219 - Boundaries, Breath, and Belonging - Foundations for Recovery

I'm joined by Bal Matharu to talk about how breathing links the nervous system, stress biology, and Long Covid symptoms, and why recovery often begins with creating a genuine felt sense of safety. We share practical ways to assess and change breathing patterns, plus the role of co-regulation, boundaries, and carefully held breathwork support. • Bal’s path from advanced respiratory physiotherapy and ICU work to lifestyle medicine and PhD breathwork research • The six pillars of lifestyle medicine and why stress management often underpins the rest • Acute stress versus chronic stress and how the body shifts blood flow, hormones, and immune function • Cell danger theory, mitochondria, ATP, and why fatigue can be a protection signal • Safety as a felt sense through neuroception rather than a purely cognitive idea • Breath assessment basics, posture, high chest breathing, diaphragm use, and longer exhales • Overstimulation, silence avoidance, and letting emotions move through the body in short windows • Co-regulation, practitioner capacity, and building safe spaces for nervous system work • Boundaries, people pleasing patterns, and choosing relationships that support regulation • Selecting credible breathwork practitioners and avoiding unsafe cathartic methods Links:Bal's Website: https://www.bodymind-iq.com Embody Ecosystem: https://go.bodymind-iq.com/embody-ecosystemMessage me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or [email protected]**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**