In this captivating interview with MysticMag, Philipp Sharma shares his remarkable journey from a stressful career in economics to founding AtemYogaAwakening, an academy for holistic breathwork. Discover how a life-changing breathwork session led him to embrace his true purpose and the profound impact breathwork has on physical and emotional well-being.
What were your professional beginnings like and how did you get into this line of work?
Let me expand on that a little. When I was 26 years old, I felt lost and empty. Something didn’t feel right. I started asking myself: “Is this the life I want?” I mean, I had “everything”, some would say. Not only that, but I had a university degree in scientific economics, got into the family business, was a board member of a golf club, and drove a nice car.
At the same time, I had a lot of stress, developed migraines, strong neck and back pain, and with that, I got addicted to painkillers. It took me 3 more years of suffering to take a step and make a change. My wife, Sabine, took me to my first Breathwork Session. In this session, where we got into a trance-like state just by breathing, I had this vision, where I saw myself walking up a snowy mountain with a very old man walking beside me. I didn’t know what to do with it or what the message was, however, I got hooked by the power of the breath. I wanted more.
Therefore, I got certified in different breathwork types, and meditation and studied other modalities such as Yin Yoga, NLP, Lindwall Releasing, and family constellations which all contributed to my healing process. I even remembered that my dad practiced pranayama (breathing exercises from yoga) with me when I was a little child because I had breathing problems. Not only that, the vision that I had in my first breathwork experience repeated itself in other sessions and while doing more research about my ancestors, I found out that my great-grandfather was an Indian yogi and spiritual teacher who went to the Himalayas. That was the time when everything started to make sense for me. He was the one walking beside me in my vision, showing the path.
Letting go of this heaviness on my shoulders of not knowing who I was and finally knowing my purpose, my migraine was cured. With the support of Sabine, I turned to a more conscious and healthy lifestyle. The pain in my body was relieved and I have not taken any more medication since then. The breath is my medicine, and our job is to show people out there how they can use this wonderful healing tool that they carry within them. That’s why we founded AtemYogaAwakening, an academy for holistic breathwork.
What different kinds of training do you offer?
Our 500hr Breathwork certification consists of 3 pillars of breathwork:
- Functional Breathwork for therapeutical application in asthma, respiratory issues, stress and panic disorder, sleep problems, etc.
- Energetical Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation
- Experiential Breathwork for psycho-emotional release and spiritual connection
Every pillar represents a module in our 500-hour Breathwork-Teacher Training, which can be done online or on-site. Additionally, we offer a Yin Yoga Foundation Training, where of course, the breath plays a central role.
What can people expect from your workshops?
As you can see above, we offer a holistic approach and we combine ancient wisdom with modern scientific techniques. We design our workshops and trainings in a way that everybody can profit from. Absolute breathwork beginners, people with asthma, panic disorder, or other issues, doctors, and psychotherapists went through our program. We always say: „We don’t want you to believe us, we want you to make your own experience”.
You also organize retreats. What can you tell me about them and do you plan on organizing them in the future?
The “The Power of Breathwork” Retreat is a yearly deep dive into the most effective breathwork modalities we have to offer. We will take you to a magical place for deep self-awareness and transformation. It is a journey of discovery to your inner self and you can see how your breath can support you on your path to unfolding your full potential.
Besides breathing, we move our bodies through yoga, chi gong, dancing, active meditation, and walks in nature. We also work with other transformative techniques that help you to connect with your hidden energies and not only let go of limiting beliefs, judgments, and blocked emotions, but also accept them and put them into transformation.
Participants report that this retreat offers a safe and supportive space that allows you to experience your inner knowing. Whether you want to overcome fears and traumas or simply deepen your practice and relax, our retreat is the perfect opportunity to unwind, re-energize, and reconnect with yourself in a nurturing community.
The retreat is open to all levels of experience, which means that beginners and experienced practitioners are equally welcome. It is an essential part of the certification program and can be credited with 80 hours. The next Retreat will take place in the summer of 2025.
What is your favorite part of your profession?
I enjoy being part of the transformation our students make. There is a Sanskrit Proverb saying “For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.” I remember one woman on the first day of the retreat saying that she actually hates everything that has to do with breathing. When you hear someone say something like that, you can guess how they feel about their life. In the middle of the retreat she already fell in love with her breath, after the retreat she went through our certification program and is now a dedicated breathwork coach. This is one of many beautiful examples of what the power of breathwork can do when you commit to yourself and get ready for the breath journey.
If you would like to find out more about AtemYogaAwakening, please visit www.atemyogaawakening.com
