09/05/2026
When you notice you’ve been holding your breath and you think a big deep breath will fix it, consider this. You’ve been shallow breathing for hours, your ribs and lungs are tight and constricted. Forcing them to open wide is a big ask after a long time being small.
Try this instead. Just lift your arms overhead.
That’s it. Notice what happens — your whole torso opens, your lungs are given space, even your spine starts to arch a little in preparation. The breath arrives. You didn’t force it, your body just made room for it. That’s the difference between pushing your body and working with it. Which is what yoga, done well, actually is.
Just two years ago I had to learn to breathe again. I was in ICU for 10 days, hospital for 20 with severe double pneumonia not breathing for myself. That experience changed how I teach and put a new spin on my 25 years of yoga experience. Now when I teach breathing, I’m not just drawing on anatomy and yoga — I know what it actually feels like when the body forgets how to breathe.
I teach this kind of thing at my retreats in Portugal — small adjustments that change how you feel in your everyday life, not just on the mat. If there are any late bookers interested, I have a retreat starting June 6th or start planning for September or October in the Portuguese countryside.
📍save this for your next afternoon slump.
DM me for details or link in bio 🙏🏼
