5. Can We Use the Breath to Regulate Ourselves?

5. Can We Use the Breath to Regulate Ourselves?

In this episode of the Sapphire Soul Podcast, I explore the question: can we use the breath to regulate ourselves? I share simple breath practices I use in everyday life to slow down and reconnect in the middle of a fast and overstimulated environment, including layovers, sleep, stressful days, at home and in aviation. We look at HRV resonance breathing, slower breathing with longer exhales, nasal breathing, the physiological sigh, and a few traditional yogic practices. I also share about my somatic embodiment training through the Somatic Embodiment Academy and my ongoing work with breathwork and nervous system regulation, including learning to facilitate conscious connected breathwork. The episode closes with a guided breathwork practice in the final 20 minutes, complemented by one of my recorded guitar meditation tracks. Research & links: • Stanford / Cell Reports Medicine Breathwork Study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36630953/ • HRV and Pilot Regulation Research https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38859613/ • Somatic Embodiment Academy https://www.somaticembodimentacademy.ca For a more thorough explanation and guided HRV resonance breathing practice, I’d highly recommend Forrest Knutson’s work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XITejXTj36M Sean & Sapphire Soul Collective https://sapphiresoul.ca

4: Why I Quit Alcohol

Alcohol was a big part of my life, how I connected, how I unwound, how I marked the end of the day. From the outside, things looked fine. I could function, stay disciplined, and keep everything together. But underneath, it had more of a hold on me than I wanted to admit. I found myself in darker places, making decisions I wasn’t proud of, hurting myself, and not showing up well for the people in my life. I couldn’t wait for that next drink, and over time, it started to feel like it was shaping my life more than I was. In this episode, I share what that looked like for me and why I chose to step away. Sapphire Soul Collective Rewilding the human experience in a modern world. Exploring vitality, embodiment, experience, and purpose. Explore more at sapphiresoul.ca

3: The Feeling You Get When You’re in the Right Place

You know that feeling… When nothing is forced, you’re fully present, and everything just feels right. In this episode, I riff on that experience. Where it shows up and what it feels like. Even if you’re not there right now… you’ve felt it before. Explore more about Sapphire Soul Collective at sapphiresoul.ca

2: What It Means To Be Human In This Modern World

What does it actually mean to be human in the modern world? In this episode, Sean explores the gap between how we’re designed to live and how we actually live today. From constant stimulation and screen time to the loss of nature, community, and rhythm. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or like something is missing… it’s not just you. Sean ends the show with an unplugged version of his song Divine Mother. Explore more about Sapphire Soul Collective at sapphiresoul.ca

1: The day I realized something was missing

A reflection about climbing the ladder of life, the weight, disconnection, realization, diabetes, the airline's and healing. Sean explores who he was, how he noticed and who he's working toward being now. Wondering about community support systems and what it's like to be a human these days in an overly modern world. Explore more about Sean and Sapphire Soul Collective at sapphiresoul.ca Yoga and Meditation Centre of Calgary www.yogamcc.com Rosina - Family Constellations https://rosinawellmann.com/