How Breathwork Rewires the Brain, Releases Trauma & Builds Resilience | Stuart Sandeman

Jul 14, 2025

Stuart Sandeman, a renowned breath coach and founder of Breathpod, shares his compelling journey of using breathwork to process trauma and shift limiting beliefs. He discusses the profound connection between breathing patterns and emotions, explaining how breathwork can release stored tension. Listeners learn about different breathing archetypes and how they relate to mental well-being. Stuart offers techniques for managing anxiety, particularly during public speaking, emphasizing the power of intentional breath to transform emotional states and enhance resilience.

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ANECDOTE

Breathwork Eases Deep Grief

Stuart Sandeman experienced deep grief after his girlfriend's terminal cancer diagnosis and death.
Breathwork helped him release deeply held chest tension and emotions blocked by childhood beliefs like 'big boys don’t cry'.

INSIGHT

Breathwork Unlocks Tension

Breathwork can trigger involuntary muscle movements that release deep tension stored in fascia and muscles.
Deliberate breathing shifts body chemistry and nervous system state to facilitate emotional release.

ANECDOTE

Breathwork Sparks Spiritual Healing

After a breathwork session with his mother, Stuart felt an intense cathartic release and a spiritual presence of his late girlfriend.
This experience left him curious and questioning the powerful effects of breathwork beyond logic.

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Angela talks to Stuart Sandeman about the profound impact of breath on our emotional and physical well-being. They explore how trauma and life experiences can manifest in our bodies, particularly through breathing patterns, and discuss the importance of breathwork in releasing stored tension and emotions.

Stuart also shares his personal journey of grief following the loss of his girlfriend and how breathwork helped him process his emotions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Breath and Emotion Connection: The way we breathe is closely linked to our emotional state. Short, shallow breathing often correlates with feelings of anxiety or fear, while deeper, more expansive breathing is associated with feelings of calm and joy.

Breathing Archetypes: Individuals have different breathing patterns or archetypes that reflect their emotional and psychological states.

Impact of Trauma on Breath: Traumatic experiences can lead to physical tension and altered breathing patterns. This tension is often held in specific areas of the body

Breathwork for Emotional Release: Engaging in breathwork can facilitate the release of stored emotions and trauma

TIMESTAMPS AND KEY TOPICS

[00:02:01] Breath and emotional release.

[00:07:40] Somatic release through breathwork.

[00:23:06] Breath awareness and archetypes.

[00:36:39] Managing public speaking nerves.

[00:45:12] Breath and energy alignment.

[00:51:04] Creating space for daily practice.

[00:57:20] Optimal breathing rate for health.

[01:03:30] Breathing patterns and personal change.

[00:00:00] Hypnotic accents and conversation.

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ABOUT THE HOST

Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine.

Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out.

The High Performance Health Podcast is a top rated global podcast. Each week, Angela brings you a new insight, biohack or high performance habit to help you unlock optimal health, longevity and higher performance. Hit the follow button to make sure you get notified each time Angela releases a new episode.

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