On this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, I’m going to be speaking with Donna Still. Donna is a fellow BNI member but she is… oh, it’s very difficult to explain. She helps people find their inner reasons, their inner why, their inner beliefs by the use of breath work, and she’s also heavily into astrology. Now, as you’re probably aware, I am not into astrology and I am the least woo woo person on the planet, so I’m going to be trying to understand how Donna does what she does and how it works, even though it’s really not my thing. But let’s find out.
So Donna, your business isn’t the normal business you would expect to find at a networking group, so can you explain to me very briefly what it is that you do and how you help people?
Donna Still [01:31]
That’s probably my worst nightmare question.
Darren Jamieson [01:37]
I like to kick off with a corker.
Donna Still [01:50]
Ah, that’s great, really great. Actually, what I do is I help people to reconnect to their self, which sounds a bit woolly and a bit… but actually, I use breath work coaching and a lot of other tools that I’ve collected in my 20-plus years in business.
Darren Jamieson [02:03]
Okay. And when you say breath work, what does that involve?
Donna Still [02:21]
Well, with conscious connected breath work, it’s a therapeutic approach to helping people to integrate their past experiences using the power of their breath.
Darren Jamieson [02:28]
What do you mean by past experiences?
Donna Still [02:44]
So a lot of people, when they have, like, just going through life, we all have experiences that are… well, that have the potential to make us more apprehensive, anxious, and to sabotage ourselves. So, what actually happens is, like, people won’t put themselves forward for promotion. They might not do the things that they secretly dream about doing. So, you might hear in a conversation, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to do that, but never done it.” And usually, there’s a reason why they’ve never done it. It’s not because it’s not something that they really do want to do; it’s something that they don’t believe is possible for them based on their past experiences.
Darren Jamieson [03:17]
So if someone, for example, has gone for job interviews before and keeps getting rejected, they’ll not want to do it because they’ll feel they’re not going to get it anyway, so what’s the point?
Donna Still [03:22]
Yes, exactly. Or, I can think of one person in particular I know from my nerd fandom who constantly posts on social media about, “What have you got to do to find a girlfriend? What have you got to do to get a date?” And he, I believe, is using his past experiences to make excuses for the fact that he’s not going to do it because “What’s the point? It’s not going to work.” Is that the kind of thing you mean?
Donna Still [04:09]
Sort of. He’s obviously telling himself a story. He’s telling himself a story about what he believes it is, and so he won’t ever go and put himself out in the position to be rejected. So his subconscious mind is keeping him locked in that same behaviour because it’s a safety mechanism. So in the past, he would have experienced rejection, and because he’s experienced that rejection, he will not put himself forward now because that experience is not integrated in a way that would make it useful for him. You know, the wisdom that comes from negative experiences—we learn way more in life from our bad or perceived negative experiences than we do from the positive ones.
Darren Jamieson [05:05]
So could the positive experiences actually have a negative impact on you if they give you a false sense of security or confidence?
Donna Still [05:30]
No, I don’t think it gives you a false sense of security or a false sense of confidence.
Darren Jamieson [05:49]
If you’re good at something, you’re good at that until one day you’re not good at it. Almost along the lines of, I don’t know how true this is because you see it reported in media all the time that in schools now they try not to have winners and losers. They try to give everybody a medal for participating. That kind of thing. If you are given the sense that, “Oh, if I compete in a sports day or I compete in a race or I compete in an art competition,” like I’ve done in school, “I’m going to get a medal. I’m going to get something. I’ve got that sense that it’s going to be successful,” that gives you a sense of confidence that even though you’re not necessarily good at it, you think you’re going to do well at it, whereas you don’t have the negative experiences in the first place which can shape you and help you.
Donna Still [06:02]
Yeah, there is a lot of that. There is a lot of… I suppose thinking about it from that perspective, if you don’t have the experience of not feeling like you’re good enough to do something, then where would the impetus come to improve? So there’d never be… you know, like you would only live in mediocrity because you just turned up and participated. So, you know, like where’s the… there’s no desire there to do anything more or to do anything better or to improve in any way. So, it’s only through the mistakes that we make and through the negative experiences that we can discern what it is that’s in here that we want to carry on doing.
Darren Jamieson [07:02]
Does that mean, then, to be truly successful, you have to have, in some way, had experiences that have shaped you by being negative?
