Frequently Asked Questions
this page is designed to help you find what you're looking for.
if you don't see your question here, reach out at connect@collectivelywell.com. shannon reads every message personally.
about
collectively well
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collectively well is a trauma-informed breathwork and somatic wellness practice based on kumeyaay land in san diego, california, founded and led by shannon cury (they/them). collectively well offers 1:1 breathwork coaching, digital detox programming, monthly virtual community breathwork, corporate wellness workshops (CW@Work), holistic behavioral health services, weekly in-person breathwork classes in san diego, and the collectively well enough podcast. all 1:1 and virtual offerings are available to clients worldwide.
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collectively well sits at the intersection of personal healing and collective liberation, approached through a decolonial lens. this isn't wellness as a productivity hack or a self-optimization project, it's embodiment as reclamation: of your body, your nervous system, and who you are under who you've been, inside a system that was never built to let you rest. shannon (breathwork teacher & speaker) spent nearly a decade in corporate leadership at google before becoming a GPBA-certified breathwork guide and trauma-informed yoga teacher, and brings lived experience as a queer neurodiverse cancer survivor to every session. that combination (the clinical and the sacred, corporate fluency and embodied practice) is what makes the work land differently than most wellness spaces.
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yes, trauma-informed practice is foundational to everything collectively well offers. that means sessions are consent-based, paced to your nervous system, and never forced. shannon's practitioner lineage draws on GPBA breathwork certification, 200-hour trauma-informed yoga training, and somatic embodiment work approached through a decolonial framework, with roots in shannon's own syrian and irish ancestry. all collectively well facilitators have taken trauma informed training while honoring the medicine, their ancestry and their lineage too. nothing here is about bypassing what's hard. it's about staying with it long enough for something real to shift.
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unless otherwise noted, every offering (1:1 coaching, weekly classes, CW@Work, the digital detox, the monthly reset) is led personally by shannon. behavioral health facility sessions are the one standing exception: those are also led by other collectively well facilitators, trained and trauma-informed in the same way, working under the collectively well umbrella. as collectively well grows, additional facilitators may also join for other offerings, and that will always be named clearly wherever it applies, on the booking page, in the confirmation, in the FAQ itself. if something doesn't say otherwise, you're working directly with shannon.
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collectively well is based in san diego, california, on kumeyaay land. shannon teaches weekly in-person breathwork classes at the den (normal heights, tuesdays) and indie yoga (ocean beach, thursdays), and offers 1:1 coaching, corporate workshops, and the digital detox program virtually to clients anywhere.
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collectively well works with people navigating burnout, cancer survivorship, career and life transitions, and anyone ready to slow down and rebuild a relationship with their own body. the work is affirming and accessible for queer and gender-expansive folks, and for anyone who wants their healing connected to something bigger than their own comfort. you don't need to be "into wellness" or have any breathwork experience. you just need to be done managing your life and ready to start living it.
about breathwork
& somatic healing
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breathwork is the intentional, conscious use of the breath to directly influence the nervous system. it's one of the fastest ways to move stored tension and emotion through the body and back into a felt sense of balance. shannon's approach draws on trauma-informed conscious connected breathwork, GPBA methodology, and somatic embodiment practice, so the work is felt, not just talked about.
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somatic healing works with the body directly, not just the story about what happened. talk therapy is enormously valuable, and a lot of shannon's clients arrive having outgrown what talk therapy alone could offer them, ready to go deeper into their body than conversation can reach. shannon's own modalities include trauma-informed breathwork and yin yoga (part of her 200-hour trauma-informed yoga training), both slow, nervous-system-paced practices that work with the body directly. breathwork and somatic coaching help you notice what's held in the body (tension, breath patterns, nervous system state) and work with it directly, which is often where sustainable shifts happen.
