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I'll be honest - when my friend first invited me to a breathwork class at Open in Venice, I was skeptical. Sitting still and breathing for an hour? As someone who can barely meditate for five minutes without getting antsy, it seemed like torture. But something in me was curious enough to try.
That first session changed everything. About twenty minutes in, I found myself in what felt like a scene from Lord of the Rings - standing on a cliff, surrounded by fire and flying cannonballs. It was terrifying. But then came the screaming portion, where I let out the loudest yell of my life. What followed was the most profound sense of clarity and groundedness I've ever experienced.
This is why I knew I had to have Chris Keener, founder of Goldenair Breathwork, on The Optimist. As someone who's spent the last decade exploring different modalities of self-development and mental health, I was fascinated by how quickly breathwork had impacted me. But more importantly, I saw its potential for other ambitious men who, like me, struggle with being present and often live in their heads.
During our conversation, Chris broke down the science behind what's actually happening in our bodies during breathwork. When we hyperventilate, we're blowing off CO2, which makes our body more alkaline. This triggers various physiological responses, including the famous "lobster hands" that many practitioners experience. But beyond the physical sensations, something deeper is happening - we're learning to be with ourselves in a way that many of us have forgotten how to do.
What struck me most was Chris's perspective on why this practice is particularly valuable for high-achieving men. We often try to control everything externally, proving our worth through our accomplishments and ability to manage our environment. Yet we rarely tend to the internal levers that actually control our response to life. Breathwork offers a direct path to that internal mastery.
Chris also shared a beautiful metaphor about life being like a spiral staircase. Sometimes we find ourselves facing familiar challenges, looking out the same window, and think we're stuck in a loop. But we're actually viewing these challenges from a higher perspective, with more wisdom and experience than before. This resonated deeply with my own journey of learning that life doesn't have to get harder as we get older - we can actually get better at living it.
The most powerful part? You don't need any special equipment or even a class to start incorporating breathwork into your life. Chris taught us a simple technique for those moments when you get cut off in traffic: close your mouth, breathe through your nose, and on the exhale, make a humming sound. It sounds simple (and maybe a little weird), but it's backed by science and it works.
One of my favorite moments was when Chris guided us through an 11-breath exercise right there in the studio. In just a few minutes, I felt my energy shift, my voice soften, and my body relax. It was a perfect demonstration of how accessible yet powerful these practices can be.
For all the ambitious men out there who, like me, have dismissed practices that seem too "soft" or "passive," I encourage you to give breathwork a try. It's not just breathing - it's a way to build resilience, clarity, and presence in a world that increasingly demands all three.
Listen to the full episode with Chris Keener on The Optimist podcast to learn more about breathwork, including specific techniques for better sleep, improved athletic performance, and stress management. Chris also shares the incredible story of how he turned his bachelor party into a men's retreat in Zion National Park - trust me, you don't want to miss this one.
