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How To Use Your Breath For Living Your Best Life with Nicola Laye

Jan 16, 2025

  (Subscribe on Apple PodcastsSpotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts)

 

Have you ever paused during a chaotic day, taken a deep breath, and felt an immediate sense of relief? That’s the power of breath—a simple yet profound tool that connects us to our body, mind, and emotions. But what if I told you that most of us are using our breath all wrong?

In the latest episode of The Hayley Morcom Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Nicola Laye, a globally renowned breathwork practitioner. Nicola has spent more than 25 years guiding women through big life transitions, from pregnancy to motherhood and beyond. Her wisdom and gentle guidance offer a powerful reminder: your breath is more than a biological function—it’s a path back to yourself.

Why Breathwork Matters

We live in a world that glorifies busyness. Many of us rush from one thing to the next, barely pausing to breathe—literally. Nicola explains how this constant state of stress disconnects us from our bodies and emotions, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and depleted.

Your breath, she says, is the gateway to your nervous system, self-awareness, and inner calm. When we learn to breathe consciously, we can:

  • Regulate stress and anxiety
  • Improve emotional balance
  • Feel more grounded and present in our daily lives
  • Build a deeper sense of self-worth

Highlights from Our Conversation

Nicola’s passion for breathwork is rooted in her personal experiences and professional journey. Here are just a few of the many golden nuggets she shared:

  • Most people are breathing wrong. Many of us breathe shallowly, relying on our chest instead of our diaphragm. Nicola teaches how to reconnect with deep, intentional breaths.
  • Your breath reveals your emotions. Stress, fear, and tension show up in the way we breathe. Learning to notice these patterns is the first step to shifting them.
  • Breath and self-worth are connected. Your ability to receive deep, nourishing breaths mirrors your ability to receive love, joy, and abundance in life.
  • Simple daily practices make a big difference. Even just three deep breaths during a stressful moment can help calm your mind and reset your nervous system.

A Guided Breathwork Exercise

During the episode, Nicola shares a simple yet powerful breathwork exercise that you can do anywhere. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your diaphragm, then take a long, deep inhale through your nose and a sighing exhale through your mouth.

As Nicola says, “Welcome to your home, welcome to yourself, welcome to your breath.”

Breathwork is for Everyone

Whether you’re navigating motherhood, a challenging life season, or just want to feel more present, breathwork is an accessible tool that can make a profound difference. As Nicola reminds us, it’s not about perfection—it’s about building a relationship with your breath and, in turn, yourself.

This episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the simplest, most powerful tool you already have.

🎁 Free Gift from Nicola!

Nicola is generously sharing a mini meditation to help you get started with breathwork. These tools are designed to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself in just a few minutes each day.

➡️ Download the meditation here

🎧 Listen to the full conversation at the top of this blog post or jump over to Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Let me know in the comments: How does breathwork show up in your life? Or, if you’re just starting, what excites you about this practice? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Take a deep breath in… and exhale. You’ve got this. 💛
 

With love,

 

 

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