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a decolonial lens means looking honestly at how capitalism and colonialism show up in the nervous system, not just in the news. a lot of mainstream wellness culture treats healing as an individual optimization project, disconnected from the systems that made us sick in the first place. shannon's work names that connection directly: spirituality without social justice is escapism, and real embodiment work has to hold both the personal and the political. this shows up in the practice itself, not just the language around it.
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every session starts with a real check-in: where you are, what you're carrying, what feels alive right now. the breath practice itself is guided and immersive, and most people feel something shift during or after, whether that's deep relaxation, emotional release, more clarity, or all three at once. sessions hold warmth and humor alongside the heavy stuff. this is deep work, but it doesn't have to be humorless.
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yes, and it's one of shannon's core areas of specialization. shannon is a cancer survivor themself (primary mediastinal b-cell lymphoma) and has worked extensively with people navigating treatment and survivorship, including through do.cancer. breathwork can support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and reconnecting with a body that treatment made feel unfamiliar. always loop in your medical team if you have specific health concerns. if you are navigating life after a cancer diagnosis, reach out to shannon directly for free breathwork support through doCancer.
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this is exactly who trauma-informed breathwork is built for. shannon's facilitation is grounded, paced, and responsive to what's actually happening in the room or on the call, not a fixed script everyone moves through the same way. if you have specific concerns, reach out before booking and shannon will help you figure out if it's the right fit.
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none. most people who start with shannon are brand new to breathwork, or have only tried a class or app before. you just need to show up as you are.
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yes. 1:1 virtual breathwork and coaching are available to clients anywhere, alongside the in-person weekly classes in san diego.
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start with a weekly class (the den or indie yoga, both drop-in) or the monthly reset, shannon's monthly virtual community breathwork. both are lower-commitment and lower-cost than booking a private session, and a great way to feel the work before going deeper into 1:1 coaching.
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booking takes three steps: 1) choose a session type, a single 1:1 breathwork session or a breathwork package through acuity, or apply for the authentic shift coaching container before payment, 2) schedule a time that works on shannon's calendar, and 3) join the session over video from wherever you are. you'll get a confirmation email right after booking. add the session to your own calendar from there since it doesn't get added automatically. you'll also recieve a reminder email 24 hours before your session.
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meditation is largely a passive, observational practice. you're witnessing your thoughts or your natural breath without changing it. breathwork is active: you're consciously directing the breath to work with the nervous system and move stored tension or emotion, not just observe it. a lot of people who've struggled to stick with meditation find breathwork more accessible, because there's something for the body to do, not just the mind to sit with.
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yes, completely. shaking, crying, laughing, tingling, or a wave of emotion moving through are all normal parts of the body releasing stored tension, and none of it is required either. some sessions are quiet and internal, some are loud and physical. whatever shows up for you is the right response. shannon's trauma-informed facilitation holds space for the full range without pushing you toward a particular experience.
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many people feel a shift after a single session, whether that's calm, clarity, or an emotional release. lasting nervous system change (better sleep, lower baseline anxiety, more resilience under stress) tends to build with consistency over weeks or months, which is part of why the authentic shift is structured as a 6-month container rather than a one-off. healing isn't linear, and it isn't a race.
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certain breathwork techniques aren't appropriate for some heart conditions, respiratory conditions, or pregnancy. always loop in your doctor before booking if any of this applies to you, and mention it to shannon ahead of time so the session can be adapted or you can be pointed toward what's actually safe for your body.
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a legitimate trauma-informed facilitator should be able to tell you their training hours, certifying body, and how they screen for contraindications before a session. shannon is GPBA-certified, completed a 400-hour trauma-informed breathwork training with the breath liberation society, and holds a 200-hour trauma-informed yoga certification, on top of nearly a decade of corporate facilitation experience at google. be wary of anyone promising to "clear" or "cure" trauma in a single session. that's not how nervous systems work.
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a single session is a standalone experience, good for a reset, a specific intention, or trying the work before committing to more. 1:1 coaching (the authentic shift) is a 6-month container that combines private breathwork every other week with somatic coaching support between sessions, built for people ready for sustained change in their nervous system and their life, not just a single reset. breathwork packages are a nice in between.