Donna Still [07:37]
Absolutely, 100%. I think there is not one person walking this earth that can say they have had only positive experiences. Not one. Everyone has negative experiences. You know, things just don’t turn out how you want them to do and then how we represent that to ourselves is down to us.
Darren Jamieson [07:52]
You know, my school teacher in art told me not to do A-level because he said, “You’re not good enough to do A-level, don’t do it.” And I did A-level, and they told me, “You’re not good enough to do this. You shouldn’t be doing this A-level.” And I ended up going to art college and got a distinction. Then I ended up getting a degree in film, which was art-related—film, animation, photography—and I run a web design agency. That constant being told, “You’re not good enough to do it,” was my reason to go, “Well, I’ll show you. Yes, I am.”
Donna Still [08:46]
Yeah, exactly. It’s that negative experience shaping you.
Darren Jamieson [09:02]
Yeah, every single experience. I grew up thinking I wasn’t good enough. That I couldn’t do this, and couldn’t do that. So, I ended up running a painting and decorating company, promoting myself as a female decorator, and did that for 15 years. And I would never let anyone tell me I couldn’t do something. To me, it was like a red rag to a bull. It’s like, “I’ll show you.” You can say “bastard,” it’s fine. You can swear as much as you like.
Donna Still [10:06]
Okay, thank you! It’s a swear podcast, go for it!
Darren Jamieson [10:13]
Yeah, but that’s always driven me as well. But when you look at the bigger picture, without the negative experiences… you know, an airplane can’t take off without the wind, does it? It takes off against the wind, and it gets that uplift.
Donna Still [10:33]
Yeah. I speak with my hands, by the way, so arm-waving. Yes, for those not watching, for those listening, Donna’s hands are all over the place.
Darren Jamieson [10:44]
Yeah, but it’s definitely that feeling of not being good enough, that is a very good driver for improvement. But I think, as well, there are other experiences that people have that can be very traumatic, that mean they just close down parts of themselves, which then means they don’t ever go outside of that safety net they create for themselves, and then eventually, they become disconnected from even knowing who they are anymore.
Donna Still [11:25]
Yeah, I mean, I say I only just recently realised that about myself. I didn’t really know why I properly did what I did until the last couple of months, and I’m 48. So, I imagine most people don’t know what it is that’s driven them, what it is that’s shaped them. How easy is it for them to find this out, and is that what you help them with?
Donna Still [11:52]
It is what I help them with, and for some people, it can be really challenging. They can find it really hard to go into their core drivers, but that’s all part of the toolkit that I use. So, I help people by helping them understand what those drivers are. I also do NLP, and that works really well, but it’s more an intellectual process. You know, you know something, but you don’t always know why you do it and what has driven that behaviour. And until you can get to that… sometimes intellectually, it’s not always easy to get there. So, by using breath work, it sort of goes underneath the radar of the conscious mind and works with the body. It works on that somatic level, where it helps you integrate whatever those experiences are and make sense of them, so that you can align with what you really want to do.
Darren Jamieson [12:44]
So, for example, I had a client who had had lots of counselling, lots of coaching to help her grow her business, but she’d get to a certain level of turnover and then everything would just implode. Then she’d start again, and it was like she had to keep reinventing the wheel to get back to that level again. So, the way I just worked purely with breath work and doing the integration process…
Donna Still [13:23]
Because I’m quite intuitive and I do a bit of woo woo stuff as well…
Darren Jamieson [13:43]
I thought you might do some woo woo as well! Something about you said woo woo.
Donna Still [13:50]
So, during that process, I get a lot of downloads and a lot of information that’s in the energetic field. And when that happens, I just vocalise it and give it to the person because it’s for them. And what happens is, she had this huge energetic release, because if you’ve ever been in a conscious connected breath work class, it can be emotionally… it’s like a full-on assault for your senses. There’s music, there’s affirmations, and there’s body work as well. So, I use acupressure aligned with the music and the affirmations, and that triggers events in the body. So, it triggers movement in the body, and then what happens is the person, from a neurological level, integrates the information. So, it’s happening at a cellular level, not so much with the mind.
Darren Jamieson [14:42]
So, in this particular breath work session with this particular client, they had this huge energetic release. And from that, when we had the integration discussion at the end, she was saying that she’d had an experience when her own child, who’s now in their early 30s, was only five. She had witnessed a road traffic accident. And she’d had over nearly 20 years of counselling for this experience, which was extremely traumatic for her. And yet she still couldn’t make the intellectual connection to the two events. But in this breath work session, the connection was really clear. And as a result, she then went off and created her dream business working with horses. Yeah, I mean, it’s just mad how it works, but it’s like, to still be carrying that energetic imprint from an experience 20 or 30 years ago… and even for a lot of people, it’s even longer.
