225. Power of Conscious Breathing w/ Amanda Russo

Amanda Russo, known as the "breathing goddess," shares her transformative journey from struggling with weight to becoming a breathwork coach and mindset mentor who helps others reclaim their time through healing practices.

• Growing up as an only child with a single mom who didn't limit her food choices led to weight struggles
• Lost and maintained a 70-pound weight loss through internal and physical work
• Initially dismissed breathwork and meditation as something she was "too busy" for
• A breathwork session on her grandmother's death anniversary transformed her grief into gratitude
• Became certified as a breathwork facilitator after experiencing profound personal shifts
• Explains how different breathing techniques serve different purposes – from anxiety reduction to emotional processing
• Breathwork can be incorporated into daily routines through short, focused sessions
• Discusses how her gym habits became obsessive before finding balance through mindfulness
• Shares perspective-shifting techniques for handling challenges by asking "what is this trying to teach me?"
• Offers the powerful advice to imagine what you'd tell a loved one facing your current challenge

Be careful with your words, because anything you say might take you five seconds to say, but it could last in someone's ears for five years.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Amanda Russo
• 5:28 Amanda's Weight Loss Journey
• 9:05 Discovering the Power of Breathwork
• 15:30 Physical Effects of Breathing Techniques
• 22:16 Breathwork in Daily Routine
• 28:47 From Gym Obsession to Balanced Life
• 35:13 Transforming Grief into Gratitude

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Yeah, it's Mindset Cafe. We all about that mindset. Gotta stay focused. Now go settle for the last. It's all in your head how you think you manifest. So get ready to rise, cause we about to be the best. Gotta switch it up. Gotta break the old habits. Get your mind right. Turn your dreams into habits. No negative vibes, only positive thoughts.

Speaker 1: 0:20

What is up, guys? Welcome to another episode of the Mindset Cafe podcast. It's your boy, devin, and today we have a special guest. We have Amanda Russo. She is known as the breathing goddess and she is a breathwork coach, a mindset mentor and a seasoned paralegal who's really dedicated her life to helping others transform their mindset and reclaim their time, both through healing or through the power of healing and breathwork. So, honestly, I was talking to her before this that it interested me to bring her on, because breathwork has such an amazing impact on your mental state, your physical state. So I'm really interested to dive into this aspect as well, because on the Mindset Cafe, we're all about personal development. So, amanda, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day.

Speaker 2: 1:04

Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 1:06

Of course. So let's dive in. I always like to start with your backstory, right, like you know what was your childhood like, what was your you know. Your basically bring up till right now like that. I like to start there to get get more of a connection.

Speaker 2: 1:20

Okay, I'm not sure how deep you want me to take that, but childhood grew up only child lived with my mom growing up single mom. I was pretty overweight for most of my childhood and it was more so kind of looking back and reflecting on my mindset seeing it. My mom didn't want to limit me, she didn't want to be that parent that you can't do this, you can't have that. So it was kind of a free for all for me. Which emotions got involved? I got really heavy. I was about 15 pounds below 200 pounds when I was in high school and that led down a big shift, big transformation for me. I've lost and maintained a 70 pound weight loss and it's been through a lot of internal work as well as the physical work. But yeah, I can, I can, I can delve down the breathwork path if you want me to now.

Speaker 1: 2:23

So I mean so, okay, so you grew up in high school, like you know, battling weight and so forth, but you know, did you go to college Like what was your? You know what was that backstory? I mean how, what led you into getting into breathwork.

Speaker 2: 2:36

So, yeah, I went to college. I went to college for legal studies. I was going to be an attorney. I thought that's the route I wanted to take, actually got really involved in fitness shortly after high school, lost a lot of weight, maintained the weight loss. It built a lot of muscle.

Speaker 2: 2:53

And I didn't get involved in breathwork until about three years into my fitness journey because I was always too busy, always too busy to meditate. I didn't have the time for it. I just didn't make the time for it. You know, and a good friend of mine that I had actually met at a yoga class got certified in breathwork and we became pretty close. So she would constantly like pretty regularly, probably for about three months tell me, you got to try this breathwork thing. You got to try this breathwork thing and honestly, it was partially because I was good friends with her that I was like, okay, I'll try this at some point, like I'm I'm somebody that supports my friends, like it doesn't matter what you're doing. If you're doing something crazy, even if it won't help me, I'll try it once. I'll try anything, at least once. So I'm like, I'll try it at some point.

