The Conversation That Changed Everything — Part 3 with Anna Bjurstam - Pausing, Compassion, and Integrating Science and Soul

I Believe in Something. I Just Don't Recognise the Version I Was Given." A different kind of consultation — on belief, belonging, and what the science says about coming home to yourself

Dr. S revisits spirituality as a clinical intervention, acknowledging that the term can trigger memories of shame, coercion, or abuse within religious settings, and clarifying that harmful delivery by people and institutions is not the same as spirituality itself. She names religious trauma as a recognized clinical phenomenon, citing Dr. Marlene Winell’s Religious Trauma Syndrome (2011) and reporting estimates that 27–33% of adults have experienced religious trauma, with 15–20% still symptomatic, and a 2021 study finding 33% trauma symptoms among those leaving high-control religions. She discusses research on “innate belief,” including Oxford’s Justin Barrett, while noting contested aspects, and argues that spiritual practice benefits health regardless of theological content. Using a yoga-injury analogy, she invites listeners to explore belief with curiosity, attend to bodily responses, and separate essence from delivery to reclaim meaning, connection, and wellbeing. 00:00 Spirituality and Triggers 04:08 Separating Faith From Harm 08:36 Religious Trauma Is Real 10:45 Essence vs Delivery 13:58 Science of Innate Belief 17:17 Clinical Benefits of Practice 19:05 Reframing After Bad Experiences 20:55 How to Explore Safely 24:55 Invitation and Next Episode 29:23 Final Question to Sit With Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/] contact@drsafiadebar.com [contact@drsafiadebar.com] IG: @drsafiadebar [https://www.instagram.com/drsafiadebar?igsh=dm44aDR3dzB2bjgx] Tiktok: drsafiadebar [https://www.tiktok.com/@drsafiadebar?_r=1&_t=ZN-91VDvrYeBnC] Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/resource]

How Breathwork & brainwaves change everything

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar, despite battling pharyngitis, dives deep into the transformative potential of breath work. She shares a personal experience that revolutionized her understanding of stress and healing, connecting it to the science of brainwaves. Dr. Debar explains how different brainwave patterns—beta, alpha, theta, delta, and gamma—correlate to various states of being and how conscious breathing can facilitate the transition between these states. The episode offers profound insights into the interconnectedness of mind, body, and soul and sets the stage for forthcoming discussions on tailored breath work practices. 00:00 Introduction to Master Stress with Dr. S 01:24 The Life-Changing Power of Breath Work 01:47 A Personal Breath Work Revelation 02:08 Unlocking Hidden Memories 03:59 The Science Behind Breath Work 07:50 Understanding Brainwave Patterns 12:02 Navigating Brainwave States 17:30 Applying Brainwave Knowledge to Daily Life 20:36 Reflecting on Your Brainwave Patterns 22:35 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/] contact@drsafiadebar.com [contact@drsafiadebar.com] IG: @drsafiadebar [https://www.instagram.com/drsafiadebar?igsh=dm44aDR3dzB2bjgx] Tiktok: drsafiadebar [https://www.tiktok.com/@drsafiadebar?_r=1&_t=ZN-91VDvrYeBnC] Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/resource]

Why Do I Have Everything — And Still Feel Empty? The Science of Spirituality

A medical doctor introduces episode one of “When Science Met Soul,” arguing that ancient medical systems treated body, mind, and soul as inseparable, while modern Western medicine adopted a body–soul split rooted in Descartes’ 1641 dualism deal with the Church. Drawing on research, she cites associations between religious/spiritual involvement and lower depression, longer lifespan (about 4–7 years), reduced mortality risk linked to purpose and life satisfaction, and Blue Zones findings that centenarians belong to faith communities. She explains psychoneuroimmunology (Robert Ader’s conditioning of immune suppression) and neuroscience findings from Andrew Newberg and Harvard showing spiritual practices affect the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobe, default mode network, and pathways relevant to depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. She reframes burnout as living against “factory settings” and prescribes three practices: a meaning audit, one minute of stillness, and naming your “why.” 00:00 Ancient Medicine Was Whole 01:53 Doctor Sees The Gap 02:43 Why This Series Exists 04:57 What Medicine Misses 07:18 The Data On Spirituality 09:55 Descartes And The Split 12:22 Science Proves Unity 14:42 Why Training Ignored It 16:22 Neuroscience Of Spirituality 20:16 Meaning Purpose And Longevity 23:08 My Burnout And Disconnection 27:12 Return To Factory Settings 31:53 Three Practices To Try 37:21 Closing And Next Episode Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/] contact@drsafiadebar.com [contact@drsafiadebar.com] IG: @drsafiadebar [https://www.instagram.com/drsafiadebar?igsh=dm44aDR3dzB2bjgx] Tiktok: drsafiadebar [https://www.tiktok.com/@drsafiadebar?_r=1&_t=ZN-91VDvrYeBnC] Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/resource]

