Dan Brule: Just Breathe

Name: Dan Brule: Just Breathe
Uploaded: 2019-09-10T15:27:32.000Z
Duration: 4 h 18 min 5 s

How Breathwork Can Transform Your Life

Introduction to the Podcast

Brian Miller introduces the podcast, emphasizing that a courageous question can change one's life. His personal question revolves around using his skills and passions to bless others.

The podcast aims to help listeners make a difference by featuring conversations with thought leaders who are advancing humanity.

Guest Introduction: Dan Brule

Dan Brule, author of "Just Breathe: Mastering Breath Work," is introduced as a pioneer in breathwork and has spent decades learning various breathing techniques.

Brian shares his newfound appreciation for breathwork, which he previously undervalued until recently.

Dan Brule's Expertise

Dan has coached notable figures like Tony Robbins and has trained over 150,000 people globally in breathwork since 1970.

He holds a master's degree focused on using breath as a tool for healing and growth from Lesley University.

The Power of Breath

Brian reflects on how experts like Dan deepen their understanding over time rather than becoming stale in their teachings.

Breathwork is described as potentially being the new yoga; it offers profound effects on life experiences through simple practices.

Practical Applications of Breath

Breathing is highlighted as one of the few unconscious processes we can consciously control, impacting relaxation and energy levels.

The conversation emphasizes that breath may serve as an intersection between physical existence and spiritual experience.

Connection with Audience

Listeners are encouraged to connect with Dan via Instagram or visit his website for more resources on breath mastery.

What Does It Mean to Live Well?

Philosophical Insights from Dan Brule

Dan discusses the ethical obligation to live well if privileged enough, suggesting sharing this good life with others enhances its value.

Purpose of Life According to Dan

He believes life is about love, expansion, and leaving places better than found while serving others effectively.

Creativity and Manifestation Through Breath

Drawing from spiritual beliefs, he asserts that humans are creators by nature; every thought infused with energy manifests reality.

Merging Breath with Intention

Combining breathing with intention awakens creative powers; this synergy enhances mental clarity and purpose.

The Power of Breath: A Personal Journey

Awakening to the Importance of Breath

The speaker reflects on a 40-year journey to appreciate the significance and power of breath, noting that many people may not realize they are seeking this understanding.

Despite feeling embarrassed about their late realization, the speaker acknowledges that others have yet to discover this insight even in their later years.

Early Influences and Insights

The speaker shares a formative experience from childhood involving a Bible story about God breathing life into man, which sparked an early fascination with breath.

Describing themselves as a "recovering Catholic," the speaker emphasizes how significant moments can overshadow negative experiences from religious upbringing.

Memorable Experiences with Breath

A vivid memory is recounted where the pastor's visit to their kindergarten class left a lasting impression regarding the divine nature of breath.

The excitement around God's act of breathing life into humanity ignited a lifelong curiosity about breath and its implications.

Life-Changing Encounters with Breath

Throughout life, various experiences—like getting winded during sports or near-drowning incidents—reinforced the importance of being conscious about breathing.

Engaging in activities such as organizing breath-holding contests and practicing deep-sea diving further deepened their connection to breath.

Transformative Moments and Professional Evolution

A pivotal moment occurred when the speaker resuscitated someone using CPR, highlighting the miraculous potential of breath in life-and-death situations.

Over time, breath became more than just a physical necessity; it evolved into a source of guidance, healing, and personal passion that shaped their career path.

Coaching Tony Robbins: A Unique Opportunity

The conversation shifts to discussing Tony Robbins' foreword in the speaker's book, indicating recognition for expertise developed over decades focused on breathing techniques.

The speaker explains how their extensive travels and dedication to learning about breathing practices set them apart as an expert sought after by high performers like Robbins.

Insights on Breathing and Personal Growth

The Journey of Learning and Connection

The speaker reflects on their experience with a mentor, emphasizing the value of learning from others to save time and avoid unnecessary struggles.

A surprising call from Tony, a significant figure in personal development, highlights the importance of connecting with influential individuals who are making positive changes in the world.

