Guest Post By Prashantha Lachanna

I heard an interesting concept on a podcast recently which thereafter made me switch of all podcasts that focus on improving and advancing how you think/act/sleep/eat/work/play. The concept is called “knowledge obesity”. 

We are compelled as humans, to advance. But, we are stuck in an age of information overload and because we’re on unconscious, automatic behaviour mode most of the time, we consume more knowledge calories that we expend. We get fat in the head but too thin on action and execution.

I’m tired of outsourcing my creativity, my built-in problem solving faculties, the precious, precious fertile “nothing” moments between big thinking periods. Those nothing moments give us time to process information and reorganize our thoughts, “mindlessly” creating amazing new things. We can’t do that if our brains are constantly engaged, harassed and harangued. 

I’m learning that focusing on my breath is THE fundamental building block to releasing myself from stress, compulsion, anxiety and unconscious behaviours. It’s not “another new thing”. It’s the ORIGINAL thing before all this mental fodder gavaging us through the airwaves existed. (My next Ted talk is going to be on pop ups ads. Nothing makes me want to commit murder like a pop up ad while I’m trying to focus on an article etc).

I’ve been doing qi gong and kundalini yoga on and for a few years. Both are centered on breathwork. What I’ve discovered is that I get cool as a cucumber in moments of high stress, I sleep better, I wake happier, I’m more conscious of what I eat. I just feel more at home in my body and I feel drawn to stillness. All of this is ntuitive. 

But now, I’ve got to thank breathwork coach, Ray for drawing out the intellectual principles behind that intuitive discovery. Ray is ex-corporate banking. He was in the thick of stress for most of his career. If anyone understands stress, it’s him. 

Now, he’s a freedive instructor and breathwork coach living the island life in Xiao Liu Qiu with his wife. 

During our online workshop, Ray outlined three types of breathing (water, whiskey, wine) and how each one affects the alkalinity/acidity of the body the toning of the nervous system and the tolerance of CO2 AND it’s benefits. Some of us put too much energy in developing our muscles rather than developing the nervous system which is even more important. 

One thing that blew my mouth-breathing mind was learning that nose breathing releases neurotransmitters in the brain that signal safety. It also shapes jaw and palate development in children!!

He also explained how conscious breathwork brings us out of fight and flight and into rest and digest. Now, this is what I know from years of qi gong and kundalini but with Ray I’m understanding the mechanics. 

I’m bringing it to you today because as business owners, our stress levels are...OMG, MAKE IT STAHP! I encourage you to connect to your breath, slow down, practice breathing everyday for just 5-10 minutes and see how it impacts your decision making capabilities, your ability to think on your feet and also allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment that you’re investing in your wellbeing and you’re watching your productivity climb. 

Ray’s sessions are NT 1500 x 20 people (Max) and he also offers 1-1 sessions for NT 5000 x 4 30-min sessions. All online. He’s done in person corporate workshops, too. Maybe book him for after Corona leaves town. Meanwhile, you can access him online for now. 

I’m not getting no kickbacks. I simply love sharing things that benefit me. I’m of the mindset that whatever I’m going through, someone else is also going through and maybe they need a solution. 

This is Ray’s page. Happy exploring, learning and growing

Please email ray@freedivenomad.com or if you are interested to learn Breathwork for Stress from me.