It is in the aquatic world reigning beneath the surface of the ocean off Yelapa, Mexico, that in 2020 I discovered a truth about breath-holding that would shape my life and, soon, my forthcoming book. This story, destined for a chapter I’m keeping confidential for now, unveils how stillness and intention - born from spearfishing - unlocked a resilience far beyond traditional relaxation practices. Today, I invite you into this underwater world, blending personal narrative with science to build anticipation for what’s to come.

The Hunt Beneath the Waves

Living in Yelapa, a jungle-fringed village where the sea dictates survival, I turned to spearfishing to feed my family fresh-caught fish. Each dive was a dance with the unknown, my body submerged, breath held, waiting behind a rock for “huachinango” (red snapper) or grouper to glide into range. The challenge wasn’t just holding my breath, it was remaining as still as possible. Fish sense everything: a twitch of a fin, a ripple of ...

By Erwan Le Corre
Founder, BreathHoldWork®
3x U.S. National Record Holder in Static Apnea

"Meditation becomes more effective when it happens within a breath-hold.
Not before it. Not after it. Within it."

Erwan Le Corre

Why Meditation Feels So Hard

Most people separate meditation from breathwork.
They either practice a breathwork exercise or meditate.

Doing breathwork is often preferred because it provides a single point of focus: your breath.
Mentally, that makes things easy. It’s similar to when one exercises, because when you do, you’re likely to focus on your physical sensations rather than paying attention to your mind.

Doing breathwork feels like a mental and emotional wellness practice without the challenge of meditation.

But why is meditation such a challenge when all you’ve got to do, at least from the perspective of conventional meditation, is to sit still and watch thoughts rise and pass?

The explanation is simple and resides in the answer to the following question: w...