How BreathHoldWork Saved My Life When Nothing Else Worked
Six Years of Suffering and No Answers
In late 2021 and early 2022, Erwan held seven live, online BreathHoldWork Meditation Programs. Hundreds of students from all over the world signed up and attended, with dozens writing testimonials praising the BreathHoldWork method and Erwan's teaching. (Read them on our testimonial page.)
We were recently contacted by one alumnus of the program, Andrew Johnson, whose BreathHoldWork testimonial stood out from the crowd. Andrew was a student in Erwan's program in April of 2022. Below is his story.
"To be frank, BreathHoldWork Meditation saved my life."
For the past six years, I’d been dealing with debilitating health issues that took me from a vibrant and healthy young man with passions and dreams to a burned-out, broken shadow of a person struggling to walk up the single flight of stairs to my apartment. I was so exhausted that I dreaded getting home every day and having to walk up to my apartment, or God forbid doing such demanding tasks as taking out the trash or doing the laundry.
Andrew in 2016, at the onset of his health issues.
I was riddled with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia symptoms, tremors, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, mood swings, chronic pain, decreasing mobility, cardiovascular issues, dyspnea, feelings of dissociation and depersonalization, and brain fog so bad at times I couldn’t tell where I was. I felt crazy and I acted crazy. I felt possessed in the sense that my actions and thoughts and who I was becoming felt foreign to me and beyond my control.
I Tried Everything. Nothing Worked.
During this time I spent all of my limited energy trying to figure out what was going on. I navigated the healthcare system, visiting doctor after doctor, and specialist after specialist, to little avail. My only diagnosis after 6 years of tests and visits was chronic fatigue syndrome. I pored through medical texts, studying biology, chemistry, physiology, neurology, which was incredibly tough because the brain fog disrupted my ability to read and comprehend information.
Andrew in 2021 when his illness was at its peak and sleep was about all he could do.
I dove into sleep hygiene, breathwork, meditation, supplementation, nutrition, detoxification, movement, light therapy, hormetic practices like ice baths and sauna, therapy, plant medicines, you name it. Nothing helped.
“Not a single thing I did improved my well-being. Nothing, and I mean nothing, made me feel even slightly better.”
“I had no clues, no answers, and no hope. I was devastated and demoralized. Nearly every single day I contemplated suicide.”
BreathHoldWork Was Different
Today, I sit here writing this as a once-again happy, healthy, and vibrant young man. Thanks to Erwan’s work, I now have knowledge about my innate ability to heal myself.
I no longer dread doing basic tasks. I can read and retain what I’ve read. I feel happy, content, and truly resilient. Stressful situations no longer overwhelm me. I’m no longer mentally stuck in past traumas. I see beauty in the world again.
Andrew in August of 2022. He's back to regular activity, training, and living his life.
“I now have peace and contentment in my heart.”
The First Signs of Change
I still remember the first day after the course ended. I hadn’t hit the breath-hold goal I was aiming for and felt disappointed. But the next morning, I woke up feeling light, soft, and free. My body remembered what it was like to feel good.
Every day after that, I felt better and better.
A Setback and the Tools to Handle It
Then, a friend passed away. I became very stressed and some symptoms returned, not as intensely, but it was a noticeable flare-up. Instead of panicking, I relied on what I learned from the course.
“This work didn’t just ‘cure’ me, it gave me tools I can actually use when life gets hard.”
I practiced what I had learned, created a felt experience of peace, and stabilized again.
What I Gained From This Practice
That’s probably the most important thing I learned, not how to hold my breath longer, but how to have faith in myself, to be patient, and compassionate with myself.
“Not how to hold my breath longer, but how to have compassion for myself.”
I am incredibly grateful for this course, for Erwan’s presence and teaching, and I’m excited to get certified and share this work with others.
Summary of Benefits
Since completing the course, Andrew reports:
🟡 Restored physical stamina
🟡 Clear thinking and memory
🟡 Emotional calm during stress
🟡 Joy, clarity, and resilience in daily life
🟡 A desire to teach BreathHoldWork to others
Want to learn the same method that helped Andrew transform his life?
→ Explore the MasterclassFinal Note
Andrew’s story is amazing. It’s a testament to the power of the BreathHoldWork method and its potential to restore the physical, mental, and emotional health of practitioners worldwide.
If you're interested in learning about BreathHoldWork, visit our website www.BreathHoldWork.com.