Speaker 2: 3:42

Fast forward, the anniversary of my grandma came up and she was hosting a session and I was like you know what, I don't want to sit home and just like wallow in the pity. I don't even know what this is. But you know what, I'm going to go to a breathwork class and I remember having no expectations because I had no clue like what this was. I was like it's like meditating, okay, clue like what this was. I was like it's like meditating, okay, and I'm like it's an hour and a half. I'm going to meditate for an hour and a half. It's a long time. Okay, it's fine, it's great. And I went to the session and I was like holy shit, like I hope I can swear on here.

Speaker 1: 4:17

You're good, you're good.

Speaker 2: 4:19

I felt like I transformed my grief to gratitude is the simplest way I put it because I was able to reframe every negative thought I had about that situation, from small little things to her not seeing me graduate high school, to she got to see me graduate eighth grade, and all these little like almost mindset shifts, if you will, that I was able to now look at differently, just from breathing for like 45 minutes and I was like what the hell is this like? This is insane. She was hosting another session a week later. I was like, oh my god, I'm going again. I went again and I was like you've got to do this like once a week, because I need to do this all the time.

Speaker 2: 5:03

And she's like, amanda, you just got to get certified I don't even know what that meant like certified in what she's like certified in breathwork. I was like that's the thing. I didn't even know what. I don't even know what the hell we're doing here, but I need to do this like every day. And she's like, yes, contact this person, like go get certified. So about six months later I went and I got certified and it's just been. That was about two years ago now and, yeah, I love it.

Speaker 1: 5:31

Yeah, I mean that was the interesting thing and why I wanted to bring you on, cause I remember I was in a business match of mine and I'm still part of the group. But you know, every, every other meetup, like, they bring someone in and she does this breath work and they told me about it. The second meetup, right like because we're about to do it and everyone's trying to explain it to me and I'm the new guy, and so, and there's guys and girls in the group and everyone was saying, yeah, you know, you're gonna. You know everyone was crying last time and in my head I was like I'm not an emotional person like this sounds dumb, sounds dumb Like. And I was like you guys sound like a bunch of babies, you know. And I was like, okay, again, I'm similar, I'm in a sense to you. I was like I'll do everything once, Like, and so, mind you, we're in Montana, in the wilderness, like we're in Glacier Park, so we're all sitting on the grass.

Speaker 1: 6:19

And and the lady was like, you know, if you guys feel like you can't, you know, take your arm off the ground. Like it's okay, don't freak out. And in my head I was like, please, I was like, come on now. And so all of a sudden I remember we were doing the breath work and my arm it felt like something was crawling on my arm. Later I realized my arm was sliding upwards along the grass and it was going up and up and up. Realized my arm was sliding upwards along the grass and it was going up and up and up and I had no idea it was happening.

Speaker 1: 6:48

And then I went to like like touch whatever was on my arm and I couldn't lift my arm off the ground and I was like, oh shit, we're about to go through some stuff right now. I was like whatever is happening right now, this is, oh, I'm about to. I guess I'm in it for the ride now I can't move. So we're here and it was crazy, though, like you're saying, you start it's almost like euphoric in a sense, because you, the way we did, it was and again, I don't the reason I want to have you on, because I've only done it one, one kind of way. I don't know if there's other breath works and stuff but like you picked a word in the beginning and you focused on that word and in my head head I was like, okay, do I just keep saying this word and then all of a sudden it was like a movie playing in my head and it's like you go through these transitions and stuff. I mean, was that your similar experience?

Speaker 2: 7:35

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 7:36

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 7:36

Everybody does it different, in terms of one word or however they guide you through it per se.

Speaker 1: 7:43

But yeah, the transcendence, the transcend yeah, okay, so you, you're certified, right yeah why can't you lift your arms off the ground sometimes?

