About

About the director

Hazel O’Keefe — Breathwork Facilitator (in training), Community Builder, Space Holder

Hazel O’Keefe is a breathwork facilitator in training, community builder, and creative force who has spent over two decades creating spaces where people can connect, express, and feel a sense of belonging.

Her work has always been rooted in people.

From early roles supporting young people facing homelessness and social exclusion, to leading youth services, community hubs, and large-scale projects, Hazel has consistently worked at the intersection of healing, empowerment, and community transformation. She holds a BA (Hons) in Community and Youth Work and has delivered programmes across mental health, sexual health, substance awareness, and youth engagement, often working with those navigating complex life experiences. 

As the founding director of multiple initiatives—including a community arts centre and the UK’s first comedy festival dedicated to gender equality—Hazel has built and led projects that centre inclusion, creativity, and voice. She has managed large teams, secured funding, and created spaces for thousands of people to come together in meaningful ways.  

• JNC qualified youth worker
• BA (hons) degree in applied community and youth work
• Safeguarding level 5
• Enhance DBS

🌿 My Approach

My approach to breathwork is rooted in one simple belief:

We don’t need to be fixed — we need to feel safe enough to come home to ourselves.

For much of my life, I lived in motion. Holding space for others, creating environments for connection, constantly doing. From youth work to community projects to running large-scale events, I became someone who could support everyone else.

But underneath that, my own nervous system was often in survival mode.

I understand what it feels like to:

Struggle to slow down Feel disconnected from your body Live in patterns of stress, busyness, or escape Find stillness uncomfortable, or even unsafe

That’s why my work is not about pushing, forcing, or “getting it right.”

It’s about gentle reconnection.

🌬️ A Nervous System-Led Practice

I work in a way that honours your nervous system first.

That means:

We go at your pace We build safety before intensity We listen to the body, rather than override it We allow whatever arises, without judgement

Breathwork can be powerful—but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming to be effective.

Sometimes the most profound shifts come from the simplest practices.

🌿 Grounded, Not Guru

I don’t believe in perfection, and I don’t place myself above the people I work with.

I’m still on this journey too.

My role is not to “heal” you—but to hold a space where your body can begin to do what it already knows how to do.

🔥 Real, Lived Experience

My work is shaped not just by training, but by lived experience.

I know what it’s like to use busyness, alcohol, or distraction to cope.

I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, wired, or shut down.

And I know how powerful it can be to begin reconnecting—one breath at a time.

That’s what I bring into every space I hold:

honesty, compassion, and real understanding.

🌊 What You Can Expect

When you work with me, you can expect:

A space that feels safe, inclusive, and pressure-free Guidance that is clear, supportive, and adaptable Practices that meet you where you are Permission to feel, rest, release—or simply breathe

There is no “right way” to experience this work.

Only your way.