Breath by Breath: A Conversation with Kim McConaghy on Healing, Wholeness & Coming Home to Ourselves

For Kim McConaghy, the breath has been more than a lifeline—it’s been a guide home.

Her journey into breathwork wasn’t marked by fanfare or flashing signs, but rather a quiet, pivotal moment with a stranger in the right place at the right time. Kim had spent years grappling with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, sensing deep down that meditation could change her life but not knowing where to start. That’s when she met Sheri. A simple “I can teach you” from this woman altered the course of Kim’s life. She began weekly sessions in Sheri’s living room, where a small, intimate community grew—and so did her practice. Eventually, Kim followed the inner pull to guide others just as she had been guided.

But her story stretches even further back—back to college, when a roommate who smelled like patchouli and whispered mystical things tried to invite her to a group meditation. Kim wasn’t ready then. But years later, she would realize that the “weirdo” roommate simply saw something in her that needed space to unfold. And unfold it did.

In 2019, Kim experienced her first Conscious Connected Breathwork session. It was the beginning of a new chapter—one that offered depth beyond words, beyond memory. In 2021, after reaching a plateau in talk therapy and EMDR, Kim felt the call: There has to be another way. Breathwork was that way. A path that didn’t require rehashing the past, but instead allowed her to access and release what lived deep within—patterns, beliefs, trauma, and emotion—through the power of breath.

She immersed herself in training, completing over 800 hours through Alchemy of Breath. She graduated in Tuscany in 2023 and began mentoring and practicing as a trauma-informed Breathwork Practitioner. Today, she continues to guide others back to themselves—gently, powerfully, breath by breath.

I interviewed Kim to learn more about her daily rituals, what wellness means to her now, and why so many of us are being called inward.

Can you walk us through a typical day in your life?
“Every morning begins with a walk in nature with our Scottie, Berkley. That time is sacred—it’s for morning prayer, soaking in beauty, and connecting deeply with what’s real. Evenings lately are reserved for practicing gratitude and reading for joy—not for learning, not for growth, just for the pleasure of it."

Breathwork, of course, grounds me. In winter, it’s the bathtub. In summer, it's laying in the grass or by the lake with a friend, a book, or simply in silence. I breathe intentionally most days, though I still have moments where I hesitate to sit with what’s rising. But nature, community, and the breath fuel me.

I feel most myself when I’m sitting on my front step in the morning sun with a notebook. Or when I’m camping and unplugged with my family. Or in that post-breathwork energy, holding space for a client. Those are the moments I feel most whole.”

What inspired you to step into the health and wellness space?
“It started when meditation began to shift my life. It supported my mental health in ways I didn’t think were possible, and I knew I had to share that with others. Years later, when Breathwork became the deeper catalyst for my healing, I followed that call. I wanted to understand it more fully—not just for myself, but to support others in returning to themselves through the breath.”

What’s one thing you wish more women understood about health—especially in midlife?
“That it’s all within us. That we need to be brave enough to slow down and create real connection with ourselves to find the truth of who we are.

For so many women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, there’s a moment—an awakening—where we realize we’ve been living out of alignment. We start to sense that something’s off, but we often seek answers outside of ourselves—in books, on Instagram, in other people’s wisdom. And while there’s value in all of that, the deepest truth is already here. It’s in our breath. It’s in the stories that live in our bodies. It’s in what we feel. But we have to be willing to go there.”

What are some of the core values that guide the way you support women?
“Compassionate, grounded presence. That’s at the heart of everything I do. I hold space deeply and safely, and I bring the wisdom I’ve gained from trauma-informed practice into every session. I continue to learn and deepen my understanding so that I can create the most empowered, nurturing experience possible.”

In your experience, what often gets overlooked when we talk about self-care?
“Simplicity.

We’ve overcomplicated what it means to take care of ourselves. We’ve created a whole industry around self-care, and while there’s nothing wrong with supplements or fancy routines, we need to remember what’s always available to us. Presence. Breath. Nature. Community. Joy. Stillness. Drinking enough water. (That one still makes me laugh—but it’s true.)

It’s time to strip away the chaos and come back to what’s real.”

What does “wellness” mean to you right now?
“Wholeness.

It means loving ourselves in our full humanness, with grace for where we are in our healing.

There was a time when wellness, for me, was all about the green smoothies, the supplements, and the workouts. And while I still believe in those things and use them, I now see that true wellness is about integration. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all connected. It’s not about optimization—it’s about embodiment. And it’s a journey of coming home.”

Kim McConaghy is a trauma-informed Breathwork Practitioner, guide, and space holder who helps women come back to themselves through presence, safety, and the power of the breath. You can learn more about her offerings at www.kimmcconaghy.com.