Speaker 2: 7:54

there's. There's just these physical sensations that are that are gonna come up because you you're oxygenating the body in a way that we never do.

Speaker 1: 8:05

Right.

Speaker 2: 8:05

So it was open mouth, breathing breath work that you were doing right.

Speaker 1: 8:10

Yeah, it was like in the nose, out the mouth and the different tempos, different ways holding it. And then, okay, I will say this too, and again, this is kind of taken off, you know my, you know bringing a little vulnerability out, cause, all of a sudden, like I could feel like that verge of like you know, you're about to let out some feelings, and I was like all right, you got this under control, you're so good. And then she, I somehow, she saw that I was battling on that tipping point. And then she came over and she put her hand on my chest. In my head All I could think was don't touch me right now. I was like don't touch me right now. I'm going through this. Something like this is going to make it worse.

Speaker 1: 8:51

And then she's like I didn't say that out loud, obviously, but then it was like I was like wow, like it's, it's crazy, like what, what just breathing can do? And I mean, I've read a thing like a monk by Jay Shetty in one of his chapters, like he talks about breathwork and like different kinds of breathwork do different things. It can hype you up, it can calm you down, it can you know all those kinds of things. So what? What do you, or have you done any of those breathworks, I guess like the I don't know what they're called, but I know there was like seven or nine different kinds of breath works to kind of do different things for you mentally or physically?

Speaker 2: 9:27

There was a wide range, a wide range of them, like even different breathing techniques. Some people could call them breath work, like even four, seven, eight, or like how long you're breathing in the inhale, you're holding it versus how long the exhale is. Yeah, you're breathing in the inhale, you're holding it, versus how long the exhale is, yeah, yeah, so there's those different ones for different things. I haven't read that book. I want, I want to.

Speaker 1: 9:52

It's on my list, but he has a whole chapter on breathwork yeah, I mean he I don't think he called it breathwork, I think he just called it breathing techniques or or something like that, but it was. It was like I was literally in that because I was listening to audiobook and I wish I would have had the regular book, you know, in front of me, because I was like, dang, what did he just say? And I'm because I'm still trying to do the other one to see what happens and stuff and then I was like, okay, well, I got to pause this audiobook every time I'm trying these different ones. But I mean, I guess what would be a breathwork for someone that is like nervous and and wants to not gain confidence but like you, I guess, gain confidence, you know, because I know there's like the Superman pose or a superhero pose. You put your hands on your hips and you stand super tall and hold it for like a minute. Is there any breath works that can kind of ease like anxiousness?

Speaker 2: 10:42

So I I mean I'd say breathwork detox could. But now the thing with breathwork detox is it's not a short thing. You're not going to really be able to do that just anywhere per se, like you're laying down. To really be able to do that just anywhere per se, like you're laying down, the mouth is wide open, your eyes are closed. So like a four, seven, eight breathing technique, where you're breathing in for four, holding it for seven seconds and breathing out for eight, that you can do almost anywhere. You know what I'm saying. So like that I would more so recommend for anxiousness, for nervousness, because it's more accessible regardless of where you are.

Speaker 1: 11:17

Got it. That makes sense. So I mean, what is your journey like? Being a breathwork coach and being a mindset mentor? What does that career path look like for you?

Speaker 2: 11:35

for you. It's been interesting for me because even, like I mentioned, prior to ever doing this one breathwork class, I was somebody who I never meditated. I was like this gym goer, this entrepreneur, I don't have time to meditate. You kidding me? I was the person that would say that. So then, when I became this breathwork facilitator, it was a big transition, you know, but it's honestly, it's helped me a lot in my own life. Just even be more mindful, more aware of what's happening, you know one I did and the one you mentioned earlier.

Speaker 1: 12:14

They're an hour plus long. Is there a way that you can incorporate your breathwork into, like your daily rituals or your daily routine?

Speaker 2: 12:20

You could do a short infusion of it.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Okay, so what would something like that look like?

Speaker 2: 12:25

So even like breathwork detox, I do that every morning, just not a full length session.

Speaker 1: 12:32

Okay.

Speaker 2: 12:32

And so it's the same thing, just shorter.

Speaker 1: 12:35

Okay, so then you're just breathing in, breathing out and basically counting, your counting the seconds.

