I recently shared that I’m taking a Breathwork Instructor Course. People asked me how it went and which tools I actually find useful.
This could go too deep and nerdy here quickly which I remember a conversation between a friend and me got 4 years ago…
So, I guess it comes down to this: Both intense breathing techniques and subtle practices have their place.
As with any tool, before choosing one, I need some clarity:
“What do I actually want to be different?”
When I’m stressed, my world gets smaller.
Decisions become reactive. I rush to solve problems. I lose perspective.
The same thing happens when I get too comfortable with a decision. I should be suspicious of that comfort, because it usually means my world has shrunk again. I’ve stopped listening to the full picture.
I find it useful to think about three centers of intelligence:
- The gut: Senses safety and danger.
- The heart: Connects to what matters and how decisions affect others.
- The mind: Analyzes, plans, and processes complexity.
When stress or comfort takes over, one voice completely dominates. The others get muted.
The breath helps me bring these three back into conversation. Not because breathing magically hands you answers, but because it regulates your nervous system. It creates space between stimulus and response. From that space, balanced decisions become possible—not driven purely by fear, emotion, or logic alone.
Do you need to join a 90-minute breathwork class for this? No.
Next time you feel stuck or overly certain, try a simple micro-practice:
- Pause.
- Slow down the breath. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds.
- Orient. Look around the room. Name three physical objects you see. Focus on one for a second, let it go, and move to the next.
Or go for a walk without your phone. That helps me almost every time. Even if I resist at first to actually get up.
Then ask yourself:
“What do I actually want to be different?”
The answer may point you to the next step.
The breath simply helps create enough space to hear it.