Interview with soulcollective
Lately, social justice and spirituality have been intersecting more and more with my work.
I’ve had the amazing pleasure to talk to soulcollective, a platform for discovering events, retreats, trainings and courses that promote mindfulness, personal growth and well-being hosted by Berlin-based practitioners. Our interview is heartfelt, raw, and gives an insight into all the work I am not documenting well enough…
soul sessions
Kim Gerlach (she/her) is a scent practitioner and breathworker.
Kim offers scent and breath experiences through her brand sun&rise.
She is also collectively building JOY Space, Wūpò Collective & Brave Spaces 2.0.
What is your morning ritual?
Routines come in waves, so currently I wake up with some warm water, dry brushing before the shower and practicing hypnosis before starting the day. In the past days, I've dipped into the lake right in front of my house, enjoying life in nature. Other times I may choose to journal or do a short breath ritual. But there is always one constant: green tea!
What led you to transition from working in sustainable fashion to the path you're on now?
I'm a very impact-led being. Working as a consultant in sustainable fashion was no longer impactful enough. Now, I can actually be part of someone's healing journey and I'm more in my zone of genius than before. Connecting people with their sense of smell or deep inner world is much more needed and rewarding.
Photo by @vollmond_konzertfotografie
What styles of breathwork do you teach and what can someone expect from joining a session with you?
The most important thing to me is to share small rituals that can be integrated into daily life. Whether it's in the morning, on the U-bahn home or to fall asleep. To reach higher states of consciousness, I am also sharing two-folded breath and PSYCHEDELIC BREATH®. Breath integration is something I'm mainly sharing online, while the psychedelic breathing sessions happen in Berlin as well as in virtual containers.
What are some of the benefits of working and nurturing your olfactory sense?
Getting to know your own senses, including smell, can be a liberating and empowering experience for anyone. Smells are processed in the brain region where memories and emotions are predominantly stored, hence, olfaction is a magical gateway to your inner world. Give it a try!
Can you share with us what scent DJing is?
When I scent DJ, I let your nose journey through different smells, one after the other, accompanying the music. It's a more immersive experience than only listening to music. You allow your being and body to bathe in the present moment and it's so powerful to see how suddenly someone awakens their nose!
You are currently a part of the core team of several Berlin-based collectives including JOY Space, Wūpò Collective and Brave Spaces 2.0. What does community mean to you and what are some of the values these communities share?
I believe in synergies and love connecting the dots. All of them have in common that they aim to make BIPOC and marginalized communities more visible, heard and healed. I'm done with systems that favor some over others based on skin color. So this is my attempt to decolonize wellness in Germany and give resources to siblings within my community.
What led you to creating Wūpò Collective and why would you encourage someone to check it out?
Wūpò, Chinese for witch, is currently a registry that shows BIPOC healers; from acupuncturists to Reiki healers and more. You don't need to identify as BIPOC to book a healer of color. Social justice can happen when we redirect our spendings to support discriminated groups of people and financially empower them. So next time you seek out a workshop, go and support one of the 150+ beings on there, they'll surely do a happy dance!
Photos by @miklinska
Do you have any upcoming events or offerings? How can we stay connected with you?
I'm coming back after summer break with Integrated Breath, my 4-week online program to integrate small breath rituals into your day. The program will run from Monday, September 11th to Monday, October 9th. Join the waiting list and get a 10% discount on your booking using this link. Otherwise, catch me with my sessions online or in Berlin. The best way to stay in touch is via my newsletter or Instagram.
Thanks so much for the cozy time, Marianne!
