Breathing is the one tool we always carry. When we use it intentionally, it activates the vagus nerve, lowers heart rate, and helps regulate mood. During treatment, breathwork became my reset button in waiting rooms, hospital beds, and sleepless nights.
For years, I wasn’t aware of how shallow my breathing had become. Stress had conditioned me to take quick, tight breaths that only fueled my anxiety. Through breathwork, I learned to breathe the way my body truly needs, creating a deeper mind and body connection that calms and centers the mind.
Tips:
Breathwork is simple, but it changes everything.
These pictures show the truth behind the smile, these are two of the hardest abdominal stretches I do. It may look like I’m laughing, but that’s pure pain and effort. With EDS and chemo-induced osteoporosis, keeping my core strong is essential. Balance is everything for me, because even a small fall could mean needing a walker.
What got me through these stretches wasn’t strength alone, it was breathwork. I was panting and shaking, and the only way I pushed through was by coming back to my breath. Breathwork isn’t just for calming thoughts; it’s a physical tool that helps you move through pain, stay steady, and keep going when your body wants to quit. In the hardest moments, the breath is what carries you forward.