Presence and Generosity in Learning

The speaker describes an impactful encounter with Tony, noting his ability to be present and absorb knowledge quickly, which facilitates deep learning.

Individuals who have worked on themselves can leverage small adjustments for substantial benefits; Tony exemplifies this by sharing new insights immediately after learning them.

Breathing Techniques for Health Improvement

Tony's initial health issue was high blood pressure, which he successfully lowered through conscious breathing practices within a week.

The speaker discusses how matching breathing techniques to one's personality can enhance effectiveness; for Tony, dynamic breathing aligns well with his energetic nature.

Relaxation and Energy Flow

Tension during breathing (e.g., jaw clenching) can hinder energy flow; relaxation is crucial for effective breathwork.

Combining relaxation with powerful breathing allows energy to penetrate deeper into the body, facilitating healing and transformation.

Unlocking Potential Through Breath Awareness

Managing both relaxation and vigorous breathing is essential for achieving profound states of awareness; this balance leads to personal breakthroughs.

Adjustments in focus during breathwork can unlock latent abilities that may not be accessible otherwise; breath serves as a key tool for self-discovery.

Emotional States and Breathing Patterns

Understanding one’s current emotional state through breath patterns enables individuals to make conscious choices about their responses.

Redirecting attention to breath during stressful moments creates space for new awareness and comfort levels that were previously unavailable.

This structured approach provides clarity on the significance of conscious breathing as a tool for personal growth while highlighting key interactions between the speaker and influential figures like Tony.

Breath Awareness and Conscious Breathing

The Essence of Breath in Meditation

Emphasizes the importance of allowing the breath to flow naturally without control, which is fundamental to meditation and mindfulness.

Introduces the concept of breath work as a balance between passive awareness and active engagement with breathing patterns.

The Duality of Being and Doing

Discusses the interplay between breath awareness (being) and conscious breathing (doing), likening them to two wings that support personal growth.

Highlights how mastering breath control can enhance creativity, emotional regulation, and overall consciousness.

Unlocking Human Potential Through Breath

Reflects on the common struggle many face regarding their relationship with breathing, suggesting that this conversation may resonate deeply with some listeners.

Transitions into discussing the book "Just Breathe," aiming to explore its potential benefits for readers.

The Purpose Behind Writing "Just Breathe"

Realization of Universal Access to Higher States

Shares insights on how extraordinary abilities attributed to saints or masters are accessible to everyone through breath work.

Argues that tweaking one's breathing can unlock human potential, especially in times of societal acceleration and stress.

The Role of Breath in Personal Transformation

Advocates for using heartfelt intention powered by breath as a means to radiate positive energy and foster change in oneself and others.

Encourages individuals to discover their inner power through conscious breathing practices aimed at unlocking higher self-potential.

The Importance of Breath in Modern Society

Science Meets Mindfulness Practices

Acknowledges the growing recognition of mindfulness practices related to breath work within scientific communities over recent decades.

Passion for Teaching Breath Work

Expresses a deep commitment to teaching about breath due to its transformative effects on personal well-being and societal impact.

Experiencing Consciousness Through Relaxation

Rare Moments of Peak Experience

Notes that true relaxation while awake is rare; when achieved during breathing sessions, it often leads people to describe it as a peak religious experience.

Understanding the Path to Deep Relaxation

The Relationship Between Relaxation and Consciousness

Relaxation can lead to unconsciousness; conscious breathing is essential to stay awake while relaxing.

Maintaining a conscious connection with breath during relaxation allows for a unique state of renewal, rebooting, and rejuvenating the body.

Developing a still mind free from judgments helps in achieving deep relaxation without disturbing our natural state.

Unlocking Inner Energy Through Breath

Approaching deep relaxation reveals layers of suppressed emotions and fears that need to be navigated.

Beneath these layers lies a pure source of energy, contrasting with the adrenaline-driven energy many high achievers rely on.

Sustainable energy comes from profound relaxation combined with alert awareness, unlocking an infinite source of lifeforce.

Overcoming Barriers to Authentic Self

Life provides necessary energy when aligned with one's purpose; overcoming past traumas and conditioning is crucial for self-discovery.