Donna Still [15:31]
We’ve got no idea what we’re carrying and what’s controlling our lives until we start diving into this and integrating our past and allowing ourselves to reconnect to who we truly are.
Darren Jamieson [15:46]
So, once she’s done all that… is she able to put that behind her, and for it to go away, for it to be gone? Or is it something that she’s always going to have with her regardless?
Donna Still [15:52]
What’s actually happened is, instead of the experience disempowering her, she feels that like it happened and it was really sad and traumatic, but she’s using that now as a way of empowering herself and the people that she works with, as opposed to feeling any negativity around it. You know, it’s like, we can keep telling ourselves a story about the experience and how horrid it was, which it was. It was absolutely hideous. And nothing can take that hideousness away. But the story that we tell ourselves about that experience is what we actually physically embody.
Darren Jamieson [16:23]
It’s a reframe.
Donna Still [16:26]
Yeah, it’s just a different way. But you don’t have to do it at an intellectual level. She tried to do it intellectually for 20 years or more through counselling. But because it was just making… for her, you know, her… I’m not knocking counselling, counselling is amazing, but for her, you know, it could only get to a certain level. And by not being able to get to the physical aspect… I mean, there’s been lots of work and lots of scientific research about how the body keeps the score. And because we are spiritual beings having a physical experience and we are in a body, we are not the body.
Darren Jamieson [16:57]
Right. Okay. Right, we’re in a body, but we’re not the body. Yeah, so…
Donna Still [17:06]
And this is… one of my mentors was Bob Proctor, and he used to teach this. When I first heard it, I was like, “What are you talking about?” But actually, when you sit and think, “Who is doing the thinking? And who are you?”
Darren Jamieson [17:19]
That’s interesting. Yeah, there’s a lot of stuff going on there, and it’s probably not the right time or place to go into all of that, but a lot of the Buddhist teachings, the Zen teachings, they ask a lot of questions about who is doing the thinking. You know, you’ve got the thinker, the thought, and all of these different aspects of being. It’s like, where does the thought originate?
Donna Still [17:33]
Yeah, absolutely. And the Kabbalistic teachings—well, I don’t know why I brought that in.
Darren Jamieson [17:41]
I was going to say, what’s Kabbalistic?
Donna Still [17:47]
So, I’ve got a lot of different interests, and I’ve been looking and digging around in consciousness and spirituality. I’ve been looking at all of those things—how we operate, how we work as human beings. You know, what causes us to do things in a certain way? Why we do what we do. And, yeah, the whole thing is about looking at the different religions and the different ways of viewing the world. It’s like a different set of glasses—each one looks for a different set of glasses and has its own protocols, its own rules, and structures. For us as humans, we’re spiritual beings having a physical experience.
Darren Jamieson [18:11]
Yeah, that’s interesting. So, if you were to do a values exercise where you just sat and said, “Who are you?” you would come up with a whole list of roles that you play in the world. And then, if I asked you, “Who are you?” that’s more than just those roles. You know, the marketeer, the decorator—who are you beyond that?
Donna Still [18:34]
Well, that’s done on a conscious level as opposed to the breath work, which is cellular level. So you can get down to the whole “Who you really are” from an intellectual basis, but you can’t necessarily embody that as a being because… you have to do both.
Darren Jamieson [18:51]
I’m wondering, listening to you speak about this, how you manage to put this across during a BNI networking meeting. You have maybe 60 seconds, depending on the size of your group—maybe 45 seconds. I don’t know how… how do you do that?
Donna Still [19:00]
Yeah, I don’t do it very well in terms of explaining all of this. Most people, they’re like running for the hills. But essentially, I facilitate transformation in a nutshell. And I work primarily with women. Not that I have anything against men; I do work with men as well, but my client base is primarily women.
Darren Jamieson [19:22]
Are women more open to this, and men a bit more cynical?
Donna Still [19:30]
To some extent, yes. I think women are more self-aware. Men tend not to be necessarily so self-aware. Or, if they are, you know, I’ve worked with a lot of men as well, and they’ve had some really interesting experiences. But yeah, I mean, it is difficult to explain in a nutshell, so I just call myself a life coach in BNI.