The Conversation That Changed Everything — Part 3 with Anna Bjurstam - Pausing, Compassion, and Integrating Science and Soul

In the final episode of a conversation with Six Senses wellness pioneer Anna Bjurstam, she and the host discuss stepping out of the “hamster wheel” through intentional pauses and choosing accessible practices such as calming music, walking, breathwork, somatic therapy, and Sanctum classes that offer emotional, physical, and social release. Anna argues that societal wellbeing should start with cultivating compassion and curiosity, and personally with the first 30 minutes after waking—setting intentions, gratitude, journaling, sunshine, breathwork, and avoiding immediate phone use or coffee; she cites cold exposure as an endorphin boost. They explore awe and wonder as daily, trainable states supported by reframing thoughts and tools like Positive Prime. Anna shares leaving Six Senses to launch Waheyla (“power of the heart”), focusing on integrating spirituality, purpose, science, nature, and AI, rooted in a near-death experience and her purpose as a bridge between worlds. The host previews an upcoming series on the history behind the split between science and soul and critiques fear-driven, performative longevity culture. 00:00 Final Episode Intro 01:37 Pause and Pick Practices 02:01 Sanctum Class Explained 03:09 Morning Intention Ritual 05:06 Compassion and Society 06:41 First 30 Minutes Rule 08:19 Awe Wonder and Reframing 10:14 Tools to Reset Nervous System 12:44 New Chapter and Waheyla 15:18 Near Death Purpose Story 17:15 Wrap Up and Permission to Pause 18:21 Host Reflection and Next Series Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/] contact@drsafiadebar.com [contact@drsafiadebar.com] IG: @drsafiadebar [https://www.instagram.com/drsafiadebar?igsh=dm44aDR3dzB2bjgx] Tiktok: drsafiadebar [https://www.tiktok.com/@drsafiadebar?_r=1&_t=ZN-91VDvrYeBnC] Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/resource]

The Conversation That Changed Everything — Part 2 with Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses Wellness Pioneer

Dr. Safia Debar continues her conversation with Anna Bjurstam of Six Senses about integrating scientific and spiritual approaches to health, challenging the separation between clinician and soul. They discuss how practices like prayer, meditation, breathwork, and time in nature connect people with the heart, and how Eastern systems (especially Ayurveda and Panchakarma, alongside TCM and Tibetan medicine) can address ailments Western medicine often cannot, while Western care is essential for trauma and acute issues. They explore why doctors avoid recommending spiritual practices due to taboo, religion, liability, and demand for quick fixes, and emphasize a cultural shift driven by mental health needs. Anna cites research linking spiritual practice to lower depression (82%), lower suicide (94%), reduced all-cause mortality (33%), improved immune function (60%), and lower inflammation, framing placebo as faith. Anna shares her routine (meditation, yoga, limiting morning phone use, walking, and HRV tracking) and both reflect on avoiding burnout from over-optimization, integrating spirituality into daily life, and reclaiming silence, contemplation, and “auditing” one’s life. 00:00 Why This Series Exists 03:11 Spirituality Without Religion 05:22 East Meets West Healing 08:04 Why Doctors Avoid Prayer 11:43 You Are Already Whole 16:51 Science Behind Spiritual Practice 21:41 Anna’s Daily Rituals 26:47 Integrating Work and Spirit 30:31 Reflect and Audit Your Life 32:52 Closing and Next Episode Connect with Dr Safia Debar Dr Safia Debar Speaker / Coach | Medical Doctor | Breathwork Facilitator  One of Tatler's "Top 21 private doctors in Britain" 2020 www.drsafiadebar.com [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/] contact@drsafiadebar.com [contact@drsafiadebar.com] IG: @drsafiadebar [https://www.instagram.com/drsafiadebar?igsh=dm44aDR3dzB2bjgx] Tiktok: drsafiadebar [https://www.tiktok.com/@drsafiadebar?_r=1&_t=ZN-91VDvrYeBnC] Find our free resources here: www.drsafiadebar.com/resource [https://www.drsafiadebar.com/resource]