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4 Thoughts
1. Wim Hof & Diabetes: A Complete Guide to the Benefits and 5 Real Dangers
This is a complex topic I get a lot of questions about. I made a 40-min class on it, but attempted to put the most critical information into this free post:
It’s pretty long, but I hope it’s thorough and genuinely helpful, especially if you have diabetes or are a WHM coach. 🙏
2. Word Etymology and Why We Can All Do Asanas, Yogi or Not
“The word asana is made up of two parts: as ‘to sit’ and ana, ‘breath.’ To do an asana is to literally sit with your breath, or to sit in a special way and breathe.”
- Eddie Stern, One Simple Thing
This is awesome word etymology (thanks, Eddie). And, it’s an excellent reminder that sometimes abstract words are straightforward to implement.
So, I say we all channel our inner yogi and do some more asanas, today 🧘♂️
3. Why Coherence Fuels Purpose: Finding Internal & External Safety for Growth
“The need for coherence is the form of meaning that is most strongly tied to the need for safety. Does my immediate environment make sense? Is there any predictability and comprehensibility in my life? Coherence is necessary to even get a chance to pursue one’s larger purpose or pursue various ways that one can matter in this world.”
- Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., Transcend
Researchers tell us to “pursue one’s larger purpose,” we need external coherence with our environment, which allows us to feel safe.
Conversely, we know that slow breathing (~5-6 breaths/min) provides internal coherence—a predictability in our nervous system that makes us feel safe.
And in my opinion, this second type is even more potent because it’s always available, and our inner state determines how we relate to our external world.
So let’s breathe slowly, find some internal coherence (and maybe even external, too), and use this feeling of safety to pursue our bigger purpose.
***
Related Quote: “The unseen design of things is more harmonious than the seen.” - Heraclitus
4. Two Small Thoughts on Breath and Presence
Physically, wherever you find your breath, you find yourself.
Spiritually, whenever you find your breath, you find your self.
Extra Thought: Top 5 Breathing Exercises to Practice Daily (and the Best Times to Do Them)
I wrote another guest blog for ResBiotic. I hope this one is super practical and can help you or someone you know get started with breathing. Enjoy!
Top 5 Breathing Exercises to Practice Daily (And the Best Times to Do Them)
1 QUOTE
“This illustrates the most empowering point of all. The key to our own experience lies within our bodies all the time.”
1 ANSWER
Category: The Lungs
Answer: The alveoli have a mixture of lipids and proteins called this, which prevent them from collapsing during low lung volume.
…
(Cue the Jeopardy! music.)
…
Question: What is surfactant?
In good breath,
Nick Heath, T1D, PhD
“Breathing is the compound interest of health & wellness.”
Available Now:
THE BREATHING FOR DIABETES SELF-PACED WORKSHOP
If you like geeking out on breathing, or just want to live an overall healthier life, I’m confident you’ll love the workshop (diabetes or not).
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:
The ideal breathing rate for you.
A daily practice plan designed around human behavior science rather than discipline and “motivation.”
A tool to reduce stress and calm your nervous system anytime, any place.
Plus, you get:
A 40-min Wim Hof and Diabetes Mini Masterclass.
If you’re interested in the WHM, I think you’ll find a lot of information in here you’ve probably never seen before—like why you should only practice it in the morning and why you don’t have to hold your breath to get the same results.
A PDF of 100 inspiring breathing quotes.
A Breath Matching worksheet to grow your practice.
A simple 10-day plan for implementing what you learn.
And if you don't like it, it’s 100% refundable, so you have nothing to lose.
* An asterisk by a quote indicates that I listened to this book on Audible. Therefore, the quotation might not be correct, but is my best attempt at reproducing the punctuation based on the narrator’s pace, tone, and pauses.
Sign Up For The Breathing 411
Each Monday, I curate and synthesize information from scientific journals, books, articles, and podcasts to share 4 thoughts, 1 quote, and 1 answer (like "Jeopardy!") related to breathing. It’s a fun way to learn something new each week.