Darren Jamieson [19:56]
Right. Well, that was a question I asked, because there are obviously quite a few people that do what you do, but because it is a difficult thing to explain and often even more difficult to relate to business, and to ask for introductions for particular businesses—what advice would you give them on going to networking events or even BNI? How can they make it work for them to get clients and grow their business?
Donna Still [20:07]
Good question. I ask them every now and then. Ultimately, they need to stick to high-level and talk about the core offer. So, life coaching, that’s what I speak about, and the fact that I use different tools. I don’t go into any massive depth in BNI. We only get 30 seconds.
Darren Jamieson [20:51]
30 seconds! How big is the group?
Donna Still [21:01]
60 members.
Darren Jamieson [21:16]
Wow.
Donna Still [21:20]
Yeah, and…
Darren Jamieson [21:22]
And how does it work for you? What kind of introductions are you getting, and what are you asking for?
Donna Still [21:30]
At the moment, I’m running a lot of breath work circles, where I get people to come along. And I’ve written books and stuff, but in terms of the breath work circles, I get people and get them to promote it to their friends, family, members, and stuff like that. I’ve done a lot of research around trying to get into the corporate sector, but at the time when I did that, I was offering it more therapeutically. But now, I’ve found a way to do it in more… I run shorter workshops, like an hour, within a corporate environment. I can show people how to use their breath to overcome different situations. In an hour, I can teach them how to use three different techniques—one to overcome mind fog, one to re-energize themselves, and another one to overcome, you know, like when you’re in a very scary situation. One of them is actually the box breath. It’s very easy to do, and it’s what the Navy Seals use. All the other military use it too. They use it to overcome their neurology.
Darren Jamieson [25:35]
Well, wow! How does that work?
Donna Still [25:44]
Well, it calms the nervous system down. So, we have… when we go into a situation where the emotion and the fear is really high, the way to calm the nervous system is to do that through the breath. It’s an ancient technology. It’s been around since we all first came into a body.
Darren Jamieson [26:10]
How would you go about doing that? What’s the exact process you’d use?
Donna Still [26:40]
Well, first of all, you’d have to just tune in to yourself, and that’s easier if you shut your eyes and just tune in. When I say tune in, I mean just listen to your body. If your heart’s beating really fast, then to calm it down, you would have to slow your breathing down. You breathe in for four. You hold it for four, then you breathe out for four and hold for four. What that will do is calm the anxious situation down.
Darren Jamieson [27:04]
You say that’s what Navy Seals do?
Donna Still [27:10]
Yeah, but it’s a very… they teach them to do it to overcome their neurology. There’s a lot of science behind it as well. I think it was Dan Brule who first brought it to the Navy Seals.
Darren Jamieson [28:01]
That’s incredible.
Darren Jamieson [28:09]
The BNI chapter you’re in, how long have you been involved with it?
Donna Still [28:15]
I joined in August 2019, so coming up for five or six years now.
Darren Jamieson [28:20]
Wow, so you’ve been there for quite a while. It’s coming up for five or six years?
Donna Still [28:29]
Yeah, six years. I’m an area director consultant as well.
Darren Jamieson [28:34]
Wow, and it’s always been for this business?
Donna Still [28:40]
Yes.
Darren Jamieson [28:49]
So it’s working for you, then, for you to keep doing it for that length of time?
Donna Still [28:52]
I enjoy it. I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I do breath work, I do coaching, I work with people, like straight-up coaching as well as including breath work and NLP. I write books and I’ve written and published five books. I’ve got another one that I did this week.
Darren Jamieson [29:08]
You wrote it this week?
Donna Still [29:14]
Yeah, I woke up at 2:30 in the morning, which can be really annoying sometimes, but actually I woke up because I had this information I wanted to write down. So I just journaled all the content that was in my head. It’s going to be called The Luna Temple—it’s all about new moon or dark moon energy, and how to use that to manifest what you really want. I know “manifest” is a really overused word, but it’s really about renewal. We can tap into the ancient technology of the moon and use the moon cycles as a way of bringing things into formation in our life.
Darren Jamieson [29:51]
That’s an interesting title.
Donna Still [30:10]
Yeah, it’s a big title. Each new moon for the coming year, there will be a specific ritual and altar to create. I like creating altars with natural materials. That’s just a passion I have.
Darren Jamieson [30:37]
Is that related to druids and witchcraft?
Donna Still [30:45]
No, no, it’s not.
