The "London Breath" is keeping you stuck.
I had a fascinating synchronicity in the gym sauna today. I got talking to a tech founder. We were deep in the weeds of business, wellness, and his daily meditation routine.
Then he asked the inevitable question: "What do you do?"
I like to experiment with my answer. This time, I said: "I help 'stressed' people with their breathing on Harley Street."
He looked intrigued. "Who goes to see you for that, and why?"
I told him: "Typically founders who have tried therapy and have a high degree of self-awareness, but they’re stuck in repeating patterns in their careers and relationships. They’re anxious, normally because they have a very shallow breathing pattern."
Then, I gave him a challenge.
I said: "Place one hand on your abdomen and breathe into your belly."
Despite being a fit guy, a regular gym goer, and a meditator, he could not do it. Even when I told him to visualise blowing up a balloon in his stomach, his breath stayed stuck in his chest.
This is what I call the "London Breath."
If you cannot perform this simple movement, the likelihood is you are permanently "switched on."
Your nervous system is stuck in chronic "fight or flight."
Your endocrine system is pumping out cortisol and adrenaline.
Your traps and neck are being recruited to breathe, leading to chronic tension.
Your breath is bi-directional.
Your environment changes your breath, but your breath also dictates how you perceive your environment.
Permanent chest breath: You are likely stuck in an "overachiever" protective pattern, often fuelled by a "low self-worth" limiting belief. (What would you be without that belief?)
Permanent abdomen breath: You might be stuck in an avoidance pattern, too chill to take necessary action.
Dynamic breath: This is the goal. Breath that moves into the pelvic, abdomen, and chest area with ease. That is nervous system resilience.
I used to be stuck in the "London Breath" too. But once you realise your breathing shape is a doorway to change, everything shifts.
Give it a go right now: Can you breathe into your belly without your shoulders moving?
If not, it might be time to look at what is keeping you "switched on,” and is it serving you?
Thank you for reading,
Will