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single 1:1 virtual breathwork sessions start at $175. the authentic shift, shannon's 6-month 1:1 coaching container, is $3,000. if cost is a barrier, reach out directly. accessibility matters here and shannon may have options.
about weekly classes
& community
the most accessible way to experience collectively well.
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shannon teaches weekly classes at the den by wolf & lion in normal heights on tuesdays at 7:15 (breathwork & yin) and at indie yoga in ocean beach on thursdays (yin yoga). both classes are trauma-informed, drop-in friendly, and open to all experience levels. both studios are also available on classpass if that's how you already book classes.
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the monthly reset is shannon's monthly virtual community breathwork, open to anyone, anywhere. it's one of the most accessible ways to experience the work: no in-person travel required, low commitment, just one evening a month. rsvp for the monthly reset.
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no. weekly in-person classes are san diego-based, but the monthly reset, 1:1 coaching, single breathwork sessions, CW@Work, and the digital detox program are all available virtually to clients anywhere in the world.
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not even close. it's for anyone craving real connection over performance, whether that's someone with an established practice or someone who's never set foot in a wellness space and finds the whole industry a little embarrassing. the common thread isn't a yoga mat. it's wanting a different way of moving through the world.
about the
digital detox program
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a structured, four-week reset for your relationship with social media, not about quitting forever, about reconnecting with your body, your values, and your actual life instead of restricting your way there. two versions, depending on how much support you want.
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the self-guided detox ($80) is entirely self-paced: the off grid social workbook, four weeks of themed mini-lessons, four recommended podcast episodes, weekly journal prompts, guided meditations, and two self-healing breathwork recordings, all yours to move through on your own time.
the privately supported detox ($350, sliding scale available) includes everything in the self-guided version, plus two live 60-minute 1:1 breathwork sessions with shannon and virtual coaching support throughout the four weeks, for when you want someone in it with you instead of figuring it out alone.
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the withdrawal week (how social media hijacks your brain's reward system), building embodied awareness (shifting from mindless scrolling to mindful presence), reclaiming your life (returning to your values and vision), and becoming a boundary setting baddie (mapping your digital ecosystem into sustainable habits).
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no. this is the one place shannon leans into a little education, because most people underestimate how much of their nervous system state is being shaped by their phone without realizing it. but the goal is intentional relationship, not digital abstinence. you'll still have a phone at the end of this.
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people who already know social media is the problem and feel stuck anyway: low-key dependent, worried about missing out, not sure where to even start untangling it. if you've caught yourself scrolling somewhere you shouldn't have been (driving, mid-conversation, first thing in the morning or before bed every night), this is built for exactly that moment.
about
1:1 coaching &
the authentic shift
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the authentic shift is a 6-month container combining private breathwork sessions every other week with somatic coaching, program podcasts, and direct support between sessions. it's built entirely around you: your nervous system, your patterns and how you are experiencing burnout or disconnection. clients tend to arrive stressed, foggy, and out of their body, and leave with more agency, more clarity, and a lot more trust in themselves.
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no. weekly classes, a single breathwork session, and the monthly reset are all lower-commitment ways to experience the work first. a lot of people move from the monthly reset or a class into a single session, and from there into the full container once they know it's the right fit.
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for people done outsourcing their peace to systems that were never built to hold them. that's often burnt-out overachievers who've outgrown talk therapy, people navigating cancer survivorship or a major health shift, people in a career or identity transition, and anyone who can name their patterns but can't yet shift them. you don't need to have it figured out. you need to be ready to feel something different.
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six months, with private breathwork every other week. real nervous system change takes consistency, not a single breakthrough session. shannon doesn't offer one-off coaching sessions, but a single breathwork session is a solid way to test the fit before committing to the full container.