Speaker 2: 12:42

So it's the breathwork detoxes. You're breathing into the belly, into the chest and letting it go. Mouth is open the whole time.

Speaker 1: 12:51

Is there a reason why it's through the mouth and not through the nose?

Speaker 2: 12:55

It's deep diaphragmatic breathing.

Speaker 1: 12:57

Okay, I mean, that was just a general question. I had no idea.

Speaker 2: 12:59

Yeah, it's tapping into the subconscious in a different way.

Speaker 1: 13:05

Okay, yeah, okay, I didn't know that.

Speaker 2: 13:09

It's still mind-blowing to me the stuff that happens from it, Some of the stuff that people tell me. I'm still like, oh, I don't know how the hell you experienced that from breathing, but got it?

Speaker 1: 13:20

Has there been any?

Speaker 1: 13:22

And I'll tell you a story why, being a breathwork coach, have you had any funny stories or interesting clients? The reason I say that is because, during the two times that I've done it, half the time I'm like in it and I'm, you know, zoned in doing it. The other half I'm trying not to laugh, because some people make some funny noises when they're like forced breathing out or you know different things, and then I have ADD and so once I catch something like that, then I can't I get caught to it too easily. So now I'm focused on not laughing because it's like I don't want to be a disruption, but it's now it's cracking me up, and then I'm trying to focus, then it's cracking me up again. I'm like, oh my goodness, I was like I definitely can't do this in the room with this. Whoever's doing that right now. So what have you? Have you had any like clients? Or or taught me any classes where, as the as the mentor, as the coach, you like, you're trying to stay, stay in rhythm without, like you know, laughing.

Speaker 2: 14:28

I don't even know if it's laughing, it's just. I've seen some interesting things. Well, even as you mentioned, you didn't want her touching you. You could have said no, because I had a guy say that to me once and he yelled it pretty loud. I thought other people were going to hear him. But I went over and I was touching I think it was his shoulder and he was like no, no, and I walked away. I walked away.

Speaker 2: 14:52

I was like okay, we're not going to do that. I had one client in a group session where there was a different woman that was screaming. She was screaming so loud that if I wasn't facilitating the session I literally would have thought she was being like murdered to the point where a different woman was could not keep focused and keep going.

Speaker 1: 15:16

She got up and she just walked away and I was like okay okay we, I just kept going that's, that's the hard part, because, like you want to be, you want to facilitate it for everybody, but then it's like if that's their thing, it's like it's out of, it's a weird.

Speaker 1: 15:35

It's a weird like line, because I mean, even coming from the personal training space, like there's people that make weird grunts and weird you know moaning sounds and you're like, dude, is that necessary right now? Or even like girls, I'm like yo come on like like we could do without this. But, believe me, I like, I know, I've seen it. And it's like, at the same time, you're like shit, if this is, if this is your thing, like, well, who am I to say don't do it, like you know, but, um, I mean so, getting into breath, work and everything like that, obviously there was a life changing it for you. Do you think that your fitness journey, when you were, you know, on that journey of losing the you know, 70 ish pounds, because I think you said 70. So that's unless I'm just thinking of a random number- no, I did say 70.

Speaker 1: 16:22

Okay. Do you think it would have helped you or you would have changed your approach to fitness if you would have done breath work earlier in your fitness journey?

Speaker 2: 16:43

100%, without a doubt. How so? Because even and now I'm not saying this is a bad way to approach it, but I, when I first started woken out going to the gym, it was almost too much hustle, you know, almost too much hustle. You know, like I, I didn't stop for the first couple of months I was, I was nonstop and like it wasn't healthy. You know, I did part of it because it was enjoyable, like I was seeing my friends, though. But it got to a point where I had a personal trainer telling me, amanda, you can't come to the gym more than once a day, and was like, yes, I can. And he's like Amanda, like there comes a point where it's not effective, and I was like, well, I don't work.

