My Philosophy
Body first, your mind will follow.
Most professionals try to think their way to clarity, push their way to performance, or fix stress with more effort. That only works for so long. The real lever isn’t more willpower; it’s your nervous system.
When you learn how to work with your biology—through breath, nervous system regulation, and embodied awareness—you create the space to think clearly, make bold decisions, and handle stress without burning out.
My work is not about quick hacks or extremes. It’s science-backed, practical, and deeply human. At its core, my philosophy is simple:
• When you live through the lens of your nervous system, you gain an unparalleled sense of agency and control.
• Your body isn’t a sidekick to your mind—it’s the driver.
• Performance is not about pushing harder, it’s about synchronizing with your system.
My story
"I’m a Body-Based Performance Coach, helping high-performing professionals expand their mental and emotional capacity through their breath and their body."
Now that’s a sentence 30 yo old me never thought I’d write!
I spent 13 years in the world of global advertising and online education start-ups, moving between Brussels, New York, Singapore, and London. Like many driven people, I was living entirely in my head— constantly thinking, planning, and worrying. Despite outward success, I felt disconnected, overwhelmed, and stuck on the big questions that kept surfacing at 2 am: Is this the right job for me? What do I actually enjoy doing? What am I even good at?
I had zero tools (nor much awareness to be honest) to deal with any of this. My only strategy was to put my head down and power through.
Then, during a freediving course, I was introduced to breathwork. From the very first session, the volume and intensity of my thoughts dialed down. This simple experience showed me something profound:
Calm and clarity weren’t in my mind. They were in my body.
Most of us are unaware of the extraordinary capabilities within.
Really? All this time, and the answer was that simple?
That realization set me on a new path. I went deep into the science of respiratory physiology, nervous system regulation, and somatics. I trained in Oxygen Advantage, studied with leading breath science practitioners, and certified as a body-oriented coach.
Along the way, I experimented relentlessly in my own life:
- Walking and running without AirPods to rebuild focus
- Daily slow-breathing practice to train my nervous system
- Treating movement, light, and rest as productivity tools—not afterthoughts
The shifts were undeniable.
Energy dips became manageable. Stress stopped feeling like a personal failing, and I learned to see it as fuel.
My focus sharpened. I no longer spiraled as deeply into overthinking. I trusted myself more, and decisions that had felt impossible—career moves, settling in Lisbon, even choosing not to have kids—became clear.
What I now believe:
I now believe that we keep ourselves stuck by knowing so little about our own nervous systems.
And when you learn to work with your system, you naturally unlock a different level of performance.
- Neuroplasticity means your brain is designed to adapt—you’re not stuck with old patterns.
- Stress physiology means you can’t stop the stress response, but you can train your system to recover faster and use that energy.
- Body-based performance means better focus, creativity, and decision-making come not from grinding harder, but from leveraging the body’s rhythms.
What I do now:
Today, I coach individuals and teams, helping them reconnect with their breath and body to build real-time tools for focus, clarity, and resilience.
My clients include professionals at Google, L’Oréal, and fast-moving startups, as well as entrepreneurs and creatives who want sustainable performance.
Through private coaching, corporate workshops, retreats, and my newsletter Stretch, I help people unlock the powerful, untapped capacity of their nervous systems—to focus deeply, regulate stress, and make bold decisions they’re proud of.
Qualifications:
I blend 13 years in global advertising agencies and online-education startups with extensive training in breath science and somatic coaching. My corporate background means I understand first-hand the high-pressure environments my clients navigate—and how body-based tools can support sharper thinking, steadier resilience, and sustainable performance.
- Certified Oxygen Advantage Facilitator
- Breath Science Practitioner (with sleep- and respiratory scientist Martin McPhilimey)
- Certified Body-Oriented Coach (ICF accredited The Somatic School)
A few more things to know about me
(Trail) Running
I get a kick out of the freedom and aliveness I feel after a long run. I’m training for my second marathon – only nose-breathing!
Freediving
A complete freediving amateur, but I love the quietness and simplicity of being underwater, using nothing but your own breath. (PS- Organising my first freediving + breathwork retreat, this November 2025!)
Life in Lisbon
Originally from Belgium, now based in Lisbon with my girlfriend and dog. My favorite part about this city? The colorful tiles in the morning light.
Books, books, books
My absolute favorite thing in the world is going to a bookstore and adding more books to the already overflowing shelves.