The Wake-Up Call That Changed The Way I Breathe… and Teach
Before I understood how my breath behaved under stress,
I thought I was managing just fine.
I’d tense up, brace myself, and push through.
But my breath?
It was stuck.
I was controlling it without realizing that I was overriding my body’s natural reflex.
Why is that important?
Because the reflex is your body’s autopilot for self regulation…
Guided by CO2 and your brainstem, not by conscious effort.
When I overrode it... my system went haywire:
- CO₂ levels dropped
- Oxygen delivery slowed
- Even simple tasks felt harder
- My thinking got foggy
- I was reactive
- Anxious… without knowing why
My body was stuck in survival mode.
One day, Shane said to me:
“I don’t know if I’m coming home to a happy wife or a moody wife.”
That was the wake-up call.
I knew something had to change.
What shifted everything?
Learning to allow my breath instead of trying to control it.
That one change recalibrated my system.
- My physiology reset
- My mind cleared
- I could respond instead of react
- I could stay steady, even under pressure
And that didn’t just change how I breathe…
It reshaped how we teach.
In our Behavioral Breathwork Facilitator Training,
We don’t start with techniques.
We start with you.
With your breath, exactly as it is.
Because your physiology tells a story.
And when you know how to listen, the next step becomes clear.
You begin to work with the body, not against it.
That’s the heart of Behavioral Breathwork.
If you’ve ever felt like techniques alone weren’t enough…
Or weren’t working consistently…
There’s a reason.
And there’s another way.
We just started the Behavioral Breathwork Facilitator Training with our live Orientation session this week.
If any part of my story feels familiar, I invite you to join us.
You can still catch the replay and step into this work for yourself… and your community.
Because the truth is:
As the world grows more dysregulated, people will need support.
And very few will know how to offer it in a way that’s sustainable, science-informed, and truly aligned with the body’s intelligence.
That’s why this training matters.
Because we draw a clear distinction between:
- Breathwork techniques
- And the every-breath behaviors that shape how we think, feel, and function
This training is grounded in both.
It’s for anyone guiding meaningful change… from the inside out.
If your own practice has plateaued...
If you're looking for a grounded, science-informed way to support others...
You can still join us.
In Gratitude,
Angie (and Shane) Saunders
Featured Insight of the Week
Breathing Actually Isn’t Dysfunctional… It’s Adaptive
It’s easy to label certain patterns…
Shallow breathing,
Breath-holding
As “dysfunctional.”
We’ve done that, too.
But here’s the truth:
Those patterns are often adaptive.
They’re your body’s intelligent response to stress.
They reflect:
- Real or remembered threats
- Long-term habits and conditioning
- The perceived demands of a moment
And if we don’t understand what those patterns are responding to…
We risk using breathwork in a way that overrides the system instead of supports it.
That’s why this distinction matters:
Breathwork is what you do.
Breathing is what your body is already doing.
When we force a technique on a dysregulated system,
It can create internal conflict.
That’s why in Behavioral Breathwork,
We start with observation.
We listen before we lead.
Learn before we guide.
Because once you understand what the breath is doing… and why…
You can support the body’s natural rhythm,
Rather than working against it.
That’s when breathwork becomes effective, sustainable, and adaptive.
Facilitator Recap of the Week...
The Feedback Is In!
We officially kicked off the Behavioral Breathwork Facilitator Training this week with our live Orientation session and it set the tone for everything to come!
To those who joined us live… Thank you!
Together, we practiced reflexive breathing and opened a powerful conversation about what this work really reveals.
One person noticed their sinuses open…
Experiencing firsthand how reflexive breathing supports vasodilation.
Another felt a panic when they stopped controlling their breath.
It sparked a meaningful conversation about breathing as metaphor…
How our breath reflects the deeper stories the body is holding.
This training is full of moments like that… real, embodied insight.
If you missed the session, don’t worry… it’s not too late!
The replay is now available inside the course portal,
And you can still join us for the weeks ahead.
Most importantly, we named the deeper reason we’re here:
The world doesn’t just need more breathwork.
It needs facilitators who understand the behavior behind the breathing.
Because when stress hits, your clients and community won’t need a technique…
They’ll need someone who knows how to listen and guide from what’s real for them.
Coming up in Week 1:
We dive into the science of respiration and the behavioral lens that changes everything.
Whether you're new to breathwork or a seasoned practitioner…
This training will shift how you see, breathe, and support others.
Become A Behavioral Breathwork Facilitator
Want to Breathe With Us In Person?
We’re planning two powerful in-person experiences and we’d love to know if you’re interested.
You’ll have the chance to join us for:
Both events blend the in person breathwork experience, practical science, and real-time transformation… for your nervous system, your facilitation practice, and life.
Let us where you’d love to join us!
Responses