Speaker 2: 17:20

I was woken three to eleven at the time, like woken out of group home, and I was like, well, one of my friends is at the gym in the morning and one of my friends is at the gym in the afternoon, so I'm just working out for like three hours, multiple days, and it I lost a lot of weight. It was, it wasn't bad, but I could have approached it more mindfully. You know, like there was times I was freaking exhausted, I was beating myself to the ground, like I fell asleep at the wheel once. I was fine, fine, I didn't hit anything. But it's like these little things because Amanda has to go to the gym twice a day, three times a day, like why you don't, you know? So? Like, even if I wasn't a breathwork coach, had I gotten into breathwork I 100% know I would have approached fitness more mindfully and not just like pass it on the grind, you know.

Speaker 1: 18:16

No, definitely. And like the reason I ask it too. I mean to to Aiden what you're, what you're saying, like I actually had a client that I had to tell her the same thing, because she would come to the gym an hour before our session and do an hour of cardio and not just like walking on the treadmill like full out, like that could have been a workout in itself. And I'm like, dude, like you just burned a thousand. Like I'm looking at the treadmill or the elliptical, you just hit a thousand calories. And that's not easy to do, let alone you're doing it every single day, that's six days, seven days a week.

Speaker 1: 18:44

I was like, unless you plan on doing this the rest of your life, like this. I was like this is not maintain, not maintainable. I was like, so everything you're doing, I was like when we're working out, when we're lifting, when we're doing the plyometrics, all that stuff, I was like we're trying to build habits that can be maintainable. And now that same client I mean she she lost, you know, I want to say like a close to 200 pounds, and now she hit a plateau where work changed, all these things changed, and now she feels like she can't get any lower, and so now she's in this mental funk as well, right. So it's like now overcoming some of those things. But the reason I asked about the breathwork is because, at least from my experience, it is kind of euphoric, but you do kind of go down some rabbit holes of I wouldn't say in my experience not traumas, but scenarios that essentially explained certain aspects of you in more depth that you wouldn't have thought of, if that makes sense.

Speaker 2: 19:49

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:50

So like if, if, if weight was an issue and you thought it was an issue at the time, right it, maybe if you were doing breath work would you have, you know, kind of looked at your fitness through a different lens and why you're trying to go realistically. Why are you going three, three hours a day, or two hours a day, you know, and is it because there's people telling you stuff, or people saying you should look a certain way, or whatever the case day, you know, and is it because there's people telling you stuff, or people saying you should look a certain way, or whatever the case is like? What are those things that you're essentially telling yourself?

Speaker 2: 20:21

Like, do you think I would have realized it?

Speaker 1: 20:23

You mean, if I mean, I mean that was my, that was just my question, like would you do, you think you would have realized, or do you think you would have kind of been at I mean, because when you say mindful, I mean I think we kind of throw around that term but like what would you have been mindful of, essentially?

Speaker 2: 20:43

Just even my approach. Like I had I worked out, like I met multiple friends at this gym and that was my biggest excuse. Like I have some friends that work out at 6am. Well, I'm gonna see this friend at 6am, but I'm also gonna see my friend at nine and you know what? I've got a friend that works overnight and she's here at 12. I'm going to be here at 12 too, and a lot of it was that and it's like realizing, okay, you can see these people elsewhere, even just having that awareness, you know, because I didn't have awareness for anything and even even my trainer was like why can't you see Meg outside of the gym?

Speaker 2: 21:22

And I was like I never thought of that ever and it was. You know, it sounds insane. It literally sounds insane thinking about this now. But it's like it literally sounds insane thinking about this now. But it's like this is where I see these people, you know.

Speaker 2: 21:34

So like I, this tunnel vision, this is what I do. These are my gym funds. I hang out with my gym funds at the gym and like why am I sitting on the bench at the gym eating my lunch that I just like microwaved in the personal trainer's office when I could be at my friend's house, like we don't have to be at the gym just because we are gym friends. You know it's like I, I didn't, my mindset couldn't see other other aspects. You know, it wasn't even just like what I was saying, like there was that as well, but it was even just you've got gym friends, you love your gym friends, you're going to go to the gym whenever your gym funds are going. And it's like Amanda, just because you were not at work during nine to five doesn't mean you go to the gym three times.

