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 ...