Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Bentley.
Hi Holly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent more than 20 years in lending and finance, climbing the corporate ladder and checking every box of what I thought success was supposed to look like. At the same time, I was a mom of three girls, including identical twins, trying to keep up with the pace of life while quietly dealing with chronic hip and lower back pain that lasted for six years.
What I did not realize was that the pain had little to do with my physical body and more to do with the emotional stress and unresolved trauma of two difficult birthing experiences, plus the profound grief of losing four people I loved within one year. When traditional methods failed to provide relief, I finally found help through a modality called Spinal Flow. My body released years of stored tension, and with it came clarity. I knew I was being called to something very different than the corporate world I had built my life around.
I left my career and dedicated myself to helping people heal themselves. Today, I am a certified Spinal Flow Practitioner and Somatic Breathwork Facilitator. My practice, Breathe Flow Heal, is rooted in the belief that the body has an incredible ability to heal when given the right conditions and support. I help people release physical pain, emotional stress, and deeply stored trauma through nervous system regulation and gentle, holistic touch. Every day, I see clients make profound transformations, and those moments affirm that following my intuition was the best decision I ever made. I feel incredibly grateful to guide others back home to themselves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Professionally, I knew that once I took this leap of faith, I would do whatever it took to make my dream work. But personally, I’ve walked through some very dark seasons that ultimately led me to my purpose. When my twins were born and I suddenly had three children under three, postpartum depression hit me with a force I wasn’t prepared for. Looking back, I now see how much my difficult pregnancy and traumatic birth experience contributed to the PPD. I didn’t think things could get worse after the birth of my first daughter, but my second birth brought me dangerously close to losing my life, and my body carried that fear and tension pattern for years.
During my twin pregnancy, I developed a deep empathy for anyone living in chronic pain. I grew so large so quickly that my sacrum and pelvis shifted, causing intense pain and a compressed lumbar disc. I was bedridden for two months. My days were spent going from my bed to my desk, to the dinner table, then back to bed. That routine gave me a window into what life feels like for people who wake up every day in pain with little to look forward to but more of the same. Even though my situation was temporary, I never forgot that feeling. It opened my eyes to how many people are quietly struggling through their days, disconnected from joy, comfort, and ease in their own bodies. That experience planted a seed in me. I knew I wanted to help people find relief, hope, and a genuine sense of peace within themselves again.
A huge lesson came from navigating my own healing. I’m still a human who experiences stress, overwhelm, and self-doubt, and for years I carried patterns in my body that I didn’t even realize were rooted in old trauma. Receiving Spinal Flow and utilizing breathwork to regulate my own nervous system is what truly changed my life. It helped me release pain I had carried for years, soften patterns of bracing and hypervigilance, and reconnect with a version of myself that felt grounded, present, and supported. That lived experience has become one of my greatest strengths as a practitioner. I’m not offering healing from a pedestal; I’m walking this journey alongside my clients. Every challenge I’ve faced has made me more compassionate, more resilient, and more aligned with my purpose. The road hasn’t always been smooth, but every part of it has been meaningful, and it has prepared me for the work I’m here to do.
We’ve been impressed with Breathe Flow Heal, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Currently, my main offering is Spinal Flow. It’s a gentle, yet powerful technique that works directly with your nervous system. Instead of forcing change from the outside, it creates the internal conditions for your body to release stress from within, enhancing your natural self-healing ability. During a session, I apply light touch to specific access points along the sacrum and cranium. When these access points are gently activated, it sends a signal to the spine and the brain through a communication highway called the meningeal sheath. Remarkably, the brain becomes aware of stored tension patterns that it had been holding onto subconsciously. Layers of stored physical, chemical, and emotional stress become available for release. The nervous system begins shifting out of the “fight or flight” survival mode and into a restorative parasympathetic state.
As this happens, the body may respond with deep breaths, wave-like movement, twitching, or even emotional release. These are signs that energy and spinal fluid are flowing and that the body is doing what it was designed to do….heal itself. The technique shows the nervous system where it is stuck so the body can let go, reset, and return to balance, a true holistic approach to wellness. That is why so many experience relief not only from physical tension but also from anxiety, fatigue, overwhelm, sleep issues, and long-held emotional patterns. When people shift their bodies into a self-healing state regularly, I’ve seen clients experience relief when battling anything from chronic pain, depression, and digestive issues to cancer, fibromyalgia, spondylitis, and more.