Many beliefs and habits adopted from others create barriers between individuals and their true essence; clearing these is essential for personal growth.

The Role of Emotions in Energy Management

Disempowering emotions can fuel success but often at a high cost; transitioning to empowering emotions may not eliminate this cost entirely.

Tapping into pure awareness beneath emotional forms allows for more direct access to inherent energy without unnecessary wear on the system.

Insights from Chinese Philosophy on Emotional Balance

High positive feelings can be as detrimental as negative ones, suggesting that balance in emotional states is vital for overall well-being.

Understanding Emotional Energy and Breathing Techniques

The Impact of Emotional Energy on Health

The intensity of emotional energy can be as detrimental to health as feelings of sadness or depression. Learning to channel this energy through breath can alleviate stress and enhance system performance.

Inefficiency in Venting Emotions

Traditional methods of venting emotions, such as yelling or physical aggression, are inefficient. There exists a more effective way to tap into emotional energy without the accompanying drama.

Rebirthing and Conscious Breathing

One core technique taught is conscious connected circular breathing, where inhalation is active while exhalation is passive. This method is often practiced in guided sessions, either one-on-one or in groups.

Birth Trauma and Its Psychological Implications

Early experiences during birth can create deep-seated beliefs linking struggle with success. Many individuals internalize that achievement requires hardship, leading to a cycle where struggle equates to being alive.

Breaking Free from the Struggle Mentality

The belief that pain leads to pleasure creates a loop that traps individuals in constant struggle for validation. Recognizing this pattern allows for a shift towards motivation derived from joy rather than suffering.

The Simplicity of Achieving Extraordinary Goals

Affirmations and Mindset Shifts

An affirmation mentioned emphasizes that achieving extraordinary results does not have to be complicated or time-consuming; it can be simple and quick if limiting beliefs are released.

Acceleration of Enlightenment

There has been an increase in awakened beings globally, suggesting that spiritual growth may now occur more rapidly than in previous eras due to collective consciousness shifts.

Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs

To connect with life force energy, individuals must release negative thoughts and narrow viewpoints. This process facilitates natural upliftment and transformation.

Quick Transformation Through Breathwork

Engaging in breathwork can lead to rapid personal transformation, sometimes feeling like "cheating" compared to traditional long-term meditation practices.

Release vs. Struggle Philosophy

The concept introduced by Jack Canfield about "releasing the brakes" suggests that less effort (not more pressure) may lead to greater achievements, challenging conventional notions about hard work equating success.

Understanding the Power of Breath

The Role of Letting Go in Success

Marshall Goldsmith emphasizes that successful executives often need to let go of limiting patterns rather than acquire more knowledge or skills to reach the next level.

Mindful practices, such as taking 15 minutes for doing nothing, can rejuvenate one's mental state, allowing individuals to perform at their best.

Breathing Techniques and Relaxation

Mastering breath control is crucial; letting go during exhalation can lead to inspiration and a release of fatigue.

Quick breathing techniques can recharge energy levels significantly, comparable to extended relaxation periods like a week in the Bahamas.

Maximizing Short Timeframes

Time is precious; effective breathing techniques can help maximize recovery even within short time frames before high-pressure situations.

Breathing serves as a key tool for regaining focus and clarity quickly, especially in emergency scenarios.

The Connection Between Breath and Personal History

Sadhguru's claim about observing breath revealing one's destiny is discussed; breathing patterns are unique and reflect personal experiences.

Unlike other expressions (posture, tone), breath provides pure information about an individual's emotional state and life experiences.

Transformative Potential of Breath Awareness

Observing one’s breath can unlock insights into psychological states, leading to changes in habits and emotional reactions that shape future outcomes.

A shift in breathing can catalyze significant changes in thinking and behavior, potentially altering one’s future trajectory.

Awakening and Consciousness

The Connection Between Consciousness and Spirituality

The most spiritual individuals often exhibit heightened consciousness, suggesting a close relationship between being conscious and being spiritual.

Awakening involves activating both mind intelligence and body intelligence, leading to a richer experience of each moment beyond mere intellectual understanding.

