Read time: 1.5 min.

I wrote this email a few days ago.

I'd just finished my very first breathwork session.

It was one of the most powerful experiences ever.

Here's how it went:

‘‘Welcome brother’’

I hurried into the practice room and sat down.

In my haste, I failed to notice the instructor.

He sat on a meditation cushion.

I shook his hand and wanted to rush back to my spot.

But I couldn't.

He held my hand a split-second longer.

We locked eyes.

His gaze pierced into my soul.

It was as if he could speak with his eyes and said:

’’Calm down brother, you're safe here.’’

It made me reflect.

’’Why was I even here?’’

The answers were crystal-clear:

• My chest was tight—I could never fully catch my breath.

• I felt detached from everyone and everything around me.

• I couldn't relax anymore, even on weekends.

That moment of connection set the tone.

I realized I didn’t need to do or think about anything.

I was ready to let go of control and dive in.

‘‘Breathe in!’’

I had done some breathwork before.

But nothing came close to this.

We were set to do 30 minutes of high-paced breathing.

Phase 1

It starts with tiny tingles in my hands and feet.

My body heat increases, and I'm feeling a bit light-headed.

Thanks to my previous solo experiences, I was familiar with this.

But little did I know, we had just scratched the surface.

We were about to go far deeper.

Phase 2

The instructor signals it's time to speed things up.

2-second inhale, 2-second exhale, without gaps.

The tingling sensations increase in intensity.

They flood my whole body.

As if millions of atomic-sized sparkles are going off inside.

It's a surreal sensation.

Phase 3

I started sweating like crazy, parts of me cramped, and tears streamed down my face.

It was incredibly uncomfortable.

But the instructor assured me it was ''normal'' and encouraged me to keep going.

Then, I hit my peak.

A wave of fear overwhelmed me.

I tried to push it away, shaking my head vigorously.

It felt like a terrifying nightmare.

But my mind was no longer in control.

The body acted on its own, unleashing years of bottled-up emotion.

It was a very strange, intense, but liberating experience.

The come-down

We ended the session with a meditation.

I left the room feeling a profound shift within me.

• I carried a sense of peace and renewed energy back home

• My breaths were longer, slower, and more satisfying

• I felt less tense, anxious, and stressed

This breathwork session wasn’t ''just'' an exercise.

It was a journey into the depths of my being.

It allowed me to reconnect with myself in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

If you ever get the chance to experience one yourself—take it.

The benefits will blow you away.

Much love,

— Martijn