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219 - Boundaries, Breath, and Belonging - Foundations for Recovery
Description
I'm joined by Bal Matharu to talk about how breathing links the nervous system, stress biology, and Long Covid symptoms, and why recovery often begins with creating a genuine felt sense of safety. We share practical ways to assess and change breathing patterns, plus the role of co-regulation, boundaries, and carefully held breathwork support.
• Bal’s path from advanced respiratory physiotherapy and ICU work to lifestyle medicine and PhD breathwork research
• The six pillars of lifestyle medicine and why stress management often underpins the rest
• Acute stress versus chronic stress and how the body shifts blood flow, hormones, and immune function
• Cell danger theory, mitochondria, ATP, and why fatigue can be a protection signal
• Safety as a felt sense through neuroception rather than a purely cognitive idea
• Breath assessment basics, posture, high chest breathing, diaphragm use, and longer exhales
• Overstimulation, silence avoidance, and letting emotions move through the body in short windows
• Co-regulation, practitioner capacity, and building safe spaces for nervous system work
• Boundaries, people pleasing patterns, and choosing relationships that support regulation
• Selecting credible breathwork practitioners and avoiding unsafe cathartic methods
Links:
Bal's Website: https://www.bodymind-iq.com
Embody Ecosystem: https://go.bodymind-iq.com/embody-ecosystem
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For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com
(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)
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**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**