Exploring HeartMath®: A Conversation with Rebecca Dunaway

In a recent episode of the Cultivate Calmness Podcast, host Kaela Vance, LPCCS welcomed special guest Rebecca Dunaway, a certified HeartMath® practitioner, Reiki Master, and aspiring sound therapy and psycho-neuroenergetic professional. The conversation offered a profound dive into the healing potential of HeartMath®, a heart-focused system for emotional regulation, nervous system balance, and personal transformation.

Rebecca, with over 35 years of experience in the healthcare field, spoke candidly about her journey through burnout and rediscovering herself through integrative healing modalities. "I realized how I was living in the world was not in a good way," she admitted. The pressures of a high-speed, compliance-driven medical industry had taken their toll. In her search for something more sustainable, she discovered the power of vibrational sound therapy and the HeartMath® system.

HeartMath®, founded in 1991, is described by its creators as "a system for awakening and developing our heart's intelligence." During the podcast, Rebecca read directly from the foundational HeartMath® text, Heart Intelligence: Connecting with the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart, which outlines tools designed to help people connect with their heart's intuitive wisdom and regulate their emotional responses.

One of the core techniques discussed was heart-focused breathing. As Rebecca explained, "You focus your attention on the area of the heart... imagine your breath is flowing in through the heart and out through the heart, breathing in a little slower and deeper than usual." The goal is to enter a state of coherence, where the heart, brain, nervous system, and body are in sync. "When we're in coherence," she noted, "we can tap into our heart intelligence with clarity and discernment instead of reacting from a place of stress."

Kaela, the host, described her own response to practicing the breathwork live: "Yeah, I mean, I feel calmer." The calming effect is not coincidental. Scientific research behind HeartMath® has demonstrated its power to shift the nervous system from the sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) into the parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode. Rebecca emphasized, "The heart sends more messages to the brain than the brain sends to the heart."

A unique feature of HeartMath® is that it's active and accessible, unlike traditional meditation. "The tools are meant to be done on the go," Rebecca shared, recalling how she used heart-focused breathing while navigating the stress of driving on a busy highway. She added, "Normally I would be depleted, but I had energy leftover. I didn’t need 20 minutes to reset."

What sets HeartMath® apart is its blend of emotional awareness and physiological regulation. Rebecca described how breathing in renewing feelings like appreciation, love, or gratitude while maintaining heart-focused breathing can dramatically shift one's internal state. "Sometimes it’s not the event we want, it’s the feeling associated with it," she said.

Kaela reflected on how this practice could help her therapy clients. "These are skills I could potentially work with clients on," she said, noting the complementary relationship between HeartMath® and traditional talk therapy.

Rebecca outlined what a session with her might look like: a combination of HeartMath® breathing, Reiki energy work, and sound therapy using Himalayan bowls. "It's like energetic hygiene," she explained. "People leave feeling lighter. We don’t talk about their story, but we focus on the body, the energy, and how to reconnect with the heart."

The conversation also touched on the science of co-regulation. Rebecca discussed how entering into a heart-coherent state not only impacts the self but also those nearby. "The electromagnetic field of the heart can be measured 4-6 feet away. If I’m coherent, they can feel that," she said. This makes HeartMath® especially powerful in therapeutic or group settings.

Rebecca was also transparent about how HeartMath® has helped her navigate difficult moments—both with clients and in everyday life. She shared a moment at a hardware store where her tendency to "fawn" kicked in, a trauma response she now recognizes and gently works through using HeartMath® techniques. "Having compassion for myself first... that’s the key," she said.

Kaela agreed, noting that clients often "hit those pieces of us that still need healing." HeartMath® allows for a pause, a moment of checking in rather than reacting. "We breathe in, and we reset," said Rebecca.

The conversation wrapped up with practical advice: Start small. Rebecca recommends beginning the practice while driving, especially during stressful commutes. "When you're getting in the car, take a minute to breathe in and out through the heart. Breathe in appreciation, care, or joy. See how it shifts your response to red lights or traffic."

One of the most moving stories came from Rebecca's time volunteering with a veteran at the VA. With just seven seconds of heart-focused breathing and a renewing emotion, the man was able to say, "I remember what love feels like." That moment, she said, keeps her going: "That's the booster shot I need."

HeartMath® isn’t a cure-all, but it is a powerful companion for healing—physically, mentally, and emotionally. As Rebecca concluded, "When we add heart, it amplifies the effect of everything we do."

To learn more about Rebecca Dunaway and HeartMath®, or to explore how these techniques might complement your therapeutic journey, visit Teal Saguaro Wellness at https://www.tealsaguaro.com/ or tune in to more episodes of the Cultivate Calmness Podcast.