SUR—UNDER | Breathwork Studio

SUR—UNDER is a breathwork and embodiment studio in Byron Bay offering daily classes focused on nervous system regulation, body awareness and changing how you feel through conscious breathing. Sessions combine evidence-informed breathing techniques with movement, fascia release, sound, meditation and guided stillness, creating an experience that is more involved than a standard breathing exercise. The studio’s approach is not about forcing an emotional release or pushing beyond your limits; it centres on safety, curiosity and learning to notice what is happening in the body.

The classes are designed for a range of intentions, including stress relief, recovery, focus, emotional wellbeing, better sleep and a chance to pause. SUR—UNDER presents breathwork as both practical and reflective: grounded in nervous system science while allowing room for presence, insight and personal experience. The studio acknowledges that not every session will feel dramatic. A quieter outcome, such as a softer jaw, a deeper exhale or a moment of stillness, is treated as meaningful too. This makes it a considered option for people who are new to breathwork, as well as those with an established practice.

The space is presented as a warm, sensory studio rather than a clinical setting, with breath, sound, stillness and body-based practices shaping the experience. SUR—UNDER also places importance on community, describing itself as a place to gather and practise wellbeing alongside others. It may suit solo visitors looking for time away from daily demands, or anyone wanting a supportive setting to explore stress, overwhelm, burnout or feeling disconnected from their body. The website does not position the classes as a substitute for professional healthcare, but as a guided way to slow down and reconnect.

Founder Steph Pannell’s story informs the studio’s philosophy. After eight years in a combat role in the Royal Australian Navy, she says she came to recognise the value of slowing down after years of pushing harder and staying in motion. Her own experiences of anxiety, stress, burnout and disconnection led her to breathwork as a way to feel more present, rather than as a quick fix. That background gives SUR—UNDER a clear focus: helping people in Byron Bay make space to breathe, listen to their bodies and leave feeling more grounded and connected.