Functional Breath and Regulation

A practical method using breath, presence and voice

to support nervous system regulation, clarity, and sustainable energy in real life.

For highly functional people who need reliable ways to stay clear and present under pressure

 — without disconnecting from life.

WHO THIS WORK IS FOR

Functional Breath and Regulation is designed

 for people who:

  • function at a high level and carry significant mental or emotional load
  • tend to over-adapt, over-give or stay ON for too long
  • feel drained by constant responsibility, stimulation or relational demand
  • are not looking to be fixed, analysed or transformed
  • value clarity, autonomy and practical tools they can actually use

This work is not about escaping life.

It is about staying regulated and present within it.

WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL BREATH AND REGULATION?

Functional Breath and Regulation is a structured, experiential method that combines applied breathing practices with the conscious use of the voice to support nervous system regulation, presence, and energetic stability.

The focus is not only on rest, but on how you breathe, speak and hold yourself in real-life situations:

work, decision-making, interaction, movement and recovery.

Sessions are practical and embodied.

The work is designed to be felt, understood and used — not performed or idealised.

WHAT THIS WORK IS NOT

This work is not therapy, coaching or emotional processing.

It does not analyse the past or aim to resolve trauma.

Functional Breath and Regulation is a time-bound, structured practice

designed to support self-regulation, clarity and autonomy.

It can coexist naturally with therapy or other forms of support,

but it does not replace them.

The Method: Functional Breath & Regulation

Private breathwork session online – mindful breathing for balance

Functional Breath & Regulation is a structured approach to working with breath, awareness and voice as practical tools for everyday regulation.

It is designed for people who are highly functional, sensitive and mentally active — people who do not need to be fixed, but who need more space, clarity and internal stability to sustain their lives.

The method is grounded in four core pillars:

Breath as regulation
Breath is approached as a functional tool to support nervous system stability, energy management and clarity — not only in rest, but in real-life situations.

Voice as integration
The voice is used as a regulatory and integrative element, supporting presence, boundaries and expression without performance or emotional exposure.

Structure and containment
All work follows a clear structure and defined timeframe, supporting responsibility, autonomy and sustainable integration.

Application in daily life
The practices are designed to be used within work, communication, movement and recovery — not apart from them.

Sessions are experiential, precise and grounded.
There is no performance, no emotional exposure and no expectation to relax all the time.

The aim is simple:
to help you regulate yourself more clearly, so your life becomes easier to inhabit.

THE ROLE OF THE VOICE

screaming voiceover artist

The voice is an integral part of this work — not as performance, but as a regulatory tool.

How you breathe and how you use your voice directly affect your nervous system, boundaries and presence.

Voice work supports the integration of regulation into communication, interaction and daily expression.

This is especially relevant for people who speak, lead, teach, negotiate or hold responsibility for others.

How I work

All work is structured and closed.

Introductory Session

The introductory session is a focused 60-minute session designed to:

  • experience the work directly

  • clarify whether this approach is right for you

  • decide calmly if an individual process makes sense at this moment

This session is not a consultation or assessment.
It is a real working session, grounded and practical.

Sessions are practical, calm and focused.
This is not therapy, coaching or emotional processing — but it can naturally support clarity, rest and self-trust.

Some people choose to continue with a process afterwards.
Others find a single session sufficient.

Individual Processes (1:1)

Individual work is offered as closed processes, not as open-ended sessions.

We work together over a defined number of sessions to:

  • map your current load and patterns

  • introduce functional breath and regulation tools

  • integrate the work into your daily life, work and relationships

The goal of the process is autonomy:
that you leave with tools you can use on your own.

Circles · Small Group Work

Alongside individual processes, I also offer small-group circles, held online and occasionally in selected in-person locations.

These circles are structured, guided sessions based on the Functional Breath and Regulation method.
They focus on collective regulation through breath, voice and awareness, while maintaining individual responsibility and personal boundaries.

Group work allows participants to:

  • experience regulation in a shared field, without emotional exposure

  • refine presence, listening and self-regulation in relation to others

  • integrate breath and voice in a way that is grounded and practical

Circles are always offered as closed processes, with a clear beginning and end.
They are not open discussion groups or therapeutic spaces,
but structured practices with a clear beginning and end.

Online circles follow the same structure and depth as in-person sessions.
In-person circles are offered only in carefully chosen contexts and locations.

Each circle has a specific theme and limited number of participants.

Why group work?

Group settings create a different quality of regulation — less focused on the individual story, more on shared rhythm, clarity and embodied presence.

For some people, circles complement individual work.
For others, they are a complete and sufficient format.

Yoga Nidra (supportive practice)

Yoga Nidra may be used as a supportive tool for deep rest and integration, particularly at the end of a process.

It is not the core of the method, but a complementary practice when appropriate.

Experience the practice

These short audios offer a simple introduction to how breath and voice support regulation and presence.

They are designed to be used within daily life —
as moments of pause, grounding and clarity.

Sessions & Pricing

Introductory Session

A first session (60 min) to understand whether this work is appropriate for you and to experience the work directly.

Price: 90 €

4-Session Process

Structured support over time, focused on regulation, clarity and integration.

Price: 360 €

8-Session Process

For deeper integration and sustained regulation in daily life when you feel you need a longer work.

Price: 680 €

All sessions are online.

Languages

Sessions are offered primarily in English.
Spanish and French sessions are available upon request.

About María

 

 

I’m María Castro — breathwork practitioner, voice actor and founder of Voice Like Velvet.

My background combines years of work in high-pressure corporate environments with long-term practice in breath and regulation techniques.

Those years gave me valuable insight into the importance of space, rest and authenticity both in work and life.

I work with people who are capable, sensitive and responsible — and who want to sustain their lives with more clarity and less internal friction.

My approach is calm, structured and grounded. My work is informed by lived experience — navigating responsibility, pressure, sensitivity and international life —
and translating that experience into clear, functional practices.

María Castro multilingual breathwork and relaxation teacher

Ready to begin?

 

If you feel this work may be relevant for you,

you can book an introductory session below.

 

Before confirming, you’ll be asked a few short questions to ensure this work is a good fit.