Meet Tiffany Florio, a Darien mom of three girls. A breathwork practitioner, Tiffany focuses on “connecting the soma (body) and psyche (mind) back together.” This practice has helped her regulate her nervous system and develop an “empowered mindset.” Discover her path to wellness and how she finds balance. Follow Tiffany on Instagram @tiffanyflorio_ to learn how breathwork can ease the pressures of daily life.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
I have 3 girls: Sophia (6), Gemma (4), and Mila (2).
What brought you and your family to town?
My husband Andrew and I met in New York City. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment with all five of us and wanted more space for the girls, especially once the pandemic hit. We fell in love with Darien because it’s on the water, and made the move two summers ago.
What’s your favorite aspect about being part of the community?
I love the girls’ preschool. Shoutout to Debbie Moran and the entire St. John’s community for being so warm and welcoming. It’s been a great place to meet supportive mom friends.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
We love going on family walks (or scooter/bike rides) to Pear Tree Beach. The walks are great for getting movement in, being active as a family and getting Vitamin D. Sometimes we pack a picnic for lunch and can easily spend the morning and early afternoon there. It’s such a fun way to spend time together as a family.
As a somatic breathwork practitioner, can you tell us more about what that means?
We often experience stress in our nervous system which can indirectly affect our breathing patterns. This can manifest as shallow breathing or even unknowingly holding our breath. Breathwork helps us actively focus on our breath to regulate the nervous system, which helps our body more effectively cope with life’s daily pressures. For many years, breathwork was either a medical intervention that was only used by people with respiratory ailments or a spiritual practice that was often seen as vague and mystical by the western world. We live in a time where science and spirituality can work together to empower our modern lives. There are various forms of breathwork, and I was trained in somatic breathwork, which is rooted in a belief in balancing the soma (body) and psyche (mind).
Can you please tell us a bit about your path to health and wellness?
My family is from Taiwan, where natural is considered best. Growing up we would drink dandelion root tea to reduce inflammation and eat watermelon rind to treat fevers. After I had kids, being exhausted and overwhelmed became my new identity and I needed to get back to who I really was. At its core, breathwork is about connecting our soma (body) and psyche (mind) back together. By regulating my nervous system, I was able to work on developing an empowered mindset. From there, I sought out ways to help me feel my best, whether through movement, nutrition, or creating new routines.
Tell us about your practice and how you decided to launch it?
I started my practice to empower other moms and put them in control of their own health and wellbeing. I love that breathwork is so accessible; everyone can do it. Breathing is the only thing that we do both consciously and subconsciously, so we are doing it all the time anyway. I like to say that there is no right or wrong way to breathe, but learning to do it in this focused way can transform your wellbeing. Regulating the nervous system does so much for getting the thinking mind back online so that we are capable of handling any situation.
What can clients who work with you expect during these sessions?
The sessions I lead are 90 minutes long. During the first half of the session, I guide clients to use their breath to send the body to an elevated or sympathetic state. This allows for expression and release. The second half uses nasal breathing to regulate and repattern the nervous system to bring the body back to a parasympathetic state. Breathwork is a personal journey, so everyone has their own experience during each session. Some people may react by crying or laughing – it’s all totally normal. My sessions are a safe space and I encourage everyone to move at their own pace. In time, we can work to heal trauma, find purpose, improve sleep, support immunity, release stress, and strengthen focus, ultimately to bring the body and mind back to alignment.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d give parents struggling to introduce or maintain healthy and constructive habits into their routines?
You are what you repeatedly do, and it’s okay to start small. Pick one thing that seems manageable and start there. Your goal could be to drink 50 ounces of water or incorporate five minutes of stretching into each day. If you miss one day, don’t let that stop you because you can always start again the next day. If you don’t have time to do five minutes of stretching, one minute is better than zero minutes. Being consistent will give you the confidence to keep going. The small things become the big things.
As a busy mama, is there something you do each day to support your own needs?
I follow a morning routine that is nonnegotiable. I didn’t always have one – when we lived in our apartment in New York City, all five of us were sleeping in one room, which meant my mornings were all over the place. This is why my morning routine is so important to me now. Usually, I get up before the kids wake up. I do breathwork to regulate the nervous system, a combination of yoga/pilates through the Melissa Wood-Tepperberg app, and journaling to set clear intentions for my day. I also make sure I ground rain or shine – that means getting outside and putting my feet in the grass. If I don’t get up before the kids, I remind myself that I am flexible. For the past three days my youngest has been waking up at 5am so I just do my best to incorporate her into my routine. One of the cutest things is that she asks for steamed milk, which she calls her “coffee,” and we cheers together.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
My friend Tessa Romero once told me it’s likely that you’ve had to go through a lot of hard circumstances to get here today. Therefore, there’s nothing that will come up in the future that you can’t overcome.
Do you have any advice for other moms considering entrepreneurship?
Start somewhere. I think the best way to get to the other side is through the messy middle. I had no prior business experience before starting my practice and have learned all of it along the way.
How do you unwind when you need some “me time?”
I’ve recently gotten into walking as a way to get some fresh air. I also love watching Real Housewives on Bravo and anything on Food Network, especially the Barefoot Contessa.
Anything to add?
The scene of conscious breathing is the biggest, most effective and most forgotten lifestyle hack in the world. Breath is bigger than meditation and even mindfulness and it’s just getting started. I know trying new things can be intimidating and that it’s comfortable to keep doing what you’re familiar with. But if you haven’t tried breathwork, and if you’re even a little curious about what it is, I would love to show you why I fell in love with it. It’s helped me gain so much clarity around my mindset. Regulating my nervous system by practicing breathwork has helped so much with my emotional regulation, allowing me to connect my body and mind back together.
We love supporting local businesses. Favorite places in town or nearby to…
Have dinner with or without kids: Valencia in Norwalk and the Dilly Duck Shop in Wilton (both great with the kids). As a bonus, Michele’s Pies is right next door to Dilly Duck and they’re the best for grabbing a pie for dessert! Andrew loves the chocolate pecan.
Grab a drink with friends: Rincon in Norwalk
Have a date night: Kawa Ni in Westport
Spend time together as a family: Pear Tree Beach and Roton Point
Shop for your kids: Egg New York has the cutest kids’ clothes.
Spa: Darizen for massage and acupuncture – Suze is the best!
Grab coffee: I always grab iced coffee from Mama Carmela’s – their staff is so nice!!
Any hidden treasures or other favorites?I go to Flour Water Salt at least twice a week for their whole wheat sandwich bread. It’s great for the kids’ grilled cheese and I love their sourdough to pair with my daily salad. For takeout, I love Nit Noi in Greenwich and Peter Chang in Stamford.
ABOUT TIFFANY FLORIO
Tiffany Florio LLC offers 1:1 and group breathwork sessions, both in-person and via Zoom. She offers a variety of class times throughout the week and hold monthly group sessions on weekends. For more information, follow her on Instagram @tiffanyflorio_ or book an appointment at calendly.com/tiffany-florio.