In this profound and expansive conversation, host Sebastian sits down with Krista, a breathwork pioneer and shamanic practitioner who has been guiding deep transformational work since 2000, long before breathwork became mainstream. Krista's shamanic path began in early childhood, and her journey from depression and trauma to becoming a healer offers a powerful testament to the body's capacity for transformation when given the right tools and safe space.
This episode explores the often misunderstood worlds of breathwork, shamanism, cellular memory, and somatic healing. Krista opens up about her early experiences sensing the "other world" after her father's death before she was born, her struggles with depression as a young mother, and how breathwork became the key to her healing without ever needing antidepressants. She shares how her intuitive gifts unfolded, how she learned to see the deeper patterns behind people's struggles, and why she believes breathwork is one of the most accessible and powerful tools for reclaiming choice, agency, and aliveness.
The conversation moves through the science and spirit of breath, the difference between regulation and deep process work, how trauma lives in the body, and why safety and nervous system training are essential foundations for transformation. Krista demystifies shamanic breathwork, cold water rebirthing, firewalking, and sweat lodge ceremonies, explaining how these ancient practices help us move from victimhood to creatorship, from fear to surrender, and from resistance to flow. She also addresses the modern breathwork movement, its benefits, and the importance of proper training and ethical practice.
Whether you're a CEO, parent, entrepreneur, or seeker, this episode offers grounded wisdom, practical tools, and a deeply compassionate perspective on what it means to breathe fully, live courageously, and transform crisis into growth.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
How Krista discovered her shamanic gifts in childhood and used them to connect with her father who died before she was born
Why breathwork healed her depression when traditional therapy and medication could not
The difference between breathwork for regulation versus deep trauma processing
How cellular memory stores emotional pain and how the body releases it through breath
Why getting choice in crisis is the key to moving from victim to creator
The role of safety and nervous system regulation in deep healing work
What shamanic breathwork is and how it bridges the physical and spiritual worlds
The rise of the modern breathwork movement and what to watch out for when seeking a practitioner
How to view crisis as a gateway to transformation rather than something to avoid
Why training your nervous system through breathwork builds resilience and resistance to stress
How the breath is your constant ally and the only autonomic system you can consciously control
What cold water rebirthing is and how it helps people find their natural rhythm in life
The lifelong impact of birth trauma and how breathwork can heal it
How firewalking teaches surrender, transformation, and the power of invitation over willpower
The wisdom of sweat lodge ceremonies and what it means to die in order to be reborn
Why enjoying life and breathing deeply are the most important spiritual practices
About the Podcast
The Happiest CEO explores the intersection of leadership, wellness, spirituality, and personal transformation. Host Sebastian dives into honest conversations with thought leaders, healers, and innovators who are redefining what it means to thrive in business, relationships, and life.
https://the-happiest-ceo.com/
www.instagram.com/the-happiest-ceo
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