I also facilitate Somatic Breathwork, which helps move emotional energy, clear stored stress, and create powerful breakthroughs. I offer small group breathwork sessions, one-on-one sessions, and a monthly event called “Journey to Awaken Your Self-Healing”. Belinda Morris from Sound Healing of Austin and I co-host this deeply restorative two-hour experience where we combine four modalities: Somatic Breathwork, Reiki, Sound Healing, and Spinal Flow.
This event was created to give people a safe, supportive space to let go of emotional burdens, calm their nervous system, and reconnect with the parts of themselves they’ve been too overwhelmed to feel. Each month, we see people experience profound releases, clarity, and a renewed sense of inner strength. Many guests describe it as the first time they’ve felt truly relaxed in years. It’s a unique offering in the Austin area, and it reflects what Breathe Flow Heal is all about: helping people access their own healing through community, nervous system regulation, and powerful somatic tools.
I’m very grateful that Breathe Flow Heal is becoming known as a calming, supportive space where clients feel seen, cared for, and can finally find relief. My work is focused on helping people tune into their bodies, feel empowered in their healing, and trust that they’re capable of change. I want people to know that healing isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong”; it’s about restoring what’s natural, their body’s innate intelligence. And when the nervous system is supported, the whole body starts to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. My approach is holistic, I don’t treat symptoms, I help people address the deeper root of why they feel disconnected, tense, or unwell. I’ve walked this journey myself, and that gives me a level of insight, empathy, and the capacity to create a safe, grounded space for others.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I currently work in an office with a group of therapists at Roots Counseling. They invited me into their space, so the somatic therapies I offer can complement the Internal Family Systems therapy they specialize in. Therapy helps you understand your patterns, thoughts, emotions, and internal landscape, while somatic work helps your body release the physiological tension, stress, and protective responses that those patterns create. When someone strengthens their nervous system through modalities like Spinal Flow or Somatic Breathwork, they become more regulated, grounded, and resourced. This makes it easier to process emotions in therapy, stay present during difficult conversations, and integrate insights at a deeper level. For people currently in therapy or considering starting therapy, combining both approaches can accelerate healing and create more lasting change. It supports the mind and the body at the same time, giving people a complete and holistic foundation for emotional wellness, physical health, and long-term resilience.
When I launched my business, I was so passionate about sharing the power of Spinal Flow and Somatic Breathwork that, in hindsight, I was a little delusional about what it really takes to become an entrepreneur. I believed that if I created a beautiful website, designed some branding, and rented a calming office space, people would start lining up to experience nervous system regulation and self-healing. But reality hit hard. I had just one booking my entire first month. In that moment, I questioned my choices, including leaving behind an executive salary, a predictable routine, and the identity I had built for over 20 years. That’s when I realized that building a business was a whole modality of its own. I worked with a Mindset Coach who is also a Hypnotherapy Practitioner, Leigh Kubin, because I had to face the limiting beliefs I didn’t even know I had around fear, scarcity, and lack. I also hired a Business Coach, Mandy Maree, with Satori Healers, to learn marketing and how to become visible on social media. It turns out no one gives you a heads-up that you’ll need to become your own content creator, PR rep, and brand ambassador practically overnight.
One of the toughest parts for me was learning to let go of control. I’ve been on my own since a young age, and self-reliance became my coping mechanism. Learning to trust that things are unfolding, even when I couldn’t see tangible progress, wasn’t just a business lesson. It was a personal one. It’s helped me grow not only as an entrepreneur but also as a wife and mother. I highly recommend working with a coach in any area of your life; the accountability and support are invaluable. A great coach helps you break old patterns, stay focused on your vision, and grow in ways you didn’t even know were possible.
I don’t think I’d be where I am today without the people who poured into me, believed in me, and helped shape both my personal healing and my business. My husband, Jeff, has been my biggest supporter. When I left a stable executive career to follow this path, he encouraged me every step of the way. His belief in me never wavered, even when mine did. He has been steady, patient, and endlessly supportive as I’ve taken on this new chapter of my life and business. My success is deeply tied to the people who mentored me, supported me, and have trusted me along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://breathe-flow-heal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breatheflowheal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568607808445
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollylbentley/
- Other: https://my.practicebetter.io/#/668f4b7ac2773d335806af0f/bookings?step=services
