Yambao had been living in Singapore since she moved there from the Philippines in 2007 to complete her MBA. Around three years ago, a job opportunity gave the finance executive the nudge to move to Hong Kong to start a new life chapter.

Her health struggles continued, though, as she had regular intense bouts of hives and unexplained allergic reactions, often leading to depressive episodes. Then she met certified breathwork instructor Brian Lai, founder of Primal Breathwork in Hong Kong.

Take a deep breath: coach teaches how to inhale and exhale

After he heard Yambao’s story, Lai suggested that her busy mind and health troubles might be signalling a more deep-rooted imbalance, which led him to suggest breathwork.

“Breathwork is the art and science of conscious breathing, and could be as simple as becoming aware of your breathing patterns, [right up] to a shamanic breathwork session lasting several hours,” said Lai. “Anytime we switch our breathing from automatic mode to conscious mode we can begin to influence the nervous system in a way that supports and balances our state.”

When Lai began working with Yambao he introduced her to breathing mechanics and chemistry, and optimal breath cadence – the timing of inhaling and exhaling. She also learned the Wim Hof Method and learned to submerge herself in ice baths.

Eventually, Lai taught her an intense therapeutic breathing technique known as rebirthing – in which the inhale and exhale are connected without pause. This circular breathing is used in many breathwork methods, often to achieve a transcendent state in which you can access hidden emotions, feelings and profound spiritual experiences.

It’s one reason Lai regularly refers to breathwork as “meditation on jet fuel”.

“In breathwork, it is possible to achieve states that may take an experienced meditator a much longer time to attain,” said Lai.

Through Lai’s sessions, Yambao began to unlock unprocessed emotions. She started to recount buried feelings relating to her experiences with cancer, familial traumas from her past, and even discovered an innate desire to reconnect with her Christian faith, which she later did.

After these “breakthrough” sessions, Yambao experienced noticeable health improvements: her hives outbreaks lessened, as did her dependency on antihistamines.

“I went from taking four to five antihistamines a day to two to three a week,” said Yambao. “From my lessons, I learned to separate myself from what I am feeling – being able to have that ability to observe myself and my emotions as opposed to being carried away by my emotions.”

Yambao’s story is unique, as are those of everyone who takes up breathwork practices, something Lai likes to remind his clients. “With Melissa, the real healing and breakthroughs came from those rebirthing sessions,” he said.

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For Yambao, finding an inner practice to re-centre the mind and instil calm spawned her love for the work.

“Breathwork has impacted my mental health, which has been the primary [driver] for me,” she said. “Just having these tools and the ability to stay present and being mindful of my body, for me that has been the number one benefit.”

Since Hong Kong stepped up social-distancing measures to stop the spread of Covid-19, including shutting fitness and wellness centres, Yambao and Lai have moved their sessions online. Yambao believes those virtual lessons, usually an hour a week, are just as impactful.

Her breathwork routine is deeper and more advanced now, and focused more on delivering mental health benefits than on everyday stress management. She incorporates what she has learned in her daily life, taking a moment to breathe when stress bubbles up, to focus on her breath in a meditative way, to calm herself.

“It has been helping me so much – I plan to continue on it as long as I can.”