Slow Down to Speed Up: A Former Pro Athlete's Breathwork Journey

What happens when athletic discipline, emotional blocks, and deep breathwork collide?

In this soul-stirring episode of Breathwork Magic, host Amanda Russo sits down with Jure, a former professional table tennis player turned somatic Breathwork specialist and mental performance coach, for a deep and transformative conversation on healing, embodiment, and nervous system reprogramming through the breath.

Jure opens up about his evolution from competitive sports into the world of Breathwork, and how his journey led him to realize that breath alone isn’t enough, it must be integrated with emotional awareness, somatic intelligence, and the healing of subconscious trauma.

Amanda and Jure explore the nuances of nervous system regulation, what it truly means to slow down, and why real transformation comes from tuning into the breath and the body. From athletic performance to conscious parenting to spiritual growth, this episode is a full-spectrum reminder of what becomes possible when breath is used with intention.

🔹 Episode Highlights

[2:29] – Discovering the breath: yoga at 14, early athletic pressure, and waking up to the body
[4:22] – Nose breathing, diaphragm work, and the first glimpse of inner stillness
[6:34] – When breathwork alone isn't enough: trauma, fascia, and emotional awareness
[8:35] – Using breath to navigate chronic pain and high-performance sport
[11:18] – Teaching clients to breathe with their whole bodies and subconscious
[15:35] – Coaching evolution: from surface-level advice to deep transformational guidance
[19:31] – Moms as athletes: stress, resilience, and the feminine nervous system
[24:17] – Why safety is foundational for real breathwork breakthroughs
[29:13] – The epidemic of rushing and how slowing down rewires your life
[35:45] – Meditation vs. dynamic somatic breathwork: a new approach to embodiment

This episode is a must-listen for anyone on a journey of healing, high-performance recovery, or conscious self-discovery. It offers a grounded, honest look at Breathwork beyond the hype.

🔹 Connect with Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess:

~ Sign Up for Virtual Mindful Mindset Mondays HERE

~ Book a 1:1 Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess