Ep 98: A Retreat in Darkness with Alex Yeates

What happens when you remove all light, sound, and stimulation for five days – and are left alone with only your thoughts?

That may sound fun for some and a living nightmare for others. 

For breath coach Alex Yeates, it was his reality recently. Join us as he shares his transformative experience spending five days in complete darkness at Sky Cave Retreats. From emotional breakthroughs to auditory hallucinations, Alex opens up about one of the most challenging and transformative experiences of his life and what it taught him about being versus doing.

In this Episode

🎧 The Experience: Spending 5 days in total darkness in a (comfortable) cave with no visual or auditory stimulation, receiving meals through a pass-through box
🎧 When Tools Become Distractions: Meditation, breathwork, and other wellness practices – things we normally used to ground us – can became ways to escape uncomfortable thoughts in the darkness
🎧 The Pattern-Seeking Brain: Even without time or space references, the need to create routine and track time was strong – revealing our deep need for familiar patterns and safety
🎧 Sleep Deprivation Effects: After three nights, sleep became what felt like an impossible feat, leading to visual and auditory hallucinations and heightened emotional sensitivity
🎧 Integration Matters: Skipping the recommended integration day led to weeks of emotional overwhelm and nervous system overload when returning to normal life
🎧 Deepened Gratitude: The isolation amplified appreciation for human connection, touch, laughter, and the voices of loved ones

ABOUT ALEX 
Hi, I’m Alex, Breath Coach, performance strategist, and lifelong student of human potential. I work at the intersection of mindset, physiology, and breath, helping people tap into their fullest capacity, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

In 2021, I made a personal pivot, cutting out alcohol before it could derail my trajectory. That decision became a catalyst for transformation. Through daily breath and mindset practices, I rebuilt myself from the inside out and discovered the powerful link between breath and peak performance.

I’ve explored the Wim Hof Method, rebirthing, holotropic breathing, pranayama, and SKY breathing, but it was Conscious Connected Breathwork that truly unlocked the next level for me. It allowed me to clear stress, sharpen focus, and operate from a place of curiosity, calm, and clarity.

I pursued certifications through the School of Breath Science and Oxygen Advantage, and now coach everyone from athletes to entrepreneurs, teens, and professionals under high pressure. I specialize in using the breath as a performance tool, supporting nervous system regulation, energy management, pain reduction, and focus enhancement.

Insta: @breathe_on_purpose  |  Website

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