Lockdown, isolation, social distancing, quarantine – all terms that have made their way into everyday use. Covid-19 has had a significant impact on how we interact with others, go about our lives, our work, study and many other aspects of our lives. And as we’re facing uncertainty for the coming weeks it’s now more important than ever to look after our mental health.
Mike Wilson, star of TVNZ 1 show The Apprentice Aotearoa, chats about how he’s coping with lockdown and how he’s using breathwork to get through.
How did you get into breathwork?
I was fortunate enough to have met Sandro nearly a decade ago and over those years he became a qualified breathwork instructor. One day after finishing a self-give 100-day challenge, I called him to see what advice he had for me and introduced me to breathwork. He took me through a warm water rebirth breathwork session and from that day I was awoken. I worked with Sandro for a while before I did a 9 month certification breathwork course and now, as they say, the rest is history!
What benefits has breathwork had on your life?
It has totally changed my life in every facet. To name a few, I don’t drink alcohol or caffeine anymore. Breathwork in a nutshell has shown me who I really am and helped heal my anxiety and mental health issues. I am now able to show up as the most authentic and honest version of myself.
How can breathwork help over lockdown?
It can pull you out of your mind and into your body, grounding you, giving your nervous system a feeling of safety and peace (that feeling that a weight has dropped from you and you feel lighter). It can lower your stress hormones and lower your ‘flight or fight’ response, build your immunity and these are just a few of the benefits, there are a whole lot more.
Where do you start with breathwork?
Like most things there is an abundance of information, which can be overwhelming! If you’re interested in finding more, the best way would be to reach out to me and I can give you some very simple, everyday-use breathing techniques. You can find me on Facebook ‘Michael Wilson’ or Instagram @__mike.wilson.