Intuition and Heart Intelligence

When heart intelligence supports cognitive processes, it can unleash intuitive power, indicating that emotional awareness enhances decision-making.

True awakening allows individuals to observe their emotional states without suppression, enabling them to choose their responses regardless of internal or external circumstances.

The Nature of Enlightenment

Enlightenment is described as a fleeting experience; despite its temporary nature, the knowledge gained from it remains impactful.

Individuals often have moments of profound connection with nature or others where they feel boundaries dissolve; these moments are significant but typically transient.

Responsibility in Awakening

Being awake means taking responsibility for returning to an enlightened state when pulled away by life's challenges.

An awakened individual acknowledges pain yet learns to navigate emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them.

Balancing Ego and Higher Self

As one matures spiritually, they can re-engage with their sensitivity while maintaining personal stability amidst external influences.

Achieving an awakened state involves balancing one's sense of self with a connection to the greater universe, allowing for fluid expression without clinging to ego.

Breathlessness as Deathlessness

Exploring Yogananda's Teachings

A discussion on Yogananda’s statement "breathlessness is deathlessness" raises questions about aging and cellular oxidation related to breathing processes.

Scientific Perspective on Breath

Aging is linked to cellular oxidation; thus, breath plays a crucial role in this process.

The paradoxical idea that stopping breathing could halt rusting (oxidation), yet doing so would lead to death prompts deeper reflection on life cycles.

Understanding Breath Dynamics

Insight into how inhalation increases blood pressure while exhalation slows down reveals the physiological impact of breath on our bodies.

Breath and Stillness: The Journey Within

The Importance of Breath and Pausing

Breathing involves a natural cycle of inhaling, exhaling, and pausing. This pause is essential for the body to stabilize after each breath.

Many individuals fail to complete their exhales, leading to a chaotic breathing pattern that prevents full recovery and awareness.

In stillness at the end of an exhale, one can connect with subtle feelings and sensations in the body, enhancing awareness.

Holding one's breath can heighten focus on distant sounds, illustrating how stillness allows deeper introspection.

There exists a pulse of life beyond physical processes; this breathless state connects us to both personal vitality and universal energy.

Connection to Immortality and Essence

Recognizing our connection to an immortal essence within ourselves is crucial for understanding our place in the universe.

A quote from Leonard Orr highlights human mortality compared to nature's longevity, prompting reflection on our disconnection from eternal aspects of existence.

To access this deathless part of ourselves, we must clear mental clutter that obstructs our ability to remain in a state of stillness.

The Challenge of Unlearning

Achieving true pause requires overcoming ingrained thoughts and emotions that hinder relaxation; it’s essential work for personal growth.

A reference from Nisargadatta Maharaj emphasizes unlearning as necessary for spiritual advancement—letting go of outdated habits can be daunting yet vital.

Encounter with Babaji: An Exploration of Divine Potential

Discussion shifts towards Babaji, an immortal yogi figure in Indian spirituality known as a model for divine potential beyond physical limitations.

Babaji represents the ultimate possibility of being human—embodying qualities like immortality and omniscience that are inherent within everyone.

Understanding these qualities helps individuals realize their own infinite potential while navigating life's challenges.

Personal Guardian Angels and Spiritual Awakening

Childhood Beliefs and Experiences

The speaker reflects on being taught as a child that everyone has a personal guardian angel assigned to them, creating a sense of comfort and reality in their young mind.

As a child, the speaker would leave space for their guardian angel at lunch, illustrating the deep connection between imagination and experience during childhood.

Meeting Babaji: A Transformative Experience

The journey to meet Babaji involved extensive travel, culminating in reaching an ashram after significant effort, which felt like coming home.

Upon meeting Babaji, the speaker experienced a profound realization that he embodied his childhood belief of having a guardian angel in human form.

Insights from Babaji's Teachings

Babaji instilled in the speaker a deep understanding that many teachings about God represent potentials within us rather than limitations we must accept.

The inspiration derived from these teachings encourages individuals not to settle for less but to pursue their spiritual potential actively.

