Joris Gootjes

I am an energetic, open-minded young man. In my life, I have always been the one people entrusted their hearts to. It is a natural strength in me. I enjoy helping and supporting people in their processes.

During the 3-year training at the Institute of Integrative Breath Therapy, I learned how to really support people through breath work. My quality is that I can create a space where someone can come to themselves. A space full of trust, sincerity, love and attention. A safe place where someone can become aware of patterns, traumas or burdens in their life. I am very interested in the person across from me and am convincingly motivated to accept everyone as they really are.

My experience is mainly about taking responsibility for your own life. What do you really feel? What old beliefs do you carry with you? Are they helpful even now? What do you really want?

In addition to my personal skills, I work with the connected breath. I have experienced that the connected breath is always honest. During training, in addition to conscious connected breathing, I also worked with techniques such as: Voice Dialogue, NLP, Tapping / EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and Inner Child Work.

My background

I had a nice childhood, a safe childhood with good and fun friends. My wonderful parents always worked a lot on their awareness. They raised us from that and took my little brother and me to training weekends. The children were also given (breathing) exercises there. I was an open, enthusiastic and energetic child full of ideas.

Despite all this, like almost every person, I still created a belief that I am not good enough. I have been incredibly insecure, feeling alone, with a sense of “I don’t really belong”. I did everything I could to belong.

I found my way into theatre. This started in our village, after which I moved on to the NKT Theatre School in Purmerend. I then followed Lucia Marthas’ preliminary training and went on to study Musical Theatre at Fontys Hogeschool van de Kunsten in Tilburg. I was highly motivated to be good enough.

I was someone who was always pushing forward and not always aware of what was really good for me. On my way, I did get occasional warnings. One of the biggest was that I had panic attacks. I felt that nobody understood me and nobody could help me: I was dying! Through the GP, I ended up with a psychosomatic physiotherapist and she helped me a lot.

I was living in volatility. I often thought and hoped that when I took a new path, I would finally be in place. In this quest, I remained stubborn in the belief “I can do it myself” for a long time.

Until I was gripped by the clarity of Breath Therapy. The therapist asked me to breathe connectedly and very simply asked the question why I still stuck to a certain pattern. It was clear at once. The breath created a sincere attitude and connection. It cleared the way and the answer fell right in. Insane. If I can get so much clarity about a certain part of me within minutes, what else can I find? It became my motivation to choose this path. After a year of private sessions, I chose to take the 3-year course at the Institute for Integrative Breath Therapy run by Hans Mensink and Tilke Platteel-Deur. These two pioneers of Breathwork in the Netherlands started the training more than 40 years ago. They are a great source of inspiration for me.

Besides my breathwork, I work as an actor, executive producer and confidant. I am very grateful and proud to be able to combine all my work and skills.

Interested?
Send an e-mail to joris@breatheandwonder.com