Speaker 1: 22:23

And I mean, and don't take this the wrong way, and this is just me kind of exploring the idea, because when you're saying gym friends and then you're saying like you couldn't see them outside, you know, like essentially they're your friends, right, but what was your social life like besides the gym?

Speaker 2: 22:40

Yeah, not much of one.

Speaker 1: 22:45

Okay, so I mean so. So that makes a little bit more sense in the sense of like your gym friends. But then you're so your life right now is not right now, but at the moment was so wrapped around the gym because you were on this personal journey and so everything just had to align subconsciously with that personal journey and it was like these are my gym friends because I need to go to the gym. And you know, essentially gym is life right now Right, and I think that's maybe that tunnel vision that you were talking about. And again, like I've been wrapped up in that too with different things.

Speaker 1: 23:16

And I think it's important to talk about because, especially being in the fitness industry, like I see so much of it and just like how what you're saying, no matter how many times, like as their trainer, I tell them it's almost like when your parent tells you don't touch the stove, it's hot, and you're like, well, maybe, and you still touch it and you're like, damn it, it was hot, you know, but it's like like the reason I want to ask you is like you're literally talking about your story and I'm hoping that someone can relate to this and realize that there is more out there or change the perspective lens, like you're saying, right. So, um, what? What was your social life like before the gym Cause? Then, all of a sudden, you start going to the gym. You start, you know, really diving in where your friends not necessarily a bad influence, but living a lifestyle that you weren't wanting to live anymore, or what was like that change of friends, I guess.

Speaker 2: 24:13

I mean, I guess I had a little bit of a change of friends. I had some change of friends and a lot of the friends prior to the gym were more people going out and drinking more people. I don't really have other examples, but like going out for dinner, going out like they didn't only drink but like I sound like an alcoholic but like it was.

Speaker 2: 24:37

It was more so like we're going to. We're going to. What did I go, like to? Different plays, different events, different, like it wasn't. Like it wasn't gym, it wasn't Pilates, it wasn't yoga, it wasn't really any type of movement per se, even if, like, yoga is not helping me lose 70 pounds per se, but like it's still. I do a lot of movement stuff, even back then, you know, and prior to that, not really at all, not really at all. So it was more like just socializing, like eating, drinking, like different events. I'm not really into sports, so like not really sporting events. I went to one play but stuff like that, different, random events.

Speaker 1: 25:22

No see, that makes sense and that's why I wanted to kind of get out.

Speaker 1: 25:25

It's like it's okay to transition friends right, just because they're and it's not that you lose them as friends, but sometimes your life paths just grow apart even really want to hang out, because I know what that entails and that just doesn't fit what I'm trying to do, right, like, my life pretty much revolves around fitness or business and stuff like that. So now the people I'm hanging out around are like-minded people. So you go into the gym and having quote, unquote gym friends, it's because you found your, your new tribe, right, and that's gym people, right, and so that's that's the thing that I think people get hesitant on transitioning, whether it's becoming an entrepreneur or whether it's becoming, you know, a fitness enthusiast, right. It's like you're, you're trying to please other people that are living a lifestyle that you're not necessarily wanting to live and you're trying to battle this thing and you're like man, I don't want to make them up mad because I don't want to go to this play or go to this event.

Speaker 2: 26:34

It's like sometimes it's okay If they don't understand, and they don't, they're not almost in your corner, then maybe they're not as good of a friend, as you thought they were know yeah, no, that's really true and you know I will say this too like some of the friends I had before that also transitioned over not all of them, but I had two good friends that like made the transition with me and became gym friends. So like we made that, you know. So like osmosis is a thing you can't change people, but like if they see you know like what you're doing and how it's affecting you and it's impacting you, you know like it can entice them to want to make that change in themselves.

Speaker 1: 27:16

Oh, a hundred percent, and I love the osmosis in reference. No, but it's true, like I was actually just talking to one of our members here at the gym and he just started our challenge, our fitness challenge, and our members here at the gym and he just started our challenge, our fitness challenge, and he was just telling me like literally right before he hopped on the call, and he was like, uh, he was like yeah, you know this challenge, I feel so great, blah, blah, blah. And he's I even started texting people like you know what I'm eating. And he's like some of them are doing the challenge, some of them aren't, and he's like it's crazy because now some of them are texting me what they're eating or I forget to text them and they're like hey, did you not eat anything today? And I was like, I was like that's smart.

