Breathwork Demystified - From the Trading Floor to the Freediving World Championships

Breathwork is having its moment. Much like yoga went mainstream in the 1990s, breathwork is rapidly gaining popularity. But what exactly is breathwork? The term itself tells us surprisingly little. Some techniques help us relax, others energize us, and still others can produce profound physical and emotional experiences. How can practices with such different effects all fall under the same name?

Join Ray Ko, former cash equity sales trader, competitive freediver and breathwork instructor, for an interactive workshop that takes you from the trading floor to the Freediving World Championships.

Using footage from his World Championships dive, Ray will take you through his competition day, exploring how he uses different breathing techniques to energize himself in the morning, manage nerves and relax before his dive, and prepare for the extraordinary demands of holding his breath deep underwater.

Along the way, he'll introduce his own framework for understanding three different approaches to breathwork: *activating, regulating and functional breathing.* You'll also discover why CO₂ is one of the most misunderstood gases in your body and how it influences your breathing, oxygen delivery and response to stress.

*This isn't just a talk. You'll get to experience the techniques yourself*, including energizing breathwork, coherent breathing for everyday relaxation and a simple functional breathing exercise.

You'll leave with a better understanding of what breathwork actually is, why different techniques produce different effects, and how to choose the right practice for your needs.

No previous breathwork experience required.

Participation is free with registration. Please support the venue by purchasing a beverage.

November 4, 2026 | Taipei

Presented by Nomad Breath Labs.