Breathing Better with Breathe Degrees

[Originally written October 2020]

I can’t wait for December. I’ll be going to Nicaragua for the first time for a week long retreat with yoga, surfing, and breath work with a company called Room to Roam.

Since all of our lives got flipped upside down this year, I’ve been more and more drawn to the ebb and flow of the water and my breath. It’s truly wild to witness the similarities in how I respond to life’s situations and being out surfing or riding my breath. Yes, I get caught off guard by waves, stress (sometimes healthy, sometimes not), and anxiety that make me feel powerless and stuck. I freeze, and have learned to challenge my thought patterns or take pauses/rest to navigate my nervous system back to a feeling of safety so that I can move forward - but it’s a practice I’d like to get better at.

Learning how to breathe seems so rudimentary, but in reality, we were never taught how to breathe properly, especially to handle life’s unpredictable circumstances that can literally take our breath away.

So when I was offered the opportunity to learn how to breathe with people outside, under the stars, and test myself afterwards through cold exposure, I said yes.

The class was offered through Breathe Degrees, taught and run by Tyler Forbes, aka “the Preacher.” When I heard him speak about our society and how we live our lives, untapped and lacking breath, my only thought was “he’s preaching to the choir.”

Now I’ve done breath work before (including kundalini yoga and different pranayama in yoga, hypopressive breathing for core health, and tidbits of Wim Hof) and consider myself well versed in breathing mechanics as a physical therapist and practitioner. I have even had one experience with cold exposure, and have been periodically meditating at the beach and immediately taking a plunge into the ocean (during the spring and summer months for a “California espresso”). But I have never had the chance to combine the two in a full fledged way to put my breath and body to the test.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to do this because guess what?

Mind controls the body, breath controls the mind.

Tyler and the team at Breathe Degrees shared with me the benefits of their methods of breath work:

Increase in energy, improved performance, improved metabolic efficiency/fat burning, suppression of negative immune response, fights depression and anxiety, reduces inflammation, boosts cognitive function and memory, and promotes longevity of life.

Needless to say, I was curious about how I would feel, personally. It started with taking a pH test for my urine to see what changes could or would be made after this work (believe me - it was work). We got comfortable on pads, grounded and laying on our backs after Tyler introduced what we were going to be doing - 7 rounds of breathing, Wim Hof style. The eye masks and blankets provided kept us inward, and warm.

Throughout my journey in the 7 rounds, I could feel tension leaving my body, specifically on my right side. The rounds of breathing sped by, however, it all felt like an endurance race for my respiratory system. I didn’t have color visions or pictures pop up, which is common for some, but the sensations in my body were astounding. I felt alive, awakened, and truthfully, amped up.

It was like I had tapped into something familiar, yet unexposed, in myself. When we were done, I felt like I had scratched the surface of a practice that will change my life for the better. With special touches along the way (I don’t want to spoil them all for people that are local to SD who’d want to try this class out), I felt ready to get into the cold.

I waited my turn for the ice bath - a true test that signifies anything in your life that could rock your system into fight, flight, or freeze (sympathetic nervous system), taking your breath away. But your challenge is to stay - feel the feels, breathe in and out of your nose until you come back to a place of calm.

Luckily, the guides are there for you every step of the way, and Tyler coached me into the water. I settled in, ice water up to my chest, and began to breathe. No goosebumps, no gasping. Just me, my breath, and my body. This time, I visualized Wim Hof himself, swimming underneath an ice-capped lake somewhere, in just his board shorts. I thought, if he can do that and hold his breath while searching for the exit, then I can sit here for 3 minutes with myself.

I proved myself right. I could do it. I did do it. And I plan on doing it again as soon as I can, because I felt amazing afterwards. Like I was powerful all along and had that kind of greatness in me. Like I could do anything I put my mind to.

If you want a challenge, you can try out their breath classes online here. If you’re in San Diego, I highly encourage you to try this class out at least once! It will truly change the way you think about your breath, and your life.