
  • Families supporting a loved one who is dying
  • Caregivers feeling overwhelmed or unsure of next steps
  • Seniors wanting to plan ahead with clarity and dignity
  • Anyone seeking a more peaceful, supported dying process
Support is always personalized for both the individual and the family.
What Is a Compassionate Caregiver?
​As a Compassionate Caregiver, I provide steady emotional, spiritual, and practical support for those who are aging, ill, or in vulnerable transition. This includes quiet companionship, prayer or meditation if desired, gentle conversation, and calm presence when things feel uncertain.

This role often overlaps with death doula work and can also stand on its own.
How Do You Support the Whole Person?
​My work follows a holistic model of care that supports:
  • The physical experience (comfort, environment, presence)
  • The emotional experience (fear, grief, reassurance, processing)
  • The social experience (family dynamics, communication, connection)
  • The spiritual experience (meaning, prayer, reflection, peace, closure)
By tending to the whole person — and the whole family — the journey becomes more grounded, meaningful, and supported.
What can i expect when working with you?
We begin with a complimentary 15-minute call to understand your situation and determine what type of support may be helpful. Then together, we clarify needs and create a thoughtful plan of care. We also agree on the scope of work, duration of support, and cost before moving forward. 
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From there, care unfolds at your pace and according to what is most needed in the moment. Some visits focus on planning and preparation. Others are quiet bedside presence. Some involve conversation, prayer, reflection, or space for emotional release.

There is no fixed agenda — only what is supportive, respectful, and needed in that moment.
Do You Replace Hospice, Nurses, Doctors, or Clergy?
​No — I do not replace medical professionals, hospice teams, or clergy. I work alongside them to provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support that complements medical and pastoral care.
Is This a Religious Service?
No, my care is spiritually gentle and faith-respectful. I support people of all belief systems. Prayer, scripture, ritual, or spiritual conversation are offered only if welcomed. The individual’s beliefs always guide the experience.
do you support families after death as well?
Support does not end at the moment of death. I continue to walk alongside families through the early days and weeks that follow, offering both emotional and practical care during a tender and often overwhelming time.
This may include:
  • Grief and bereavement support
  • Emotional support and gentle processing of the experience
  • Spiritual care, prayer, or reflection if desired
  • Support with funeral arrangements and ceremonies
  • Guidance with celebrations of life
  • Assistance with practical details such as catering and paperwork
  • Gentle guidance through the early stages of grief
Families do not have to navigate this alone. Care continues in a steady, respectful, and compassionate way.
Who Should Not Use Death Doula or Caregiver Services?
​These services are not appropriate for medical emergencies, psychiatric crises, or situations requiring immediate clinical intervention. If urgent medical or mental health care is needed, appropriate professionals should always be contacted first.

If you are unsure whether this support is appropriate for your situation, you are always welcome to reach out for a gentle, no-pressure conversation.

& More

​WHAT MAKES MICHELLE'S APPROACH UNIQUE?
My name is Michelle Barberi, and Roots to Rise reflects the heart of my approach — helping people feel deeply rooted in safety, faith, and presence, so they can gently rise into clarity, peace, renewal, and meaningful transition.

What makes my approach unique is not just what I offer, but how I walk with people. I create spaces where people feel safe to soften, to be real, to exhale, and to be held without needing to perform, explain, defend who they are, or rush their process. Whether someone is moving through healing, emotional release, uncertainty, illness, end-of-life, or grief, the foundation is always the same: steady presence, compassion, and respect.

My approach is spiritually inclusive, trauma-informed, and guided by care, consent, and deep respect for each individual’s path. I support the whole person — body, heart, mind, and spirit — across every season of life, holding both the roots and the rising with equal care.

Release. Renew. Rise
Release the heavy. Renew the heart. Rise whole.

Based in London, Ontario, Canada