45: Inspire with Shani: Guest IG Live Appearance: Breathwork, Mental Health in the South Asian Diaspora, and the Double-Edged Sword of Social Media
Today's episode features a guest appearance by Nikhil Torsekar on an Instagram Live hosted by Shani, a coach based near Lisbon, Portugal who practices breathwork and cold water exposure therapy. After these tools pulled him out of a major depression, he made it his mission to share them with others and help them discover their own power.
They touch on numerous topics geared to help you untether your life and break free of "templates," including:
The mechanics of methodologies such as SOMA breathwork, and how they can help manage mental healthThe stigma against mental health in South Asian diaspora, and the irony that many effective stress management tools (i.e., yoga, Ayurveda, breathwork) originated in South AsiaThe concept of addiction as applied to "bad" (drugs, alcohol), and "good" things (productivity, professional success)The impact of careers like management consulting on mental healthNikhil's long and winding road with bipolar disorder, from denial, to diagnosis, to treatment, and managementThe double-edged sword of technology / social media for community building, but also "FOMO" and the insatiable need for validationShani's initiatives, including a mobile app and community around breathwork, mindfulness and meditationThe philosophy behind the new name of the podcast (Untether Your Life)
To connect with Shani, please visit him on Instagram or YouTube.
Connect with Nikhil to learn more about Untether Your Life and other projects: