We caught up with Urban for teams pro Georgie to find out why she became a breath work and meditation coach and her advice for anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps.
Hey Georgie! Mind telling us what treatments you offer on Urban?
I offer breath work and mindfulness coaching.
How long have you been practicing?
Five years.
What made you want to become a breath work and meditation coach?
The majority of my early twenties felt like a constant struggle, constantly chasing goals and ideals that would never be good enough. I fell victim to the idea that success meant hard work and that hard work meant you had to struggle. Essentially, I was a professional trier and a serial people pleaser.
Then I discovered something that was right under my nose the entire time (literally!) the power of the breath. Soon after I set out on my breathwork journey it became clear that the breath is the epicentre of how we experience this crazy world we live in and that how we breathe effects every single element of our lives. The more I learnt and the more I practised, the more curious I became about the science behind it all as well as ancient practises spanning back thousands of years. I stopped chasing and looked inwardly for all those answers I was searching for and what I found went beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. It blows my mind how little of the population is aware of the profound benefits of optimal breathing and I hope to cultivate awareness through the research of scientists, doctors and experts that the world needs to know about.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
For me, I love seeing someone gradually come home to themselves. I’ve never been a huge fan of the term ‘transformation’ which directly translates as, a marked change in form, nature, or appearance. When we see an improvement, either physiologically, or psychologically, it’s rarely due to anything new. More often than not, when someone learns to quieten their mind or find a rhythm or pace of life that changes their quality of life for the better, its almost always because of an ability to access something that was always there, but perhaps the person in question didn’t know how to utilise it in an effective way.
What’s been your standout moment of your career to date?
Working with Ester Freud, to have the honour to share space with such a successful writer and get into some deep discussions with her about the concept of time and the pace at which we live was just incredible. It’s really amazing actually, even when working with quite high profile people, breathing reminds you that we’re all just people, living, breathing and being. Though sometimes I think we should rename our species, “human doings” we’re all do busy all the time, often at our own detriment.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Pursuing a career in health and wellness is never a straight forward path, it involves as much personal growth as it does helping to enhance the lives of the people you’re coaching. Allow it to be messy, don’t be afraid to fail and remember in reality, there is no failure only feedback.
I often find, the more risks I take with putting myself out there and trying new things always lead to the most astonishing developments. Take risks. Be bold enough to follow your own calling, regardless of anyone else’s opinion.
If you didn’t become a breath work coach what would you have wanted to do instead?
A physiotherapist. Which coincidentally, I’m now starting university in September to pursue my dream career as a physio, which breath work and mindfulness will of course tie into massively.
Describe a typical working day for you? (From waking up to going to bed)
I’m an early riser, so I like to get up around 5:30 / 6am. Then, following a hot water and lemon, its straight onto the yoga mat for breath work and movement. Those two are non-negotiables for me. If I have time, I’ll try and get 5 pages in of the book i’ve currently got on the go (right now, i’m reading a book called Energy medicine by Jill Blakeway).
Following breakfast, I’ll go through emails and do a quick social media blast, I think social media is a great vehicle to spread your message, then I’m into my first breath work client of the day.
For the majority of the day, I’m then working with groups or individuals to optimise their breathing to meet their desired goals or relieve any sort of ailment from asthma to anxiety. Sometimes I teach yoga in the evenings, otherwise you’ll catch me out on my road bike on the Yorkshire dales or swimming at the local pool (i’m a keen free diver).
Once dinner’s done, i like to wind down with a good book, some jazz music and a candle then I’m generally asleep by 10pm. I’m a bit of a grandma really! But i’m proud to say I really love what I do.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Yoga, cycling, running and swimming – I like to move!
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
I love triathlon and trail running the most. Anything where I can move and explore in nature. I also love to free dive. We have so much to learn from the ocean.
What does self-care mean to you?
For me, it means to constantly assess, analyse and guide. Rather than just following the next fad on instagram, I listen to what my body actually needs. Sometimes it’s your classic night in with a home cooked meal and a face mask, other times it’s a 50 mile bike ride and protein shake. It depends. I really like to work self-care around the ebbs and flows of my menstrual cycle.
Finally, do you ever book treatments for yourself?
YES! I’m a big fan of acupuncture, I have a breath coach that helps me with developing my free diving skills (thats all about holding the breath) and I try and get a sports massage every month.
To book Georgie for your team head to our website.