We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristine Ruth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristine Ruth below.
Kristine Ruth, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Overcoming and persisting through mental health challenges has been a journey of deep healing, transformation and self-discovery—one that has led me back home to myself. There was a time when I searched for love and validation outside of me, believing that my worth depended on how others perceived me. But through the highs and lows, I’ve come to realize that true healing, true love, and true wholeness can only be found within.
I found breathwork at a pivotal time in my life and it became my lifeline and a sacred space where I could meet myself with love and compassion, release the weight of emotional wounds, and rewrite the stories that once had a hold over my life. It taught me how to regulate my nervous system, create safety within my own body, and honour every part of me with love, even in the midst of struggle.
As a multi-certified breathwork facilitator and soulful mentor, I’ve learned that healing isn’t about erasing pain or hardship—it’s about cultivating the strength to hold ourselves and love ourselves through it all. Life moves in seasons—moments of expansion, moments of contraction—and I’ve come to see that each one carries its own wisdom. The self-doubt, the exhaustion, the moments of feeling lost, struggles with mental health—they aren’t signs of failure. They are invitations to slow down, to go within, to listen to our inner voice, to soften, and to come back to the heart.
Through breathwork, prayer, connection with spirit, connection with nature, inner child work, nervous system healing, and deep self-discovery, I have transformed my relationship with myself in ways I once upon prayed for. And now, I have the honour of guiding others through their own journeys of healing and transformation—helping individuals break free from the cycles of emotional pain, self-sabotaging patterns, limiting beliefs and past traumas so they can step into the fullness of who they truly are.
For me, persistence has been an act of unconditional self-love. It’s choosing grace over guilt, resilience over resistance, and trust over fear. Healing is not a destination; it’s a lifelong unfolding. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that we don’t have to walk this path alone. We are held, we are supported, and the life we have always prayed for and hoped for is in fact possible.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
About My Work & Brand: Soulful Breaths
I’m Kristine Ruth Kuakini Rafanan, founder of Soulful Breaths, a space dedicated to deep healing, self-discovery, and transformation through breathwork.
My journey started in the fitness industry, where I spent over a decade as a personal trainer, wellness coach and gym owner. As I worked with clients, I realized that many of them weren’t just struggling with their bodies—they were carrying emotional wounds, limiting beliefs, and deep-seated patterns of self-sabotage that were holding them back. I coached their bodies, and their mindsets, but I still found that no matter how much weight they lost, how much strength they gained or how much mindset work we did, they were still struggling.
After I found breathwork, and experienced profound changes in my healing and growth journey, I realized firsthand that true transformation is holistic—it’s not just about movement and mindset, but about nourishing the mind, body, and soul.
Breathwork quickly became the most profound tool for healing and liberation I had ever encountered. I knew that if it could help me support me through my struggles, that it would also help others. Breathwork was too good and powerful to not pursue and share with others. I left my 11-year career as a personal trainer and gym owner to share this powerful practice with others.
Through breath, I discovered a way to help people release emotional burdens, process trauma, and reconnect with their true essence—creating lasting and sustainable transformation from the inside out.
What Makes My Work Special
My work goes beyond traditional breathwork or wellness coaching. It’s not just about feeling good in the moment—it’s about going deep within, healing at the root and creating lasting transformation. Through a trauma-informed, integrative approach, I help people:
🌿 Heal emotional burdens – Releasing stored pain, trauma, and stress held in the body.
🌊 Break free from limiting beliefs & self-sabotage – Dissolving subconscious patterns that have kept them stuck.
✨ Reclaim their inner wisdom & self-trust – So they can live in alignment with their heart and soul.
Everything I offer is designed to help people feel safe, seen, and supported in their healing journey. I hold a deeply compassionate and intuitive space, where people can finally let go, breathe, and step into the most empowered version of themselves.
Exciting Offerings & What’s Coming Up
I currently offer a range of 1:1 mentorships, breathwork sessions, group experiences, and workshops designed to meet people where they are on their healing journey:
🌿 Inner Alchemy: 1:1 Breathwork Sessions – Personalized, immersive sessions designed for emotional release, subconscious healing, and self-discovery.
🌊 The Nourished Soul Mentorship (6 Months) – A transformative journey for women struggling with emotional eating and self-sabotage, guiding them to heal their relationship with food, body, and self through breathwork, emotional healing, and nervous system regulation.
✨ Liberate Your Soul Mentorship (6 Months) – A soul-centered deep dive into personal freedom, breaking free from subconscious patterns, reclaiming power, and stepping into self-trust and alignment.
🔥 Roots to Freedom (12-Week Intensive) – A breathwork & mentorship immersion for those ready to release deep trauma, break generational patterns, and step into wholeness.
