My older brother and teacher Sebastian first began initiating me into traditional breathing techniques when I was in my early teens. He would wait for me after school throughout my studies to demonstrate the practices enthusiastically and encourage me to apply them. It took me years before I did so with consistency. Life had to bring me my own share of lessons first to learn the importance of consistent cultivation practice, and most importantly a stronger foundation had to be built in my inner awareness before being able to support such techniques, which require a firm mental and emotional foundation. The fundamental inner work comes first, and then deepens with the tools of the practice.

My practice is now a distillation of my years of experience in theory & practice with both eastern schools of thought and traditional healing as well as the personal & academic study of the trauma-informed western approach to psychology, polyvagal theory in autonomic nervous system regulation and the function of the respiratory system. All within a framework of self-inquiry and simplicity. I still have a long way to go and always will - but I certainly love sharing as I do.

In Honour of my late Brother Sebastian who left on November 1st, 2022. Be in Peace my beloved Sadhu

A practice of cultivation shouldn’t have to be rigid. If it is, you’re fighting with life’s urge to fulfill itself. Cultivating mind & body should bring us the excitement and wonder of a young child, while the consistency provides the wisdom of an elder. Consistency and discipline is very different than tension and anxiety. this can only be achieved by doing the foundational work. Doesn’t it excite you to thrive rather than survive? If not, we must dig deeper and begin to remove some of the dust that has settled on the surface - the identities, thought forms and subtle self-destructive patterns that have governed the psyche for years due to trauma and development. This is why the foundation to my practice is the inner work. Technique can take us far but not all the way, the psyche must be integrated in the process otherwise the very practices that bring us home can get us lost.

My spiritual path did not begin with physical technique. Physical technique came in later as a wonderful tool of cultivation to support the blossoming process taking place within. Life’s suffering and harsh teachings played a large role in perspective as well as a natural self-inquiry and sense of greater will/emptiness present since as long as I can remember having thought. My earthly origins are of Southwest Asia, East Africa and Greece. Born in the states, I moved to Europe at 8 and started leaving home in segments for school and in some cases work from the age of 12, and 14. By 17 I began initially observing the Theravada School of buddhism, exploring Hellenic (Greco) Buddhism & philosophy and simplifying further in later years as I grew inspired by the grounded Way of the Tao. Throughout the process, I was of course exposed to the world of ‘conspiracy’, the subliminal mind programming of mass media production, the truth of geography and the political/educational/health systems, and questioning every aspect of the current collective belief system and popular culture. At one point the rebellious spirit contained tension and anger - necessary also for growth, but not sustainable. This eventually matured and integrated into the laughter that is this illusion of life, identity & ‘absolutes’. I consider none of the previously mentioned schools of thought to be the complete path, as I believe the complete path to be beyond all words and definitions - this is an internal sense that has accompanied me throughout all phases of learning and continues to. The paths have certainly lined, inspired, tamed the mental space, as I receive these teachings and subsequently learn to let them go and continue this cycle of death and birth and observe the ego’s desire to hold on to and crystallise every belief. Letting go has been the most potent, harsh and yet gentle teacher. Now I allow my travels, and nomadic life to teach me, free from any dogmatic/ ideological absolutes.

During our classes we explore in depth:

• The vital role of the respiratory organs and their correct function in our overall health

• The important difference between nasal and mouth breathing

• The role of the lungs within the nervous system: breathing as a tool for anxiety management, mental clarity & balanced emotions.

• Breathing to reveal and release subconscious patterns, addictions and blockages which rise to the conscious level through the breath.

• The esoteric philosophies surrounding Prana/Chi (vital energy) and the interaction of our subtle bodies with one another and our surroundings.

• Harnessing vital energy, stimulating health & youth, by cleansing the physical and subtle bodies.

• Introduction into practices of cultivation which are equally as integral in our development as conscious breathing (movement, meditation, mental cultivation, earthing, sunlight and food).

• How to incorporate an efficient practice into our day-to-day life.

Theory will be applied in our practice sessions as we practice several modalities of breathing, exploring traditional methods and incorporating sound, chanting & gentle movement into our breathwork and meditation sessions.