We recently connected with Heidi Tacktill and have shared our conversation below.
Heidi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my life is leaving a stable, established career after 20 years to pursue a calling I’ve felt deep down for a long time—bringing breathwork and nervous system regulation to people. It’s funny, because before I even entered education, where I’ve spent the last two decades, I actually studied mental health. That’s even what I got my first master’s in. I had this passion for helping others in that realm. But then, life took a different turn, and I ended up teaching special education, focusing on reading and executive functioning skills in schools.
It’s not like that detour was wasted—it’s just that I wasn’t quite ready yet to discover the true modality I’d bring into the world to support embodied healing. I learned so much during those years in education, especially in terms of understanding how different people interact with stress and challenges, but I still felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I discovered breathwork that everything started to click. This is the missing piece I had been searching for, a tool that could truly empower people to regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with their bodies in a transformative way.
So, after years of feeling that “niggle,” that deep, persistent pull, I knew it was time to step away from the safety of my career and take the risk to pursue this. I could have stayed in education, stayed in that place of stability, but at some point, you just can’t ignore the signs anymore. The universe starts speaking louder and louder, and you realize you’re meant for something else.
I’m not entirely sure yet where this new path will take me, and I’m still figuring things out as I go. But every step I take—whether it’s leading a breathwork session, connecting with someone who has experienced deep healing, or seeing people learn how to regulate their stress—I feel more certain that this was the risk I was meant to take. It’s a journey of trust, and I truly believe that the universe’s plan for me is unfolding right on time. So, while the full picture isn’t clear yet, I’m confident that with each step, I’m moving closer to fulfilling my purpose.
Heidi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello, I’m Heidi Tacktill, founder of Breathe Bethesda. For over two decades, I’ve dedicated myself to supporting individuals in reaching their highest potential—initially as a learning specialist and now as a breathwork and wellness coach. I hold a Master of Science in Mental Health and have earned certifications as a Breathwork Facilitator, Sound Healer, and Reiki Master.
My journey into breathwork and energy healing began when I realized I was living in a constant state of fight or flight, unable to fully experience the blessings in my life. Through these practices, I reconnected with my body and shifted from merely surviving to truly living. This transformation inspired me to share these modalities with others.
At Breathe Bethesda, I offer a range of services designed to help clients release stored stress, reconnect with their body’s wisdom, and cultivate greater ease and self-trust. These services include:
Breathwork: Guided sessions to clear out what’s no longer serving you and make space for who you want to become.
Sound Healing: Utilizing sound to facilitate deep relaxation and healing.
Energy Work: Techniques to balance and restore your body’s energy flow.
Executive Functioning and Literacy Support: Helping individuals develop tools and systems to thrive academically and personally.
What sets Breathe Bethesda apart is our holistic approach, combining traditional methods with innovative practices to tailor-fit each client’s needs. I’m most proud of creating a space where people don’t feel like they need to fixed but instead help them make more space to show up as who they truly are.
For those ready to explore this path, I offer both in-person sessions in Bethesda, Maryland, and virtual appointments worldwide. I believe that healing is not about fixing but about remembering who you are and allowing yourself the space to return home to yourself.
If you’re interested in learning more or scheduling a session, please visit our website at www.breathebethesda.com.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
When I decided to leave my 20-year career in education to start my own business that combined education and wellness , I was consumed by fear. The financial uncertainty was one thing, but the real challenge was worrying about what others would think of me and combining these two somewhat unrelated fields. I was known in the education world as a leader and expert, but could I be taken seriously in the wellness space? Could I combine these two things in a way that made sense? Would people view me as credible, or would they think I was just jumping on a trend?
That’s when I came across “Let Them” by Mel Robbins. This book was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. Mel Robbins talks about how we spend so much time worrying about other people’s judgments and opinions, but the truth is, those opinions don’t define us. She encouraged me to stop trying to control how others would perceive my decision and to just let them have their thoughts. This was a game-changer for me. I realized that I didn’t need to explain myself or fit into a box that others had created for me. Instead, I needed to trust my own path and focus on the people who truly mattered—those who would resonate with the work I was doing.
After reading “Let Them”, I felt empowered to step into my new venture with confidence. But there was still another barrier I had to overcome: the fear of financial instability. That’s when I stumbled upon “It’s Not Your Money” by Tosha Silver, which helped me reframe how I thought about money. The book helped me see that money isn’t something to hoard or fear—it’s simply an exchange of energy. I had been so caught up in the idea that I needed to have everything financially secured before making the leap, but “It’s Not Your Money” helped me understand that if I aligned my work with my purpose, the universe would take care of the rest.
The combination of these two books really shifted my perspective. “Let Them” helped me let go of the fear of judgment from others, and “It’s Not Your Money”gave me the freedom to trust that my financial needs would be met as I moved forward in my calling. I stopped trying to control every detail and instead allowed myself to embrace the unknown with faith that the right opportunities would unfold.
So, when I launched Breathe Bethesda, I did so with a sense of relief and purpose. Yes, there were still moments of fear and uncertainty, but I knew I was on the right path. I didn’t need to have all the answers or perfect financial stability—what mattered was that I was trusting myself and the process. And, each day, I’m more confident that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Other than training and knowledge, what has been most helpful for me in succeeding in my field is finding embodied practices and doing my inner work. For most of my life, I lived in my head, constantly doing what I thought I was supposed to do—what society and others had programmed me to believe was the “right” path. I focused on what looked good on paper, achieving milestones that were externally validated, but by doing that, I shut off the signals from my body. I was completely disconnected, not listening to the cues that were there all along.
It wasn’t until I started doing the deep inner work that things truly began to shift. I found that regular practices like yoga, especially in a space and style that spoke to my soul, as well as breathwork and other somatic therapies, helped me reconnect to the parts of me that I had long ignored. These practices allowed me to slow down and tune into the subtle wisdom of my body. I started to recognize the signs and messages my body was sending me, and I finally began to trust my own intuition.
That relationship—one that’s rooted in deep embodiment—has been the most transformative thing in my journey. I don’t just think through my next steps now; I feel them. When I feel grounded and aligned in my body, I’m able to connect more deeply with the universe, seeing and trusting that I am being guided toward the next right step. This alignment is so powerful, not just for my own growth, but in how I show up to serve others.
By doing my own work, by prioritizing my inner connection, I can help others feel at home in their bodies too. I know firsthand what it feels like to be disconnected and out of touch with yourself, so now, through breathwork and nervous system regulation, I get to help others reclaim that connection. There’s a profound shift that happens when you can be truly present in your body—when you stop living just in your head and start experiencing life from a grounded, embodied space. That’s been the most essential part of my own growth and success, and it’s what allows me to be of the greatest service to others on their own healing journeys.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.breathebethesda.com
- Instagram: @breathebethesda
- Other: email: [email protected]
