Simple Ways to Reclaim Your Calm: How Breathwork Impacts the Nervous System

In this episode, Valeria sits down with Stefanie Broes, the co-founder of Moonbird, for a refreshing conversation about something we all need more of: calm. They explore how breathwork can help us manage stress, sleep better, and feel more grounded in our daily lives. Stefanie opens up about her own journey, from battling burnout during her PhD to discovering the power of the breath as a healing tool. They unpack the science in a super accessible way, talk through the differences between breathwork and meditation, and share simple ways to bring these practices into your routine. Plus, Stefanie gives us a look into Moonbird’s mission and why she believes teaching breathwork to kids and adults alike could change lives.

This episode is brought to you by moonbird: Tired of stress hijacking your day or struggling to fall asleep at night? Meet moonbird, your handheld breathing coach, designed to help you slow down and reconnect with your breath. Born from personal need and backed by science, moonbird merges biometric intelligence with guided breathwork to help you calm your mind, ease anxiety, and sleep better. It gently expands and contracts in your hand, guiding your breathing rhythm in real time — no screens, no noise, just you and your breath. Go to moonbird.life/VALERIA and use code VALERIA for $25 off.

Follow Stefanie: instagram.com/stefaniebroes

Follow moonbird: instagram.com/moonbird.life

Shop moonbird: moonbird.life/VALERIA

Shop my look from this episode: shopmy.us/collections/1791757

Follow me: instagram.com/valerialipovetsky

What we talked about:

00:00 Intro

01:11 Discovering Breathwork: A Personal Journey

02:52 The Science Behind Breathwork and Meditation

04:41 Practical Applications and Benefits of Breathwork

10:09 The Nervous System and Stress Response

18:18 The Importance of Sleep and Personal Well-being

19:55 Heart Rate Variability and Breathwork

22:35 Guided Breathwork Exercise

25:49 Balancing Health and Wellness Practices

27:00 Exploring Women's Unique Health Challenges

29:02 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

30:58 The Impact of Shallow Breathing and Modern Posture

31:26 Proper Breathing Techniques

36:10 Incorporating Breath Work into Daily Life

46:40 Breathwork and Digestion

50:05 A Personal Story and Final Thoughts

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