Chapter 1: An Unexpected Revelation

Initially, I was taken aback. However, a warm smile soon followed. Here’s the story.

On a Friday evening, I served 9 individuals a dose of 5g of mushrooms each. Thirty minutes in, a 72-year-old participant began shaking uncontrollably.

Having undergone breathwork training, I recognize this physical reaction. My experience with Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) taught me that our bodies hold onto past energies, which can manifest as tremors when it’s time to release them. For me, this shaking is completely normal and part of the healing journey.

However, for Steve, it was an unfamiliar, painful, and even shameful experience. Embarrassed, he attempted to suppress it, which only intensified his discomfort.

As Carl Jung wisely said, “What you resist, persists.” It was at that moment I decided to sit beside him and guide him in breathing exercises. I elongated my exhales, and Steve mirrored my actions. I even incorporated sighing and humming, techniques known to stimulate the vagus nerve, which the body responds to positively.

Later, Steve expressed, “You saved my life. The only thing that helped me stop shaking was the breath.”

Another notable aspect of that Friday night was the intense heat; it felt as though we were in a sauna, and everyone was sweating profusely, myself included.

I began to search my mind for a solution and remembered my breathwork teachings, which indicated that inhaling brings heat into the body while exhaling cools it down. Previously, I had learned to warm myself up (Wim Hof style) in cold water, but I had never applied this method in reverse—until that night.

Intrigued, I focused my mind, slowed my breathing, and remained still. After ten minutes, while everyone else was drenched in sweat, I felt as cool as a cucumber. I was astonished!

Breathwork has transformed my life in numerous ways. For 15 years, I battled anxiety, which went undiagnosed due to my belief that it was an issue for others. I stubbornly ignored it until it became unbearable. This led me to mindfulness practices including meditation, yoga, plant medicines, and breathwork.

Meditation allowed me to observe my anxiety without identifying with it. Yoga equipped me with techniques to connect with my body rather than being trapped in my thoughts. Experiences with plant medicines such as mushrooms and ayahuasca revealed that I am more than just my physical form and that worrying is unnecessary. Breath control practices empowered me to self-regulate whenever anxiety arose.

This transformation has been profound, and I am now passionate about sharing this superpower with others.

Chapter 2: The Path to Healing Through Breath