In the lead-up to our upcoming breathwork, crystal sound bowl, and matcha meditation event, we sat down with Dasha Kuprienko, founder of Dusha and an Auckland-based breathwork facilitator, to explore her journey, the transformative power of the breath, and why pairing these practices with tea creates something truly special.
From asthma to awakening
Dasha’s path into the world of breathwork and sound healing began not in a yoga studio, but in the quiet moments before bed.
“I’ve lived with asthma and eczema since I was young,” she shares. “In my mid-20s, I noticed that slow, mindful breathing at night helped me sleep better and calm my body. That small awareness planted the seed.”
From there, yoga and meditation opened the door to deeper practices. In 2023, an unexpected opportunity arose to train as a breathwork facilitator under one of New Zealand’s most experienced teachers. “I jumped at it,” she says. “My health improved, I experienced deep healing, and soon I was sharing these tools with others. I’ve never looked back.”
A calling, not just a career
There was a defining moment, a single breathwork journey, that shifted everything for Dasha.
“The breath revealed the depth of my own ability, and I knew without doubt that I was meant to work in the healing space. It felt like remembering my true purpose,” she recalls. Even as a student, she began guiding others, witnessing the clarity and calm they carried away from sessions. “It affirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be.”
Breathwork, in her own words
For those who have never tried it, breathwork can sound abstract. Dasha explains it as both deeply physical and profoundly meditative.
“Some styles leave you feeling energized, almost blissfully light-headed. Others take you into such deep relaxation it’s like floating on a cloud. Your mind slows down, your body feels lighter, and anxiety melts away,” she says. “Every person’s journey is unique. You might even drift into restorative sleep and wake as if you’ve had a full night’s rest.”
The benefits often extend far beyond the session. “People leave feeling freer in their bodies, more connected to themselves, and more trusting in life’s natural flow.”
Clearing the myths
Despite its accessibility, breathwork can be misunderstood.
“One myth is that it’s only for experienced yogis or meditators,” Dasha says. “The truth is, it’s for everyone, no flexibility or special skills required. Another is that because breathing happens automatically, there’s no need to ‘train’ it. But the way we breathe directly impacts our mental, emotional, and physical health.”
She’s quick to add that breathwork is not just “spiritual fluff.” Its benefits are backed by science, from regulating hormones to balancing the nervous system.
The sound of stillness
Alongside the breath, Dasha weaves in the vibrations of crystal sound bowls, tuned to the third eye, throat, and root chakras.
“As you breathe, the sound waves move through your body, helping release tension and guide you into a deeper meditative state,” she explains. “The frequencies can shift brainwave states, calm the nervous system, and create a whole-body sense of harmony.”
When the breath meets the tea
This upcoming event will close with a tea meditation featuring Thea’s organic matcha. The pairing is intentional.
“After breathwork, you’re in this blissful, open state. Your senses are heightened, you really notice the taste of the tea, the warmth of the cup, the way it moves through your body,” Dasha says. “It turns a simple sip into a deeply mindful, restorative moment.”
What she hopes you’ll take home
For Dasha, the event is as much about connection as it is about relaxation.
“It’s a beautiful self-care ritual, a chance to slow down, step into your feminine, and simply receive,” she says. “I hope people leave nourished, rested, and more connected to themselves, with tools they can use anytime to find calm.”
Her practical advice for participants? Come with an open heart, wear comfortable clothes, and bring cozy touches like warm socks, a blanket, and a journal. “We’ll set intentions together and allow whatever needs to unfold to happen.”
A practice that flows both ways
Outside her work, Dasha tends to her own wellbeing with daily movement, nature walks, and moments of stillness. “Even ten minutes of breathwork keeps me grounded,” she says. “And if I can be out in nature, sitting under a tree, that’s my favourite mindful time.”
As our conversation closes, her passion is clear. “Guiding people into deep relaxation and watching them leave lighter, that’s the best feeling. In those moments, I know the world is just a little happier.”
If you’d like to experience this yourself, join us for the upcoming breathwork, sound bowl, and tea meditation event, a space to pause, reset, and reconnect on every level.
