UNBLOCK YOUR PURPOSE

A self-help book that explores the transformative power of breathwork to unlock human potential.

Sipma combines personal stories and practical exercises in this guidebook that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and emotional healing. The author experienced a seismic shift in her professional and personal lives following a breathwork retreat in Bali and wants to share her secret with others. “Breathing is much more than a binary, basic function of biological maintenance,” she writes; “it’s a channel through which you can activate your natural capacity for immense healing and personal growth.” If readers release their “blocks,” defined as “patterns, beliefs, or behaviors that prevent you from realizing your full potential,” they can achieve their wildest dreams, Sipma claims. To that end, she created a practice called “hypnobreathwork,” which involves setting an intention, discovering insights, and taking action. Dissolving triggers from childhood trauma and uncovering parental blocks are the primary focuses for healing. Next, she teaches readers how to identify purpose, engage with the shadow self (defined as “the undesirable parts of ourselves that we repress or deny”), and release financial anxiety. Steps for improving relationships include understanding attachment style, or the way one relates to others in relationships, often formed in childhood. Sipma believes one can identify and manifest one’s purpose by tapping into intuition and serving others, and she draws inspiration from thought leaders like Eckhart Tolle, Tony Robbins, and Bessel van der Kolk throughout the book. She also provides QR codes so readers can access guided audio breathwork sessions. The book’s strengths lie in its unique breathwork approach and structured exercises that provide readers with actionable steps to improve their lives. Similarly to other books that espouse the law of attraction, this guide tells readers to “breathe your way to abundance.” Other advice, like “shift to a state of gratitude” and “have a pure intention,” may seem recycled to avid self-help readers. Finally, some of Sipma’s familial and romantic frameworks are heteronormative and use binary gender roles, such as assuming every reader has a mother and a father. Statements like “life does not have to be about sacrifices” don’t acknowledge the impact that systemic inequalities have on people’s circumstances.

A thorough guide, but it positions its methodology as a panacea.