Beyond the Cardio
The "oxygen" you're missing.
I was out on the trail this week thinking about the “root cause” of why we do what we do.
Usually, as a runner, I’m focused on my pace or my breathing. But a recent conversation with Dahryn Trivedi on the Real Things Living podcast has me looking at the “oxygen” of our lives in a completely different way.
Dahryn shared an insight that immediately clicked for me: Consciousness is like oxygen.
Think about it. When you’re running, you don’t really think about oxygen until you’re gasping for it. It’s invisible and fundamental, but the second you’re deprived of it, everything starts to break down—your pace slows, your muscles cramp, and your focus gets blurry.
She frames consciousness as the “Programmer” of our lives.
Most of us are trying to fix our “internal glitches” (stress, health issues, or burnout) by tweaking the hardware. Dahryn points out that if the “Programmer” is offline, no amount of stretching or coping will fix the system. We’re living in a state of consciousness deprivation and wondering why we can’t find our flow.
This is why I run. For me, the trail is where I stop just coping with life and start actually living it. I find my flow.
In my book, Move For You, I wrote about movement as a way to empower your life, not just a task to check off on a list. It’s about moving with purpose and not being in “survival mode.”
After speaking with Dahryn, it’s clearer than ever: the quality of our movement is dictated by the “Program” running in the background. When your consciousness is clear—when you have that “oxygen”—movement starts being an effortless expression of who you are.
A question for you: Are you trying to fix a “glitch” when what you really need is to check in with the Programmer?
Check out the full episode with Dahryn. It’s a deep dive into the science of higher consciousness that you’ll appreciate.
This Week’s Curiosity Tip: The “Oxygen Audit”
Before you jump into your next meeting or start your car, try this 30-second audit:
Stop and Scan: Where are you breathing? If it’s high in your chest, you’re likely in “survival mode.”
The Shift: Take one deep breath into your belly and exhale twice as long as the inhale.
The Question: Ask yourself, “Am I reacting to the code or am I the one programming the flow?”
Keep moving,
Brigitte
P.S. Where do you go to get back into your “flow”?