ASTRAL
Where are you based?
SPILLMAN
I live in White Salmon, WA of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.
ASTRAL
What do you find special about this area, what makes it beautiful, why are you called to be here?
SPILLMAN
The steep, consistent, and beautiful river drainages is what first brought me here. For a whitewater enthusiast there is no other place quite like it. But after spending time here you soon learn that this is a magical and unique area of the world. You’re living and playing between these two beautiful and magnificent volcanoes. These volcanoes shaped our playground. Creating world class Whitewater kayaking, hiking, and wind sports. But what I really find special about this place are its people, the sense of community. As beautiful as the landscape here, so are its people.
ASTRAL
What is your line of work?
SPILLMAN
Breathwork and Meditation Teacher/Coach. Assisting people in overcoming mental and emotional challenges so they can perform at their highest level possible.
ASTRAL
Where are the majority of your clients trying to perform at their highest level? Activity based or something more general?
SPILLMAN
A lot of people that I work with are just trying to better cope with stress and anxiety in everyday life. While some have more specific goals in mind. Whether its becoming a better athlete, business person, or family member.
ASTRAL
When did you first experience the power of breathwork?
SPILLMAN
July of 2019. It was during a very serious medical diagnosis. It was recommended to help with the stress of a surgeries and recovery.
ASTRAL
What did breathwork do for you during the stress of this surgery?
SPILLMAN
My breathwork practices allowed me to slow down and create internal space for myself. Almost every morning I would wake up feeling overwhelmed and terrified — After 30 minutes of breathing I felt relaxed, mentally clear, and open to improving myself physically and mentally to better prepare myself.
ASTRAL
How do you think breathwork helps others?
SPILLMAN
Breathwork is a tool that at the very least can help someone balance and regulate their nervous system. Our nervous system is responsible for how we feel and experience life.
ASTRAL
At the very most what can breathwork do?
SPILLMAN
Breathwork at the very most can connect you to the path of self discovery. This is probably the most important journey anyone can take in their life. The more we understand ourselves the more we can show up in life. If we are able to know what we want, and fully show up. That’s when magic happens
ASTRAL
What does consistent breathwork lead to…?
SPILLMAN
Consistent breathwork can lead to discovering your authentic self. Which leads to a deeper connection to who you truly are, and what you truly desire to achieve in this life time.
ASTRAL
Ultimately giving you access to more flow in life. – Can you expand on this?
SPILLMAN
Flow is that state of being where you feel almost one with you and the current task at hand. The concept of time and space is not present, and you are fully immersed in what it is that you are doing. The deeper we understand ourselves and how we interact with the world around us we can achieve this state of flow in all aspects of our life
ASTRAL
Can you expand on the concept of feet as your main connection to the ground/earth?
SPILLMAN
Our feet house an expansive network of nerve endings which makes them highly sensitive and vital for our body’s ability to sense and to respond to the environment. Our feet are our direct connection to the earth, offering a grounding connection to nature, stability, and a sense of belonging. Where our breath helps connect us to ourself, our feet then help us connect to our play ground (earth).
ASTRAL
Can you explain – to someone who has never physically or mentally made this connection – how the feedback from earth to foot might affect (or expand) our minds?
SPILLMAN
The feedback from the earth to the feet can feel electrifying, almost like you are tapped into the landscape that surrounds you. You may also feel the activations of muscles, and a new way of moving and feeling that you have never felt before. With this comes and expansion of the mind. The mind opens it self to new possibilities, new perspectives, and a new way of moving yourself through the world.
ASTRAL
What does “trusting nature” mean to you?
SPILLMAN
Trusting nature to me means you are open to all of life’s possibilities. Letting go of the idea of how things should be and rather allowing things to be as they are. Deciding to flow with the current of life, rather than fight it.
ASTRAL
When do you find yourself most in flow with Nature?
SPILLMAN
I find myself most in flow with nature when I can connect to my breath, and my body. Leaving any thought about the past of the future out of my mind, and putting all my focus on the here and the now.
ASTRAL
How does the concept of buoyancy relate to your daily life or your line of work?
SPILLMAN
Buoyancy to me is keeping your head above water. Which is symbolic for staying balanced, and open in life.
ASTRAL
How do you keep yourself buoyant and balanced in your daily life?
SPILLMAN
I try to stay focused on the process rather than the outcome. It’s all about the journey, and how you respond to those challenges along the way. There’s going to be times where life requires you to come out of being balanced, and its important to remember to take advantage and create space to relax.