Darren Jamieson [30:51]
Right, I’ve got a friend who is actually in a coven and is a druid. He does rituals in the woods. I think he wears a cloak, not a cape.
Donna Still [31:01]
Well, there’s a difference between cloaks and capes, yes. But no, I’m not into that sort of thing.
Darren Jamieson [31:09]
I’ve often wondered what the difference was. It’s the hood, isn’t it?
Donna Still [31:15]
Yes, definitely the hood.
Darren Jamieson [31:22]
I don’t know much about it. I don’t think I’d get invited to one of those events, though.
Donna Still [31:29]
Well, it’s not for everyone. I just really enjoy working with the plants, being grounded in nature, and that helps me stay centred.
Darren Jamieson [31:41]
I mean, it is a bit out there, but there’s nothing wrong with being weird. If everyone were the same, how boring would life be?
Donna Still [31:52]
Exactly. Everyone’s got their own unique qualities and practices that keep them grounded.
Darren Jamieson [32:07]
You’ve written quite a few books. I noticed that some of them are listed on your website. There’s one on astrology as well, right?
Donna Still [33:04]
No, there’s no book on astrology.
Darren Jamieson [33:12]
Right. So, you do natal astrology readings to help people understand their life path based on astrology?
Donna Still [33:20]
Yes, exactly. The intent of the natal chart is to show you what you were born with.
Darren Jamieson [33:41]
I’ve always had the attitude of keeping an open mind. I can believe that some force in the universe controls what we do. You know, the thought—where does it come from? Does it come from me, from my body, my mind, or somewhere else? I can buy into that. I think it’s mathematically likely that there’s alien life out there. But, I struggle to believe that people like Mystic Meg or Russell Grant can interpret the stars and predict my day from a newspaper.
Donna Still [34:02]
I struggle with that too, actually. I don’t do predictive astrology.
Darren Jamieson [34:12]
So you think there’s more meaning in astrology than just vague predictions in newspapers?
Donna Still [34:16]
Yeah, absolutely. I think astrology works best when it’s used from an evolutionary perspective. It’s about understanding the intent behind your life, your purpose. It’s not about forecasting your day.
Darren Jamieson [34:37]
I can buy into that, especially from an evolutionary standpoint. But, I still have doubts about the mass-market horoscopes.
Donna Still [34:46]
Absolutely. There’s always room for interpretation. People might not resonate with it, and that’s fine. But when you start looking at how things are aligned, it becomes much more personal and meaningful.
Darren Jamieson [35:05]
So, how would someone get more specific information about their astrology? For example, I know I’m a Leo, but I’d like to learn more.
Donna Still [35:28]
You can get a natal chart from websites like astro.com or astroseek.com. You just enter your birth details, and it will give you a chart showing your sun, moon, rising signs, and their placements. You can learn so much from there about your life’s direction.
Darren Jamieson [36:10]
I’m definitely going to do that. My birthday’s August 16th, 1976, for anyone who wants to know. I think it’ll be useful to know more. But there’s still that feeling of, will I just read it and think, “Oh yeah, that’s me,” just because I’m looking for it?
Donna Still [36:24]
There’s a bit of that confirmation bias, sure. But once you start exploring your chart deeply, you’ll see the patterns and connections. Your chart won’t be the same as anyone else’s, even if you share the same birth date.
Darren Jamieson [37:02]
That makes sense. It’s more about the unique aspects of your life and your purpose. And knowing that makes a big difference, right?
Donna Still [37:22]
Absolutely. It’s not just about knowing your star sign. It’s about knowing the whole picture—the different planets and their placements. Each person’s chart is unique, and it reveals more than just their surface traits.
Darren Jamieson [37:44]
You’ve definitely got me interested. I’m going to look into it.
Donna Still [37:52]
I think you’ll find it fascinating once you dig in.
Darren Jamieson [38:03]
I’m sure I will! Thanks, Donna. This has been an eye-opening conversation.
So, as we wrap up, I have to say I’m fascinated by everything you’ve shared today, Donna. You’ve gone into so many deep and thought-provoking areas, and I think it’s really made me think about how we all operate, why we do things the way we do, and how we can use these experiences to evolve.
Donna Still [39:11]
I’m glad you found it interesting. It’s always great to have these conversations, especially when you can relate it back to the way people live their lives. I think the more we understand ourselves, the better equipped we are to navigate the world.
