-
Breathing is one of the most essential things we do: we take air in, let it out, and repeat this rhythm thousands of times each day.
Most of the time, breathing happens automatically, without our conscious attention. Yet breath is also one of the few body processes we can intentionally influence, giving us a direct and practical way to support the nervous system.
The way we breathe can affect our energy, focus, mood, stress levels, sleep, and ability to recover. Current research on breathing, stress physiology, and nervous system regulation increasingly shows that simple changes in breath patterns can help the body move toward greater steadiness, clarity, and ease. These tools are accessible, portable, and available to everyone.
This two-hour session offers an approachable introduction to breath as a practical tool for well-being, stress regulation, and everyday resilience. Participants will learn how different breathing patterns can influence the body and mind, and how to choose practices that support calm, focus, energy, or grounding.
The session includes a clear overview of the science behind breathing and the nervous system, guided group discussion, space for questions, and a 45-minute experiential practice incorporating several accessible breathing techniques.
Participants can expect to leave with a better understanding of their own breathing patterns and practical tools they can use on the job and in daily life to manage stress, reset attention, support emotional balance, and improve overall well-being.
-
These sessions will be offered in various locations in the Yosemite area:
July 20: Yosemite Valley (Yosemite Valley Library) with Catherine Wortmann
July 21: Wawona (Wawona Community Center) with Meg Olsen
July 22: Mather District (Evergreen Lodge) with Catherine Wortmann
July 23: Tuolumne Meadows (Picnic Tables near SAR Cache) with Catherine Wortmann
You will receive a Welcome Email upon registration with more information and location details.
-
If you have a yoga mat or blanket, please bring as our practice may include gentle movement.
We encourage you to bring anything else you need to be comfortable in a possible outdoor setting: layers, water bottle, sun protection/bug protection.
If you wish to take notes or are taking a writing-oriented workshop, it will be handy to have a journal and pen/pencil.
Optional: camp chair or Crazy Creek chair
-
Registration for this workshop includes the following:
Detailed, professional instruction
Techniques and tools to use breath as a practical tool for well-being, stress regulation, and everyday resilience
-
Yes, PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. These sessions will cap at 20 participants. If we reach max capacity there will be a waitlist.
-
No prior experience is necessary! This session is open to all who are excited to learn and explore a new skill in a supportive community setting.
-
How much does it cost?
This workshop is free, thanks to a generous grant from the Yosemite Conservancy and brought to you by Yosemite Health and Wellness in partnership with Balanced Rock.
If you’d like to support future programs like this, donations to Balanced Rock will help us continue offering accessible, subsidized experiences for years to come.
Meet Your Facilitators
CATHERINE WORTMANN
Catherine began teaching in 2013, though her own healing journey began in 2011. She has made her living pursuing her passions and purpose in life, inspiring her students to do the same. A life long resident of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and mother to three children, Catherine provides earthly wisdom and connection through all of her offerings. Catherine is a teacher, a guide and a retreat leader with Balanced Rock. She is also the sole proprietor of L.E.A.F. (a financial freedom company) and C.W. Healing (private yoga, reiki, and meditation).
Catherine is proud to be one of the senior wilderness guides for Balanced Rock, as well as offering yoga, backpacking retreats, wellness retreats and more. Prior to that, Catherine was an owner of Echo Adventure Cooperative and has been employed by the City & County of San Francisco, private companies, schools and lodges for Yoga, and wellness related work.
Catherine has trained with some of the best in the world, studying meditation with davidji. davidji is an internationally recognized stress-management expert, corporate trainer, meditation teacher, and author of the Nautilus Gold Medal winning book Sacred Powers, the critically acclaimed and Amazon #1 Bestseller, destressifying: The Real-World Guide to Personal Empowerment, Lasting Fulfillment, and Peace of Mind; and Secrets of Meditation: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace & Personal Transformation, winner of the Nautilus Book Award.
Catherine’s Reiki Master is Maureen Pua’ena O’Shaughnessy. Maureen is a Reiki Master in the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition, and is a member of The Reiki Alliance. She teaches Reiki full time, traveling between Hawaii, the mainland U.S. and Canada. She teaches classes regularly in Honolulu, has been a guest speaker for many organizations and has appeared on numerous Radio and TV shows.
MEG OLSEN
Meaghan Olsen (Meg) is a Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) and Trauma-Informed Yoga practitioner who has been teaching since 2018. She has facilitated workshops, trainings, and wellness programs for employees of Yosemite National Park, including first responders, law enforcement personnel, and park staff working in high-stress environments.
Drawing from studies in trauma-informed care, neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and somatic practices, Meg specializes in helping people better understand their nervous systems and develop practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout. Her work centers on the powerful connection between breath, body, and mind, and how simple, evidence-informed practices can support resilience, focus, and overall wellbeing.
Known for her approachable, down-to-earth teaching style, Meg blends science, humor, and real-world experience to make complex concepts accessible and immediately applicable to everyday life.
Want to speak to a human being about this workshop? Book a 15-min call to ask questions and learn more about this program!
A Special Thanks to Our Partners
