970X460 2

“The first thing you do when you are born is inhale your first breath. The last thing you do when you pass on is exhale your last breath. Breathing is essential to life, and yet somehow, between that first inhale and last exhale, we forget to breathe.”

When Ronen Aires shared this thought, an audible gasp swept through the 14th Floor Lounge & Deck as the small group gathered for a breathwork session collectively experienced an 'aha' moment. We're often told to just breathe, to breathe properly—but no one ever really tells us how.

Ronen Aires, an internationally certified High-Performance Coach, is passionate about helping people realise their full potential. Using ancient wisdom and centuries-old breathwork techniques, he guides individuals towards grounding and actualising their potential through altered states of consciousness. Recently, we had the privilege of experiencing this ancient wisdom firsthand in an hour-long breathwork session with Ronen.

When asked why they attended, participants shared words like ‘to be present,’ ‘to ground myself,’ ‘to be mindful,’ ‘to follow my curiosity,’ and ‘to centre myself.’ These reflections speak to a modern-day lifestyle that rarely allows us to relax, breathe, or pause. They highlight the very reason Ronen does what he does—to teach us how to recalibrate, find our centre, and breathe.

What is Breathwork?

Breathwork is made up of two simple words:
Breathe and Work.

It’s a practice involving intentional breathing techniques designed to enhance physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Breathwork helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and increase self-awareness by focusing on the rhythm and depth of the breath. Ronen explains that our breath can change our state of mind.

How Does Breathwork Work?

Ronen begins each session with movement. He believes that movement is key to dealing with stress and improving our breathing. In our sedentary lives, the best way to change your state is to get up and move—physically opening yourself up. In this session, this looked like a series of jumping, breathing, and tapping exercises. Performed as a group, the sound was like a symphony.

Next, Ronen guided participants through rhythmic breathing, taking them to what he calls “a cruising altitude.” One technique he taught was Box Breathing, a simple method where you inhale, hold your breath, exhale, and hold again, each for equal counts—much like tracing the four sides of a box. Another technique was deep tummy breathing, involving deep, loud breaths and pumping of the stomach, all accompanied by music that transformed the experience into a meditative dance.

Finally, once participants reached this cruising altitude, Ronen guided the group into a meditative, relaxing state—a chance to let go of anything they were holding onto and fully relax into a savasana pose. In this final stage, an energy shift was palpable in the room—a calm stillness replacing the buzz of a thousand unchecked tasks.

What Breathwork Feels Like

For one participant, it was a sensation of their tummy being on fire—something Ronen attributes to energy releasing. Another participant described a tingling, twitchy sensation followed by a deep, sleep-like calm. Elisheva Gilbert, Sasfin’s Chief of Staff, described it as “the most amazing experience,” adding that it was the secret to the most incredible night’s sleep.

Breathwork is more than just a wellness practice; it’s a transformative journey back to yourself. Ronen Aires’ session illuminated how something as fundamental as breathing can unlock energy, foster deep relaxation, and provide a gateway to mindfulness. In a world that rarely slows down, perhaps the best thing we can do is pause, breathe, and remember what keeps us alive.

About the Author

Image of Zissy Lewin
Zissy Lewin
Copy writer, Mama

> }

Offcanvas Title

Default content goes here.
Intro