Darren Jamieson [39:29]
Exactly. And so many people go through life not really questioning why they do things. They’re just on autopilot. I’m glad we were able to have this chat to shed light on something so important, and also something many people might not even be aware of—like how past experiences impact our decisions today.
Donna Still [39:46]
Yes, it’s all about self-awareness, and most people are so focused on the external world that they forget to look inwards. Once they do, everything starts making sense. They can heal and grow, and start living more fully.
Darren Jamieson [40:01]
That’s the key right there—looking inwards. You know, with everything going on in the world, it’s so easy to get distracted. But if you’re not connecting with yourself, how can you truly connect with others or move forward?
Donna Still [40:12]
Exactly. And that’s why I think tools like breath work can be so powerful. It allows you to shut out the noise and reconnect with what’s truly important.
Darren Jamieson [40:23]
Absolutely. The power of the breath is so often overlooked, and yet it’s right there with us all the time. Just taking a moment to breathe deeply can help shift your whole state of mind.
Donna Still [40:38]
Exactly. It’s the simplest thing, but when we’re caught up in stress, we often forget to breathe properly. Once you start using breath work to ground yourself, it becomes a game-changer.
Darren Jamieson [40:50]
It really does. I think we’re living in a time when everyone’s so busy, so distracted, and so stressed. These little tools can make a huge difference. And what I love about your approach is that it’s not just about “fixing” yourself; it’s about understanding your experiences and using them to fuel growth and positive change.
Donna Still [41:10]
Yeah, I see it as a holistic approach. You don’t need to eliminate the past. You need to understand it, learn from it, and then use it to propel yourself forward. That’s how true transformation happens.
Darren Jamieson [41:24]
I couldn’t agree more. So for anyone out there who feels like they’re stuck or overwhelmed by their past experiences, breath work seems like such a practical, accessible tool to begin the journey of healing and growth.
Donna Still [41:39]
It really is. And even though it might seem simple, it’s incredibly powerful. It’s like a reset button for your mind and body, helping you to re-align with your true self and your goals.
Darren Jamieson [41:55]
And, as we’ve talked about today, when you align with your true self, you’re in a much stronger position to go after what you really want. It’s not about changing who you are; it’s about understanding and accepting who you are.
Donna Still [42:12]
Exactly. It’s about self-acceptance and self-love. Once you’ve got that foundation, anything is possible. And that’s what I want to help people realise.
Darren Jamieson [44:12]
I want to circle back for a moment to something you said earlier, Donna. You mentioned that everyone has a core driver or a deep “why” that shapes what they do. I think that’s so important to talk about because many of us go through life without ever really understanding what drives us at a deep level.
Donna Still [44:30]
Yes, exactly. Most people are so focused on external achievements—getting that promotion, making more money, buying that house—that they lose sight of their deeper motivations. They don’t take the time to really question why they want those things in the first place. And until you know your “why,” you can’t make aligned decisions.
Darren Jamieson [44:49]
So how does breath work play a role in helping people uncover their “why”? How do you guide someone through that process?
Donna Still [45:05]
Breath work is incredibly powerful because it allows you to bypass the mind and go straight to the body. The body holds onto so much of our past—emotions, experiences, and even trauma that we haven’t processed properly. By consciously connecting to the breath, we can tap into the unconscious mind and release those stored emotions, which then allows the individual to connect with their true self, their real desires, and their core purpose.
Darren Jamieson [45:39]
That sounds like an incredible process. So, it’s not just a matter of breathing deeply, it’s about consciously connecting with the breath in a specific way that unlocks those deep-seated emotions and experiences?
Donna Still [45:55]
Yes, exactly. The breath work is all about intentionality. It’s not just about taking a deep breath; it’s about engaging in a conscious, connected way of breathing that allows for the body to release tension, stress, and emotions that might have been buried for years. It’s a therapeutic tool that creates space for people to heal and grow by helping them process and integrate their past experiences.
Darren Jamieson [46:23]
So, if someone has been carrying around past emotional baggage, for example, how does breath work help them to release it and move forward?
Donna Still [46:35]
When we’re holding on to old emotions, whether it’s fear, guilt, or sadness, it’s like we’re carrying a weight on our shoulders. Over time, that weight builds up, and we begin to operate out of that place of heaviness without even realising it. Breath work helps to bring awareness to that weight. As you focus on your breath, the energy that’s been stored in your body is able to move. That movement allows the person to feel the emotions, acknowledge them, and let them go. It’s like clearing out a mental and emotional clutter.
