Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbe Kanter Jaye.
Can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I didn’t come from a religious or spiritual family. In college, I got into astrology and the Tarot, and they awakened something in me that sent me down a path to discover more. I explored several different teachings, from psychotherapy to yoga. I studied the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship, learned trauma release exercises (TRE), and participated in Buddhist meditations.
But when I discovered Breathwork, it was the most transformative healing experience I’d ever had. Early in my practice, I had an experience where my third eye opened so wide it created something I can only describe as a vortex of pure love. The doors of my perception blew off and the shell of my ego dissolved, merging me into something infinite and beautiful. A vibration inside of me kept growing in intensity. I felt like I was simultaneously laughing, crying, and in extreme bliss. It probably lasted less than half a minute, but it was so profound that I was forever changed. And I just had to have more!
As I continued doing Breathwork, I felt a big shift. I was lightening up. People and situations didn’t have the same power over me. The more I kept at it, the more joyful my life became. I’d struggled with mild depression on and off all my life, and it faded. I’d never experienced any other practice that worked like this.
I never intended to teach Breathwork, but as I continued to study and practice it, I began to realize that leading others actually helped my own healing. I’ve come to appreciate my Breath Circles as a form of spiritual creativity.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company?
My practice is Breathwork in the San Fernando Valley. I have twice-monthly Breath Circles and private sessions for people who want to:
De-stress and unwind
Deepen their spiritual awareness and make contact with their spiritual energy
Increase their intuition
Process emotional events or upheavals, and big life changes
Work on goals (whether they’re concrete projects, or the difficult inner work of changing life-long patterns that hold us back from greater freedom, love, financial well-being, etc.)
Experience fellowship within a more conscious community than those found in other parts of their lives
Breathwork calms the constant chattering of the brain, chills out the ego, and opens the heart. Participants discover that underneath their swallowed emotions and stuck energies, there’s a wellspring of joy and love bubbling up. That’s the power that flows through us all. It’s our direct connection to universal energy.
Though it may sound grandiose, Breathwork puts us in touch with true self-love. Not conditional love that our egos or other people give us. Not Hallmark card love. And it’s not the often-complicated love that we’ve inherited from our families.
Breathwork taught me that self-love is our natural state of being. It’s a tool to unwind false ideas of what love is, and to see clearly what love is not so we can stop chasing our tails. Breathwork is a channel for releasing any gritty feelings we’ve packed away, and loving ourselves through the process of letting them go! But talking about it doesn’t do this work justice; it needs to be experienced.
What sets you apart from others?
I like to weave humor into the Circles I lead. Many people looking for self-actualization are too serious about it. The quest doesn’t have to be heavy. It can and should also be fun; it’s healthy to not take the whole adventure so seriously.
Because I first came to this work with some degree of skepticism, I understand people who are suspicious about how Breathwork, meditation, or any spiritual pursuit, can make changes for the better in their lives.
I am a recording artist and performer, but I also spent many years in the business world to support my art, so I’m accustomed to relating to people from diverse backgrounds. The people who gravitate to my Circles come from all walks of life. Many are in the arts and entertainment.
Participants have experienced everything from long-needed rest and rejuvenation, all the way to deep physical and emotional healing. Each Breath Circle is unique.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When you decide you are ready to step out and lead for the first time, you sometimes tend to second-guess your abilities. Getting comfortable with leading takes trial, error, and time.
In the beginning, I wondered if others would trust me to guide them on an intimate inner journey. I’ve been certified as a Breathwork Facilitator by well-known healer David Elliott, but I’m not a trained clinician or clergy person. I was truly leaning on the Universe, and trusting that I was ready to help others.
But I really wanted to share this amazing tool, so I started by doing Breath Circles with a few friends. That first Circle was wonderful, and the Universe gave me a big thumbs-up “YES!”
That was in 2011. I now hold twice-monthly Circles as well as do private breathwork sessions with individuals and partners.
Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours?
Without a doubt. Southern California is fertile ground for spiritual practices, and has attracted spiritual seekers and ‘psychonauts’ for over a century. Living in a geographic area so close to mountains, the ocean, canyons and wildlife makes for a powerfully charged spiritual environment.
If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here?
That depends. Los Angeles is huge. There are thousands of parallel realities going on simultaneously every day, and countless niches where you can get a foothold, regardless of what you’re pursuing. And with the digital revolution, it’s easier than ever to find your tribe. But all successes need both time and persistence to take root before they bloom. You need focus and patience in a city this big.
Pricing:
- Advanced payment can be made at https://venmo.com/Abigailjaye
- The exchange for a Breath Circle is $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the Circle.
- Private & Semi-private sessions are $125.
Contact Info:
- Phone: (8one8) 2oh5-33oh3
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: inhaleexhaleabigail
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breathworkintheSFV/
Image Credit:
Abbe Kanter Jaye
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