Episode 66: From Choiceless to Conscious How Breathwork Breaks Unconscious Patterns with Anthony Abbagnano
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What if each inhale is your first act of agency—and each exhale a rehearsal for letting go? Author and founder of Alchemy of Breath, Anthony Abbagnano, joins Kathy to show how breathwork shifts us from a choiceless, trauma-driven loop into creative, conscious choice. You’ll learn a simple “10-breath” practice for hot moments (at work or at home), why resistance is an informant not an enemy, and how presence turns outer chaos into inner calm.
In this episode, Kathy and Anthony discuss:
Trauma, the amygdala, and the “choiceless mindset” (fight/flight/freeze)
Breath as spiritual channel and daily, always-available regulation tool
The 10-Breath practice for conflict: co-regulation, eye contact, and reset
Agency vs. reactivity: reclaiming authorship and presence
Resistance as data: dialoguing with it rather than battling it
Practical rituals: beginning again after stillness; bringing breath into teams, relationships, and tough rooms
Timestamps:
00:03:46 — Outer calm/inner chaos; origin story
00:10:14 — Starting point; birth imprint; GPS metaphor
00:12:27 — Trauma narrows choice; breath stops
00:16:29 — Breath as prayer; direct connection
00:25:17 — Ten-breath pact; conflict reset
00:40:23 — Resistance as informant; two-chair dialog
00:51:38 — Attention shifts reality; bring breath
00:59:56 — Community sessions; Tuscany retreats
Connect with Anthony Abbagnano
Anthony Abbagnano is the founder of Alchemy of Breath, a globally recognized breathwork community that has helped thousands reclaim their power through the transformative power of the breath. His personal story, shared in this book, details how he overcame profound challenges through breathwork and mindfulness, leading him to create a life of purpose and balance.
As the first to bring breathwork online, Anthony serves as curator for online breathwork on the board of the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance (GPBA), and holds a faculty position on the Shift Network. Anthony’s Breathe the World online breathwork sessions draw hundreds each week, with an extended community of 170,000 and counting.
Anthony has spoken alongside notable leaders like Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Bruce Lipton, Peter Levine, Alex Howard, Wim Hoff, and Fleet Maull, among others. To learn more, visit https://AlchemyOfBreath.com
Connect with Kathy Washburn
Sign up for Kathy’s Sense of Peace Substack
To learn more about Kathy and her coaching services, head over to https://kathywashburn.net/
To schedule a free consultation with Kathy visit https://kathywashburn.net/contact
Follow Kathy on Instagram @kathywashburndotnet
Sign Up for Kathy’s On Demand Anchored Hope Course https://kathy-washburn.teachable.com/p/anchored-hope