Understanding Breath Practices: Safety and Benefits

Introduction to Breathing Techniques

The discussion shifts towards breath practices known today as the Wim Hof method, with inquiries about its safety and benefits.

Safety Concerns with Breath Practices

While breath practices can be safe when regulated properly, pushing oneself too hard can lead to strain; thus moderation is key.

Stress is redefined by referencing Hans Selye’s original intent of "strain," emphasizing that while stress is necessary for life, unnecessary strain should be avoided.

Benefits of Hyperventilation Techniques

Engaging in hyperventilation through breath-holding can activate various internal sensations and emotions; it’s essential to approach this practice mindfully.

Practicing hyperventilation allows individuals to confront fears and emotional responses safely, leading to healing and personal growth.

Exploring the Wim Hof Method and Breath Awareness

The Power of Belief in Breathwork

The speaker emphasizes the importance of belief in one's ability to harness breath techniques, suggesting that positive psychology can enhance determination and capability.

The Wim Hof method is likened to an artist's color palette, indicating that while it is a valuable tool, there are countless other methods available for personal exploration.

Individualized Approaches to Breathing Techniques

Each person may need to discover their unique approach to breathwork, borrowing from various methods to create a personalized practice.

The concept of "breath hunger" is introduced, highlighting different stages at which individuals feel the urge to breathe and how this awareness can lead to healing and expanded possibilities.

Understanding Biological Urges

The urge to breathe is described as a powerful biological instinct; learning to relax into this urge can facilitate deeper relaxation in other areas of life.

A gradual practice involving comfortable pauses during breathing exercises can lead to increased capacity over time without forcing or overriding natural instincts.

Leaning into Discomfort for Growth

Emphasizing the importance of leaning into discomfort rather than pushing through limits, the speaker notes that sustainable growth comes from gentle persistence over time.

By gradually extending breath-holding practices, individuals can achieve longer periods of relaxation and alertness, allowing for deeper introspection and awareness.

Integrating Breath Practices into Daily Life

The speaker invites listeners to incorporate breath mastery into everyday activities, enhancing their experiences while contributing positively to others around them.

There’s a call for extracting effective breathing techniques from traditional rituals or dogmas, focusing on scientific principles that promote energetic well-being without requiring adherence to specific philosophies.

Breath as a Therapeutic Tool

The Essence of Breath and Joy

Eckhart Tolle's perspective emphasizes that joy is not derived from activities but rather infused into them, highlighting the importance of awareness in breathing practices.

The practice of breathing should be approached with consciousness, passion, and enthusiasm, allowing individuals to uncover the breath's secrets without needing an expert.

Growth Through Breathing Techniques

Engaging deeply with breath can lead to personal growth; recognizing when one struggles indicates they are at the edge of their development.

In moments of challenge, the mantra is to "open and expand" during inhalation and "relax and let go" during exhalation to navigate obstacles effectively.

Mastering Breath for Healing

Practicing various breathing techniques—high chest, low belly, nasal vs. mouth breathing—prepares individuals to utilize their breath effectively in challenging situations.

The concept of "breath therapy" involves healing an inhibited breathing mechanism to restore its full potential as a therapeutic tool for physical and emotional healing.

Relationship with Breath

The way we breathe reflects how we live; cultivating a loving relationship with breath is essential for personal growth.

Approaching breath work requires detailed awareness and an open heart, allowing it to guide us through life's challenges.

Comfort Zone vs. Growth Zone

Developing intimacy with one's breath involves training towards comfort while also embracing discomfort as part of growth.

A balance between comfort and discomfort creates a "working zone," essential for personal evolution without overwhelming the system.

Creating Your Own Path

Ultimately, individuals must forge their own paths in spiritual or personal development by integrating teachings from various sources into a unique practice.

Quickfire Questions Segment

Insights from Quick Questions

Life Metaphor: Life is compared to a great adventure (not chocolates).

Desire for Improvement: Expresses a wish to attract huge amounts of money.

What Would Your Life Motto Be?

Personal Philosophy

The speaker reflects on a hypothetical scenario where they must wear a t-shirt with a slogan for life, choosing "We're all in this together" as their motto.