32: Healing Through Breathwork: A Mother’s Journey to Reconnection and Renewal
Breathwork, Healing, and Soulful Retreats: A Conversation with Lucia Oliveira
On a recent episode of The Wand(HER)wild Podcast, Monica sat down with Lucia Oliveira, founder of Luminous by Lucia, for a heartfelt conversation about breathwork, motherhood, healing, and the magic of mindful travel. Lucia, a breathwork facilitator and retreat leader based in Portugal, opened up about her personal journey and how she helps women reconnect with their inner light.
A Personal Awakening Through Challenge
Lucia's path into wellness work wasn't linear. In 2020, she became a first-time mom during the height of the pandemic while also facing the collapse of her brick-and-mortar wellness business. Layered onto this was a family health scare — her father's open-heart surgery.
These collective challenges deeply affected her mental health, leaving her feeling lost and overwhelmed. Seeking a way back to herself, Lucia enrolled in a spiritual wellness program. It was there that she experienced her first full-length breathwork session — an emotional and transformative moment that ignited her healing journey.
"I remember laying in bed, breathing, and feeling all these emotions rush through my body," Lucia recalls. "Afterward, it felt like a heavy layer was peeled away, and I felt more grounded in myself."
Recognizing the power of breathwork, Lucia became a trauma-informed, certified breathwork facilitator through Pause Breathwork, one of the most respected programs globally.
What Is Breathwork? An Accessible Path to Healing
During the conversation, Lucia shared insights into what breathwork is and the different modalities available. Many people first hear of breathwork through practices like holotropic breathing or the Wim Hof method — both of which tend to be more intense.
Pause Breathwork, however, offers a more nurturing and trauma-sensitive approach, making it accessible for a broader range of individuals. Lucia explains that Pause provides two primary types of experiences: integrative sessions (short, daily breathwork to ground and regulate emotions) and meditative sessions (longer journeys to access deeper layers of consciousness and healing).
"Every breathwork session is different," Lucia explains. "It meets you where you are emotionally, mentally, and physically."
Monica reflected on her own experiences using breathwork as a tool for anxiety management, trauma healing, and daily emotional regulation. Breathwork, they agreed, is not just for crisis moments but also a powerful tool for maintaining daily mental and emotional well-being.
Teaching Breathwork to the Next Generation
One of the most heartwarming parts of the conversation centered on introducing breathwork to young children. Monica shared a story about guiding her four-year-old daughter to breathe deeply during moments of overwhelm, helping her to self-regulate her emotions.
Lucia echoed the sentiment, sharing that her own son — just shy of five years old — has learned to pause and breathe when he feels big emotions rising.
"Sometimes I'll see him start breathing deeply on his own when he's upset," Lucia said. "It’s a beautiful skill for children to have."
They agreed that teaching emotional resilience and self-regulation skills through breathwork is one of the greatest gifts we can offer the next generation.
Soul-Led Retreats: Mindful Travel with Heart
The conversation then shifted to Lucia’s retreats in Portugal, a country deeply connected to her personal story. Though she was raised mostly in the United States, Lucia's roots in Portugal run deep, and she describes it as a place where she feels most alive and aligned.
"Every time I land in Portugal, I feel like I'm home," she shared. "There’s a magic in the air there — in the landscapes, the people, and the culture."
Her retreats are designed to combine cultural immersion with mindful practices like breathwork, yoga, journaling, sound healing, and Reiki. The goal is to help women reconnect with themselves while exploring the beauty and authenticity of Portugal.
Each retreat is kept intimate, capped at 10 guests, to foster deep connections among participants. Guests enjoy experiences like sailboat excursions in Lisbon, wine tours, and local immersion while balancing the adventure with daily practices for inner peace and reflection.
Upcoming Retreat: Lucia has a retreat in Portugal this July (July 21-28, 2025) with a few spots remaining. For women craving soulful travel and self-discovery, it's an opportunity not to be missed.
Breathwork as a Daily Practice
Lucia also touched on her virtual community called Luminous Collective, where she offers accessible breathwork and intuitive movement classes several times a week. The community focuses on integrating small but powerful practices into daily life, allowing members to cultivate mindfulness, emotional regulation, and presence.
"Even one minute of conscious breathing a day can shift your entire nervous system," she emphasized.
Listeners of the Wand Her Wild Podcast are invited to join Luminous Collective at a special 50% off introductory rate using the code WanderWild.
Rapid Fire Insights from Lucia
Before wrapping up, Monica asked Lucia some fun rapid-fire questions. Here are some of her beautiful reflections:
Go-To Weekend Activity: Going out to dinner with her family.
Favorite Beverage: Water infused with electrolytes and magnesium to stay energized and hydrated.
Astrology & Human Design: A dreamy Pisces and a powerful Manifestor.
Motherhood Lesson: Resilience — a word Lucia carries close to her heart. Motherhood has taught her an unwavering strength she never knew she had.
Final Words: A Message of Hope and Healing
Lucia’s story is a testament to the power of breath, community, and courage in healing. Her journey reminds us that even in our most challenging seasons, new paths and passions can emerge.
"Breathwork helped me return to myself," Lucia says. "And now, I get to help others do the same."
Whether you’re looking for a daily practice to anchor your busy life, longing to reconnect with your soul on retreat, or simply curious about the power of your own breath, Lucia’s work offers a beautiful, heart-centered invitation.
Feeling Called to Breathe Deeper?
If Lucia’s story and work resonated with you, consider joining one of her breathwork experiences through Wand(HER)wild or Luminous Collective. Your breath is a powerful tool — and sometimes, it’s the simplest practices that lead us back home to ourselves.
Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations on The Wand(HER)wild Podcast — where motherhood, self-development, and soul-centered living intertwine.
Connect with Lucia
Instagram: @luminousbylucia
Website: luminousbylucia.com
Virtual Community (Luminous Collective): Breathwork and soulful movement classes offered multiple times a week. Use code ‘WANDERWILD’ for 50% off your first month!
Retreats: Next Portugal retreat happening July 21-28, 2025. Only two spots left!
Lucia Oliveira is the founder of Luminous by Lucia, offering sacred breathwork, intuitive yoga, and soul-led retreats in Portugal. She guides women—especially mothers—back to their inner light through embodied healing, spiritual connection, and heart-centered transformation.
Join the Movement
If this story resonates with you, we invite you to explore more. Visit our free resources, upcoming digital events, in person family retreats, and follow us on Substack or follow us on Instagram for conversations on self-healing and intentional living. Let’s walk this path together.
