The way we breathe determines the quality of our life.” — Dan Brulé
Then came the stillness — a van, my dogs and open roads. Away from the noise, I began to listen. In the silence, I found something I’d never given myself before: self-care, self-compassion, and self-love.
Breath became my teacher, showing me how to feel, regulate, and release.
In stillness, I met the parts of me I’d been running from.
Then came the quiet. The world around me slowed, and so did my breath.
In the stillness, I had nowhere to hide from myself — and for the first time, I didn’t want to.
What began as escape became an awakening. I learned how to regulate, not just react. How to listen, not just survive. How to care for myself in ways I never had before.
The pause between inhale and exhale is where I found self-love, self-compassion, and the courage to feel everything I’d numbed for years.
“Conscious breathing is a powerful tool for transformation.” — Stanislav Grof
When I stepped away from city life and began travelling in a van with my dogs, everything changed.
Nature moves at a very different rhythm.
There are no deadlines in forests.
No urgency in mountains.
Just breath.
In that quiet space, I began to understand the difference between:
escape and rest
numbing and healing
movement and stillness.
Breathwork became my daily practice.
Not as something dramatic or intense — but as something steady and grounding.
One breath at a time, my nervous system began to soften.
Breath Practice: Nature Rhythm Breathing
Sit outside.
Inhale slowly while observing the landscape.
Pause briefly.
Exhale slowly and relax your shoulders.
Let nature guide the pace of your breath.
The body remembers safety when it reconnects with the natural world.
Heart Coherence Breath
This practice gently brings awareness from the thinking mind into the heart space.
Try this:
Heart Coherence Breath
Place one hand over your heart Breathe slowly and evenly through the nose Imagine the breath moving in and out of the heart centre Continue for 3–5 minutes
Many people find this practice brings a sense of emotional warmth or connection.
When combined with feelings like gratitude or compassion, it can shift the nervous system toward a state of coherence and emotional balance.
The Breath Hold Reset
Breath holds can create a powerful pause in the body and mind.
Try this:
Gentle Breath Hold
Take a slow inhale through the nose Exhale completely Hold the breath out for as long as feels comfortable When the body asks for air, inhale slowly and fully
This pause can create a moment of stillness where the mind quiets and the body resets.
Many people notice heightened awareness and clarity after a few rounds.
While gentle breathing practices helped regulate my nervous system, deeper breathwork practices opened something else entirely.
They allowed emotions that had been stored in the body for years to finally move.
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