Mastering Breathwork - with Dan Brule

Guest Introduction:

Dan Brule is a modern day teacher and healer. He is a world-renown pioneer in the field of Breathwork, and leader of the worldwide Spiritual Breathing movement. Dan trains people to use the power of breath and breathing to relax and energize their body, focus and expand their mind, calm and balance their emotions, and nourish and uplift their soul. He is also the author of several books, including “Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond.”

Interview Summary:

In this interview, Dan first discusses his background and what inspired him to get into breathwork. He talks about traveling through India and China in search of eastern breathing practices, and reveals what he learned on this journey. He then explains the two main aspects of breathwork: breath awareness and conscious breathing. Dan gives some examples of how conscious breathing impacts the body and mind. He also talks about reconnecting to creativity by reconnecting to our body and spirit.

Chris describes how men often disconnect from their emotions, and Dan explains how to channel emotional energy through the breath. Dan shares a story about coaching Tony Robbins to show how combining relaxation and breathing unlocks our potential. We then ask Dan how to recognize if our body is relaxed. He discusses progressive muscle relaxation and breath awareness, and walks us through the box breathing technique. He also explains how relaxation and breathing enhance the three centers of consciousness: mind, gut, and heart, and references Mark Divine as a great example.

Next, Dan explains the two main branches of the nervous system. He describes diphragmatic breathing and how it activates the vagus nerve. Dan also discusses how to recognize if we’re breathing properly, and describes the three breathing spaces in the body: lower, middle, and upper. He talks about how threats and emotional suppression lock up the breath. Chris then shares his experience of working through traumas at a men’s group and breathing into his emotions. We ask Dan about the benefits of being connected to our emotions. He also elaborates on the Aikido principle of one-pointedness.

Dan goes on to explain how we bury traumas and emotions in the subconscious mind. He discusses how to recognize if we’re supressing, as well as how to connect with and release trapped emotions. He also describes how breathing affects our sensitivity and intuition. Chris shares a story about a time when he felt hypersensitive to other people’s emotions. Dan then clarifies the difference between sensitivity and hyperreactivity, and talks about how the primal brain works. He offers some basic breathing techniques to release tension, such as sighing and yawning.

Dan discusses how to experiment with the various parameters of the breath. He also talks about slowing the breath down for anti-anxiety effects. Dan reveals the health benefits of breathing in the therapeutic range of 4-8 breaths per minute. He references Dr. Richard Brown and briefly discusses Coherent Breathing. He then explains what heart rate variability is and how breathwork improves it. Dan also talks about how we can develop breathing patterns that create stress and anxiety. He describes how to undo this by monitoring the breath and training ourselves to slow it down.

Finally, Dan discusses the physiological practice of breath awareness and conscious breathing. He explains what prana, chi, and life force mean, and how they’re connected with breathing. Dan also talks about using modern technology to measure the scientific benefits of breathwork. He discusses how our breathing patterns influence our emotional, psychological, and physiological state. Dan leaves us with some practical tips to build awareness, breathe more consciously, and develop a breathwork practice.