Darren Jamieson [47:05]
I imagine that process must feel incredibly freeing for people who have been stuck in that cycle of unresolved emotions.
Donna Still [47:13]
It absolutely is. The release is often immediate, and the transformation is profound. People often describe it as a lightness they’ve never felt before. It’s like the weight has been lifted, and they can breathe again—truly breathe.
Darren Jamieson [47:29]
And that sense of lightness must help them feel more empowered to take action in their lives.
Donna Still [47:35]
Definitely. When you’re no longer burdened by the past, you’re free to move forward in a way that feels authentic and aligned with your true self. You’re no longer held back by limiting beliefs or fears that were created by past experiences. Instead, you start making decisions from a place of clarity and confidence.
Darren Jamieson [47:56]
I’m curious—how long does it typically take for someone to begin noticing a shift after doing breath work? Can it be a quick process, or is it more of a gradual thing?
Donna Still [48:09]
It really depends on the person and what they’re working through. For some, the shift can be immediate. After just one session, they might feel a profound sense of relief, or they might gain clarity on a specific issue. For others, especially those with deeper emotional wounds or trauma, it may take a few sessions before they feel the full effect. But even then, breath work is cumulative. Every session builds on the last, and over time, people begin to feel more grounded, centred, and aligned with their true self.
Darren Jamieson [48:44]
That’s so interesting. And when people come to you for breath work, do they usually know what they want to work on, or do they discover their needs during the process?
Donna Still [48:55]
It varies. Some people come to me with a specific issue they want to work through—maybe it’s stress, anxiety, or a sense of being stuck in their career or personal life. Others don’t really know what they need to address, but they know they’re not feeling fulfilled or aligned. As we begin the process, sometimes they’ll uncover deep-rooted beliefs or emotional wounds that they didn’t even realise were affecting them. Breath work can be like peeling back the layers to reveal what’s underneath.
Darren Jamieson [49:31]
That’s such an amazing analogy—peeling back the layers. It makes sense, though. Our bodies hold so much information that we’re often not consciously aware of, and breath work allows us to access that hidden part of ourselves.
Donna Still [49:44]
Exactly. The body is a wealth of information. When we start to pay attention to our breath and the way it connects to our emotions, we begin to understand how our body is reacting to certain situations and experiences. And once we can identify the source of that reaction, we can begin to heal it.
Darren Jamieson [50:03]
I can see how this approach could be transformative for many people, particularly those who feel like they’ve been carrying around emotional baggage for years. It must be so rewarding to see your clients experience that breakthrough.
Donna Still [50:15]
It really is. When you witness someone go through that transformation—when they release what’s been holding them back and start to step into their full potential—it’s incredibly fulfilling. You can see the shift in their energy. They become lighter, more confident, and more connected to who they truly are. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Darren Jamieson [50:42]
I think it’s so important to have that kind of support in our lives, especially when it comes to navigating the challenges and struggles that life throws at us. It sounds like breath work, in particular, is a tool that can help people heal and move forward in a powerful way.
Donna Still [50:58]
It truly is. And while breath work might seem like a simple practice, the impact it has on people’s lives can be profound. I think we all have the ability to heal ourselves, and sometimes we just need the right tools to unlock that potential.
Darren Jamieson [51:15]
Exactly. And that’s what’s so powerful about your work, Donna—you’re providing people with those tools and helping them uncover their true selves.
Donna Still [51:22]
Thank you. I really believe in the power of this work, and I’m passionate about helping people tap into that power for their own growth and healing.
Darren Jamieson [51:33]
I think anyone listening today will agree with that sentiment. If anyone is interested in learning more or experiencing breath work for themselves, they should definitely reach out to you.
Donna Still [51:44]
Absolutely! And as I mentioned before, I offer a variety of ways for people to get involved—whether that’s through individual sessions, group breath work circles, or my online courses. My goal is to make this accessible to as many people as possible.
Darren Jamieson [52:05]
That’s wonderful. And I’ll make sure to include all the links to your website, social media, and contact information in the podcast description, so listeners can get in touch.
Donna Still [52:15]
Thank you, Darren. It’s been such a pleasure to be here with you today and share this work.
Darren Jamieson [52:22]
It’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for joining me, Donna. And thank you, everyone, for tuning in to The Engaging Marketeer. We’ll be back with another episode soon. Take care, everyone!
Donna Still [52:34]
Thank you! Take care. [Music] [Applause]