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we offer payment plays for the authentic shift. there are not specific sliding scale prices for the authentic shift but if finances are a barrier, fill out an application and shannon will do their best to meet you where you’re at.
about CW@Work — corporate & organizational wellness
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yes, through CW@Work: team engagement and wellbeing workshops built around real outcomes, not just a feel-good hour off the calendar. shannon facilitates trauma-informed breathwork and nervous system regulation sessions for teams and organizations, in person in san diego or virtually, designed to support how a team actually shows up for its work: focus, collaboration, and the capacity to perform under real pressure instead of white-knuckling through it. shannon has led sessions for google, ucsd, and saatchi & saatchi, among others. collectively well also brings trauma-informed breathwork into behavioral health facilities, led by other cw facilitators trained in that setting, which shapes how carefully every session across the practice is built and held.
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a stretched-thin team doesn't just feel it, it shows up in the work: missed deadlines, flat collaboration, meetings that drag because nobody has the bandwidth left to actually engage. these sessions give teams a shared, embodied reset that supports the outcomes leadership actually cares about, sharper focus, better collaboration, people who can regulate under pressure instead of running on fumes. it's still deeply about recovery underneath, it's just built around what a team gets to do once its nervous systems aren't maxed out, not just around naming the burnout. trauma-informed and accessible regardless of anyone's prior wellness experience.
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for a CW@Work team workshop, book a workshop consultation. for a keynote, panel, podcast, or other speaking engagement, book a speaking engagement. you can also learn more about [CW@Work] or request [shannon's media kit] directly.
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burnout recovery and nervous system health, breathwork and somatic healing, digital wellbeing and intentional living, decolonial and collective liberation frameworks in wellness, cancer survivorship, and queer, inclusive approaches to wellbeing.
about
getting started
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start with the podcast or the newsletter (both free) to get a feel for shannon's energy and approach before you commit to anything. if you're in san diego, come to a weekly class. the monthly reset is another low-commitment way in if you want to actually experience breathwork before booking anything else. when you're ready to go deeper, a single breathwork session is a natural next step. and if your relationship with your phone is the thing that's loudest right now, start with the digital detox.
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through the contact page. shannon reads every message personally.
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sign up at the bottom of collectivelywell.com. the weekly slow down is the newsletter with shannon’s messy middle musings and there are occasional promo e-mails about events and offerings too. no spam, just what you need to know.
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collectively well has stepped back from instagram as a primary channel. the newsletter, podcast, and substack are where the real conversations happen now, and where you'll actually hear from shannon directly.
about
the podcast
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collectively well enough is shannon's podcast: honest, unfiltered conversations about burnout recovery, somatic healing, collective liberation, and building a life that doesn't cost you yourself. new episodes drop regularly.
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the podcast is available on [Spotify], [Apple Podcasts], and wherever you get your podcasts. you can also get every new episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing on [substack] (see below), no podcast app required.
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subscribe to the newsletter on substack and new episodes land directly in your inbox the day they drop, along with the reflection and context that goes with each one. it's the easiest way to actually keep up, especially if you're not someone who remembers to check a podcast app. [subscribe on substack →]
about AI &
how we use it
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in a few limited, clearly defined ways, and never in the ways that actually touch you as a client or community member. trust is the whole foundation of trauma-informed work, so this is written out plainly rather than left as an assumption.
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no. every breathwork session, coaching conversation, and class is held by a real person, present with you, full stop. anything written about your session or your process is written by shannon (or your facilitator) directly, never generated or summarized by AI. if you get a follow-up email, it's from shannon.
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no. every essay, reflection, and offer email sent to the community is written start to finish by shannon.
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never. nothing you share in a session, an intake form, an email, or a conversation is ever entered into an AI tool, for any reason. your information stays exactly where you gave it.
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occasionally, in drafting or editing general website copy, like FAQ pages or service descriptions. even there, everything is reviewed, edited, and approved by shannon before it goes live. nothing about your specific experience, story, or information is ever part of that process.