Speaker 1: 27:50

I was like you created an accountability system, essentially to hold yourself accountable, and he's like, yeah, he's like, but it's crazy because it, these other people are now getting on board and and doing as I do, like that's that's huge, right. You know, you never know what kind of influence you could have on someone. Some. Some people are just scared to take that first step, or don't know that they want to take that first step, until they see someone else that they know making that change and then almost giving them permission to be able to make a change too.

Speaker 2: 28:18

Yeah, or they might not even know how, where to start, you know?

Speaker 1: 28:22

Exactly, and that's where I want to talk about. You know your time back in the breathwork exactly, and that's where I want to talk about. You know your time back in the breathwork. One of the things that I was looking into and and seeing about you is that you talk about, or you you've kind of mentioned in your stuff about transforming grief to gratitude through breathwork. Can you kind of dive into that a little bit?

Speaker 2: 28:43

yeah. So, like I mentioned a little bit with reframing things, that I thought about the situation with my grandma. You know like even from thinking about how I didn't get to experience so being at my high school graduation to realizing she was at my eighth grade graduation, and you know it's just all these negative thoughts I had about the whole situation my mind was like, well, let's think about it this way. And you know it didn't happen like during the breathwork session. It was after it, as you lay in there, almost like a shavasana type thing, and it's just like, did you think about it like this? Did you think about this? And it's like, you know, she passed when I was 15 years old and for the longest time I was like that sucks, I could have had her for so much longer. She was only 70.

Speaker 2: 29:31

And then, after this birthwork session, my mind was like you know, you lived with her for 15 years. None of your cousins lived with her and it was like most people don't live with their grandparents, like I. I got to know her really well, so it was just all these different things that it's like 15 years is short, but there was, there were times I was with her every day my mom worked like I'd see her after school. So it was like, and I thought about everything that made me disappointed or like heavy in the grief in a different way and I was like, wow, I'm actually really grateful for this whole situation and I've I've looked at it differently ever since.

Speaker 1: 30:15

No, I love that and it's I mean, cause it like even being able to change the perspective lens and and because shifting it from like a grief to gratitude is huge, and almost being able to shift it, sometimes putting it into perspective for yourself too, in, like you say, 15 years, like man, I only got to know her for 15 years. But then it's like think about, you think it's such a short time, but can you picture yourself 15 years from today and you're like dang, I'd be this old? It's like, oh, that's far away, right. So if that's far away, you got to know that person for a long time then right. And so it's like sometimes those little shifts, right, I mean even think about like this is from like an entrepreneurial standpoint I had with my business partner, it's like everything for us was moving so fast and then we hit a lull for maybe a month or two and then we started getting hard on ourselves and it was like damn, if you really think about how fast we've grown, I was like imagine or remember a year ago where we're at.

Speaker 1: 31:11

Remember I was thinking about five years ago, before our business was started. I was like it's only been five years, you know. And then it's like wow, and then you start to like, okay, it's only a month, like you know we're still doing everything right and you know sometimes there's ups, there's downs, whatever. But shifting that perspective and kind of zooming out sometimes or just moving the lens, all of a sudden you're like you start to appreciate the moment a lot more. So I want to take that the same conversational approach and ask you how could you use that perspective change on challenges or setbacks?

Speaker 2: 31:49

that perspective change on challenges or setbacks. Honestly, just thinking about what it's going to teach you and the lesson that you're going to learn from it. You know, I think there's a lesson in everything, even in the things that aren't challenges, even in the good things, but even more so in the challenges. But in just asking yourself, what is this trying to teach me? Maybe even what am I going to learn from this in 15 years? Or even if you don't want to say 15, because that's far off Looking back on this in five years time, what am I going to think about this and what lesson will come out of it?

