Rising Above: How Diaphragmatic Breathing Elevates Us When Life Weighs Us Down

I never expected to experience such a profound teaching moment at my water aerobics class. I noticed a woman with an oxygen tank making her way into the pool. Her determination impressed me deeply. After class, I observed her breathing pattern and felt compelled to approach her.

I introduced myself as a breath coach and learned that she suffered from emphysema. I asked if she was open to me sharing something that might help her breathing. She welcomed the suggestion, so I explained that she seemed to be trying to catch her breath, which was actually depleting her system. I explained that focusing on breathing from her diaphragm would bring in more oxygen. Her gratitude was immediate – doctors had given her similar advice, but she hadn't followed through.

Later, she approached me again, expressing sincere thanks and sharing her story about years of heavy smoking and the stress that came from parenting a handicapped child. Despite this, she didn’t believe she was holding onto any pain in her body. Yet, as we spoke, I noticed her breathing had already begun to shift, and there was a visible change in her demeanor after our conversation. I explained ways that she could build a relationship with her diaphragm, especially in the mornings.

The Connection Between Breath and Emotions

We all tend to breathe improperly when suppressing pain. Our bodies hold feelings that we often don't let ourselves acknowledge. Emotional stress can block energy and cause people to breathe higher in their lungs rather than engaging their diaphragm.

Through diaphragmatic breathing, the body can start to dissolve old emotional patterns. By focusing on the diaphragm and bringing in more oxygen, we create space to process our emotions rather than being controlled by them. The exhale releases not just carbon dioxide but also the metabolic waste of suppressed feelings.

What I often notice in breathwork sessions is that people don’t fully surrender to the breath because they believe they can’t handle their feelings. We’re frequently conditioned to suppress our emotions, yet our bodies carry these feelings whether we acknowledge them or not. Many people aren’t even aware of what they don’t know about their own emotional landscape—their bodies speak volumes, but they’ve learned not to listen. The result is resistance to change and a blocking of the natural evolution into what’s next. 

The Breath Helps Us Rise Above Our Inner and Outer Landscape

You might say that the current political landscape reflects a collective resistance to facing difficult emotions. Just as individuals avoid painful feelings by breathing shallowly, people cling to old beliefs to avoid the discomfort of cognitive dissonance.

I often reflect on the powerful words, “When they go low, we go high.” What do they truly mean when viewed through the lens of breath and bodywork?

“Going high” can be understood as raising our vibrational state through inner work and grounding. When external political or social circumstances pull us down, conscious breathing becomes a pathway to rise above—anchoring us in presence while lifting our energy and awareness.

This is especially true now, when people are tempted to hold onto idealized versions of the past rather than confronting current reality. Pain is our resistance to change, and the more we resist, the more chaotic things become.

Becoming grounded through conscious breathing is crucial for staying calm amidst the political storm. In a world of increasing division, perhaps our most powerful response is to breathe deeply, feel fully, and elevate our consciousness. I share this meditation as a place to start:

Meditation of Change

Take a breath.

Feel your body soften.

And let yourself arrive here... now.

In this moment, where so much is shifting in the world—

beliefs unraveling, truths emerging, structures dissolving—

you might wonder:

Where is the Divine?

The Divine is here.

In the stillness between thoughts...

In the space between breaths...

In the quiet knowing behind your heart. Where the feelings of loss and confusion live.

The Divine is not forcing change

It is inviting it.

Gently unweaving what no longer serves.

Softly activating deeper truths within you.

Calling you back to what is real.

What is eternal.

What is loving.