💫 Catch Your B.R.E.A.T.H. (12-Week Group Masterclass) – A transformative experience for those stuck in toxic fitness cycles, helping them shift from fear-based motivation to a heart-centered, intuitive approach to wellness.
💜 Soulful Breathwork Journeys (Group Sessions & Retreats) – A collective healing experience, where the power of breath brings people together for emotional release, clarity, and expansion.
🏋️♀️ Breathwork for Fitness Communities & Gyms – Helping fitness professionals integrate breathwork into their spaces for nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and mind-body awareness.
At its core, Soulful Breaths is about more than breathwork—it’s about coming home to ourselves and living in alignment with who we truly are.
I believe that healing ripples outward—when we heal ourselves, we heal the world. That’s why I hold space with compassion, presence, and deep care, so others can step into their truth, their power, and a life that feels deeply aligned and fulfilling.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are:
1. Emotional Resilience & Self-Compassion – Healing and transformation are rarely linear. I had to learn how to hold space for myself through discomfort, setbacks, and self-doubt. Developing emotional resilience allowed me to navigate challenges without falling into cycles of shame or self-sabotage. Self-compassion and acceptance has been the foundation for my growth, allowing me to embrace all parts of myself with unconditional love rather than judgment. My advice for those early in their journey: Practice speaking to yourself as you would a dear friend and love yourself unconditionally because self-love is a powerful practice that can forever change your life.
2. Somatic Awareness, Nervous System Regulation & Inner Child Healing – Understanding how emotions, trauma, and old narratives are stored in the body changed everything for me. Through breathwork and somatic practices, I learned to listen to my heart and body’s wisdom instead of overriding it with my mind. But deeper still, I discovered that many of the limiting beliefs and emotional struggles I faced were rooted in my inner child—wounds from the past that shaped how I saw myself, my worth, and my relationship with the world an myself. Learning to reconnect with and nurture my inner child brought profound healing, allowing me to replace self-criticism with self-compassion, and fear with deep trust in myself.
3. Authenticity & Heart-Centered Leadership – My work and personal evolution have taught me that true transformation comes from inner alignment, not external validation. The more I step into my truth—whether in my soul mission or who I truly am—the more I attract the right people and experiences. My advice: Let go of the idea that you’ll be worthy once you reach a certain destination. Your story, your struggles, and your truth are your greatest gifts if you choose to see it from a higher perspective. Lead with your heart, and you’ll naturally inspire others to do the same.
For those early in their journey, I encourage you to embrace curiosity over judgment—approach your healing and growth with an open heart rather than seeing it as something to “fix.” Healing isn’t about reaching a final destination; it’s about deepening your connection to yourself with each step you take. Allow yourself grace and compassion in the moments when you feel stuck, when old patterns resurface, or when progress seems slow. Growth isn’t measured by perfection, but by your willingness to show up for yourself with love and compassion.
Most importantly, trust in the unfolding of your path. Every challenge, every resistance, and even the moments of doubt are invitations to look within, to listen to what your soul is asking for, and to move forward with greater awareness. Transformation isn’t something that happens overnight—it’s a process of remembering who you truly are beneath the layers of conditioning, fear, and self-doubt. The more you lean into your personal truth, the more aligned, abundant, and free you will feel.
And remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Surround yourself with those who hold space for your growth, who remind you of your strength when you forget, and who walk alongside you as you step into the fullest expression of your soul.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes! I am always open to meaningful partnerships and collaborations that align with the mission of Soulful Breaths—helping individuals heal, reconnect with themselves, and transform their lives through breathwork, emotional healing, and self-discovery.
I am especially looking to collaborate with:
🌿 Fitness & Wellness Professionals – Personal trainers, gym owners, yoga instructors, and holistic health practitioners who want to integrate breathwork into their programs to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
💫 Retreat Hosts & Event Organizers – Those curating transformational experiences who want to offer guided breathwork sessions, emotional healing workshops, or integrative self-discovery practices to deepen their attendees’ experiences.
🦋 Therapists, Coaches & Healers – Professionals in the healing space (trauma-informed therapists, life coaches, holistic healers) looking to blend breathwork with their existing modalities to provide deeper emotional release and transformation for their clients.
💜 Brands & Businesses Focused on Mental Health & Self-Growth – I am open to partnering with aligned brands, communities, and platforms that are passionate about spreading awareness around healing, self-love, and personal transformation.
If you’re interested in collaborating or bringing breathwork into your space, I would love to connect! Feel free to visit my website at http://www.soulfulbreaths.com/collaborate to connect!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.soulfulbreaths.com
- Instagram: Soulful.breaths
Image Credits
Liz Gilders
Melissa Hill
Ace Benavidez
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