Speaker 2: 32:27

Obviously, you don't know for sure what lesson, but like, thinking about that, and you know, another thing I really like trying to do is imagining as if it's not me that the situation is happening to. So, if it's a challenge or if it's a hardship, like, what would I tell my best friend? What would I tell my best friend? What would I tell my mom I'm super close with her if they were going through this exact hardship? Like, what would I say to them? You know so, like, because it's hard to say and motive not motivate, but like be there and console ourselves when we're going through the hardship. But what would you say to someone you're super close with going through this hardship?

Speaker 1: 33:06

That's actually really powerful, because, I mean, it kind of ties into, like, the Solomon paradox. Like you're, it's easy to give other people advice, right, and and we're, it's always so hard to give yourself advice and take the advice. So, being able to like, reframe it and be, be like what would I tell someone else to do you know my mom, my sister, my brother, whatever the case may be and then be like what would I tell them to do, and then the hard part comes into you. Now you know the answer and you have to take action on the answer, right, because we always try to make excuses for ourselves and be like well, you know it's different and it's like no, it's not, no, it's not, you know. So I mean, I do have one last question, right, and I will preface this by saying it's not a tombstone, right, it is your legacy wall. So the Amanda Russo legacy wall and on this legacy wall could be any message, short or long, that you would leave for the up and coming generations that you've learned along your life's journey.

Speaker 2: 34:09

It can be as long as I want it to be. I would say be careful with your words, because anything you say, you might forget it or it will take you five seconds to say, but it could last in someone's ears for five years.

Speaker 1: 34:41

I like that one explain it a little bit. I mean no, I honestly, I really do like that one. Explain it a little bit. I mean no, honestly, I really do like that. Explain it for the listeners. I think it's deeper than you know. That's a great way to say it, but that's definitely a deep meaning behind it. Can you explain it a little bit?

Speaker 2: 35:00

Yeah, so it was actually something my grandma said to me when I was a young kid, but basically something that you say to somebody. I was a young kid, but basically something that you say to somebody. It could take you five seconds to say, you could say it pretty quickly, but whether it's something that makes them feel real good or real shitty, they might remember it for five years. You might forget that you ever even said it to them, but they likely won't forget that you ever even said it to them, but they likely won't.

Speaker 1: 35:30

It's true, and sometimes we say things without thinking about it and other people don't forget that you said it right, you know, and, and so that that is really true. You have to be careful of your words.

Speaker 2: 35:39

Yeah, and I just think, with the day and age that we're in now, you know, like social media, and people just say stuff that's like, and then after the fact they're like oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, and it's like how, how are people gonna feel, you know? Even better than than you found them no 100, especially with social media.

Speaker 1: 36:00

Like I didn't even feel like saying something is one thing not that it's worse or better but saying something is different than posting something, right? And if you post something, like it took you time and effort to go out of your way and post it, but like I've heard of people and I'm being I'm not even alive, even for our company Like when we hire someone, we pull up social medias and if so and I don't care about politics and stuff like that but the way you speak, the way you carry yourself and if you're saying some crazy things on there, I'm sorry, but you represent our brand indirectly and that's not oh, and it's like oh, I'm sorry, it's like you're are you sorry? Are you sorry Cause it's now an issue in your life, right?

Speaker 2: 36:44

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 36:50

So I think that is, I think that is so important, but the like posting it, people can be a little more cautious, but I think we're not cautious enough when, when speaking. So I love, I love that legacy wall. Where can people connect with you.

Speaker 2: 36:59

Best place would be Instagram. Instagram is the breathing goddess or the podcast. Instagram is me and his mindset. You can check that out anywhere you listen to your podcast as well.

Speaker 1: 37:08

Perfect. Both of those will be in the show notes, guys. If you're watching it on YouTube, it'll be in the video description. Share this episode with a friend. You know, and I want to say, definitely go, try some breath work. You will go through some stuff. I promise you, as skeptical as you are, you're going to go through some stuff. So follow Amanda, though you know you're going to go through some stuff. So follow Amanda, though you know. Show her some love. And Amanda again, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to hop on and dive into some breath work.

Speaker 2: 37:34

Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 1: 37:41

Of course Life mindset cause a shy, so Got my mind on the prize. I can't be distracted. I stay on my grind, no time to be slackin'. I hustle harder. I go against the current Cause. I know my mind is rich to be collected.