Changing My Thinking, Bullshit to Believer

What is something that I initially thought was complete bullshit in the longevity field, but now think has actual merit?

Breath-work. 

When you start exploring the cutting edge of longevity medicine, you start to see it as the wild west. There are some truly incredible interventions that are coming online now that were not available even a couple years ago, which can add meaningful health to your days and length to your life. However, it is also a field riddled with bullshit, snake oil, and quackery. To be able to sort through the haystack and tell the difference can be difficult.

With this as the backdrop, I try to have my initial approach to all of the testing and interventions that are in longevity medicine have as little bias as possible. I call this my 'agnostic approach'. I am well aware that having a heavy bias going into examining something can easily change one's objectivity. Things of great value can be passed over and things of no value or even harm can be accepted or held onto. Both outcomes should be avoided as much as possible.

When it came to breath-work I had some pretty heavy bias coming into it. I saw breath-work as pure snake oil, the kind of bullshit that charlatans peddle to people desperate for solutions. I knew this about myself, and so donning as much of as beginner's mind as I could muster, I tried some breath-work for myself. To my astonishment I found immediate value in the breath-work practices. I had been trying to meditate for years with limited success. Once I introduced breath-work it was like a switch flipped and a whole new journey began.

In addition to this anecdotal experience, it is reassuring that the scientific literature is starting to validate this form of health intervention as well. While it is not a panacea by any means, I think there is much to explore and integrate from breath-work. I see a large potential upside for mental and physical health by incorporating breath-work into a daily practice with very little cost or downside. I am excited to continue exploring the health implications of these practices with objective and individualized data. It's something worth holding your breath for.