The Breath That Changed Everything

Hey beautiful soul,

Today, I’m excited to dive into a practice that has personally transformed my life—breathwork. But before we go there, let’s pause and reflect on the journey we’ve been on for the past few weeks. So far, we’ve explored the core wound of each Human Design Type. I also shared a late night insight on IG on how our core wound is not necessarily a hindrance, but rather, it’s our driving force behind our desire for self-empowerment.

We also paused with our sacred inner stillness in a guided meditationwhere I invited you to be with a tender question on honouring your sensitivity and aligning with your true creative expression. I hope it’s been a gentle discovery for you. As always, please feel free to share any insights or breakthroughs you’ve had along the way. The Scorpio in me loves a deep one-on-one dive with you.

And in case you want to revisit any of the previous letters, you can access them all in one place here. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, each letter has been building on the previous one, as we continue deepening our connection to our own self-trust.

(Heads-up: since this is a private newsletter, it may ask you to approve your access to the past letters. It’s really simple. Click on ‘Login’, enter the email you’re receiving these letters on and then hit ‘Send Magic Link’. It’ll send you a link into your inbox through which you’ll gain access.)

So today, I want to share something close to my heart, something that’s helped me on this journey of self-trust: the breath.

A Moment That Changed Everything

But first, let me take you back to an evening that changed the course of my life, an evening that, in hindsight, aligned with my Nodal return.

I wanna take you back to January 2021, the thick of another lockdown. I was lying in a hospital bed, a day after my bicycle accident. My leg was broken, and the past 24 hours were a blur of disorientation. As the nurses were stretching out my leg, they placed me under the influence of laughing gas. My mind drifted, and everything around me started to slow down. The song on the radio stretched out like a stuck tape winding back in. Vivid visions of circles and butterflies appeared, and I felt myself floating, moving in slow motion. My only anchor to this world was the nurse’s hand next to me, and I squeezed it as I slipped further into this alternate reality.

Then, in the stillness, I heard a deep male voice say, “It all makes sense.”

It all makes sense.

Time stopped. Those words echoed through me, and suddenly, I gasped for breath, as if it were my first inhale. That single breath felt like a rebirth, reconnecting me to life in a new way. As I returned to the present moment, tears of joy ran down my cheeks, and I kept repeating out loud, “I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

That breath was more than just a moment of relief; it was an awakening to the power of my own breath and the life it carries. Since then, breath has become my compass—one of the most accessible tools for cultivating self-trust and presence.

Why Breathwork Is So Powerful

Since that experience, breathwork has become a core practice in my life. It’s my anchor during stress, my reset button when overwhelmed, and my way of tuning in to myself. Whether preparing for a session, winding down after a long day, recovering from a triggering situation, or simply wanting to recalibrate, breathwork helps me reconnect to my inner sense of self.

Scientific research supports what we intuitively feel: regular breathwork reduces stress, improves emotional regulation, and even boosts immune function. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that specific breathing techniques can significantly impact noradrenaline release, a hormone involved in attention and emotional regulation.

Here are 3 key findings from the above-mentioned study that truly highlight the connection of our breath with our self-trust.

• More Than Just Automatic Breathing
  Breathing isn't just some background process that happens on autopilot—turns out, when we consciously control our breath, it involves higher regions of the brain, not just the brainstem. This means that intentional breathwork doesn't only regulate the physical act of breathing but also engages areas connected to thought and emotion, bridging body and mind in a beautifully intricate way.

• Focused Breathing = Sharper Attention
  The study showed that when we direct our focus to our breath, it lights up the brain areas involved in attention and cognitive control. It’s like giving your brain a gentle nudge to come back to the present moment. This reinforces why breath-focused practices can be powerful tools for enhancing mental clarity and bringing us back to center, especially when life feels noisy.

• Breathing as a Path to Mindful Awareness
  What’s fascinating is how this study provides scientific backing for the benefits of practices like mindfulness and meditation. By intentionally guiding our breath, we’re not just calming our bodies; we’re also rewiring our brains to better manage stress and emotions. It’s a reminder that something as simple as breathing with intention can be a profound act of self-care.

To conclude, in the breath-induced calm state, we can quiet the external noise and tune into our own inner knowing. This is where self-trust begins to deepen—on the foundation of breath, presence, and stillness.

A Grounding Breath Practice for Moments of Uncertainty

Today, I’d love to offer you a simple yet powerful breath practice to guide you through moments of overwhelm, uncertainty, or stress. This practice will help you ground yourself, calm your nervous system, and bring you back to the present moment, where your inner wisdom can be heard.

I’ve created both audio and text versions of this practice, so you can choose what resonates with you:

Audio Version:

Click here to download the guided audio version and practice along with me. Sometimes having a guiding voice can make all the difference, especially during challenging moments.

Text Version:

For those who prefer to follow the steps on their own, here’s the practice in text form:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes and rest your hands gently in your lap.

2. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, letting your belly expand like a balloon as you fill your lungs with air.

3. Hold this breath for a moment, feeling the fullness within.

4. Exhale slowly through your mouth, releasing tension and anything that no longer serves you.

5. Repeat this cycle for at least 3 minutes. With each breath, imagine roots extending from your spine deep into the earth, grounding and anchoring you.

6. For the next few rounds, transfer your breath to a 4-7-8 rhythm: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. Repeat 4 times, eventually coming back to your normal breath.

Breathwork, like any practice, becomes easier and more intuitive over time. Approach it with curiosity and compassion for yourself. The aim isn’t to “get it right” but to notice what arises with each inhale and exhale. So what emerged for you as you practiced this breath pattern?

Take This Practice with You

I invite you to use this practice regularly, not just in moments of stress. Over time, you’ll notice profound shifts in how you relate to yourself and the world. As you continue, I’d love to hear how it feels in your body, how it impacts your self-trust, and any shifts you observe.

Where We’re Going

In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into exploring how Human Design can support you in cultivating self-trust. We’ll touch upon how your inner authority can help you cut through the noise when making decisions, and I’ll be sharing a brief breathwork practice to help you connect to the energetics of your Human Design Type.

Oh, and hey, if you feel like receiving a Human Design reading from me, please reach out. I absolutely love geeking out about it with you.

Sending you a deep and nourishing breath,

Silvia

Website: silviapoldaru.com | Book a discovery call | Check out my breathwork starter guide | IG: @silviapoldaru | Pinterest: silvia_poldaru