I Didn’t Need Psychedelics to Heal—Just My Breath
For most of my life, I only breathed into my chest—shallow, tight, unaware that my breath could drop deeper into my belly. I had no idea that my breath could be a key to healing.
In 2015, a friend suggested guided meditation to help with my anxiety and low energy. At that point, I was willing to try anything. The anxiety was turning into something heavier. Depression. Numbness. Jerry and I were going through a rough patch. I felt stuck in a job I hated. And I couldn’t seem to catch a break.
I had started my healing journey years before, at 18, when I first opened up to mentors about my struggles. But at 28, meditation unlocked a new level of healing for me. Learning to sit still and breathe—really breathe—into my belly was the antidote to my dysregulation. My nervous system finally learned safety and relaxation. And I became a new man.
Breathwork Changed Everything
Over the years, my relationship with breath deepened. I explored different breathwork practices, but I’ll never forget my first experience with holotropic breathwork. A friend invited me to an “Evening of Breathwork” session, telling me it would be like taking a hallucinogen—without the hallucinogen.
At the time, I was no stranger to psychedelics. I had experimented with LSD and mushrooms, so I knew the power of altered states. When she made that claim, I unconsciously rolled my eyes. Yeah, right.
The practice was simple: a continuous two-step breath—starting in the belly, rising to the chest, then releasing.
The Moment Everything Broke Open
Almost immediately, I felt resistance. My body tensed. My mind started questioning if this was safe. Fear kicked in. My nervous system screamed, Abort mission!
And then my friend’s voice gently broke through:
"You’re okay. This is normal."
So I pushed through.
Twenty minutes in, something shifted. My breath found a rhythm. My body softened. Pleasure chemicals flooded my system. I started seeing colors, shapes—then, voices.
"You are loved."
A deep, guttural sob erupted from my belly. It felt like grief. But it also felt like gratitude. I was reconnecting with something buried inside me, something that had been waiting to be seen.
When the session ended, I didn’t want to leave that state. I had taken MDMA before, and the bliss I felt in that moment was just as powerful. But this time, no substances were involved—only my breath.
I walked away feeling cleansed. Lighter. Like I had shed something dark that had been weighing me down for years.
This is Why I Do This Work
I want every man to have an experience like this.
Next month, I’m returning to Spirit Camp for our annual Wild Heart Men’s Breathwork Retreat—April 3-6, 2025.
Think: daily breathwork surrounded by towering redwoods, ocean plunges, deep conversations, fireside laughter, and a brotherhood of men who show up for themselves and each other.
If you want a psychedelic experience—without the psychedelics—this retreat is for you. And I promise, you’ll walk away with more than you expected.
Join Us
Let’s talk. If this speaks to you, set up a quick call with me. No pressure—just a conversation about where you are and whether this retreat is the right fit.
Men’s trauma healing
Why men struggle with trauma
Emotional numbness in men
How men can heal from trauma
Somatic therapy for trauma
Men’s mental health and trauma
Breaking the cycle of trauma
Unresolved trauma in men
Somatic experiencing for men
Men’s therapy and emotional healing
Healing childhood trauma in men
Signs of trauma in men
Men’s retreats for trauma healing
Masculinity and emotional suppression
Men’s mental health coaching
