BP, Anxiety & Sleepless Nights… Can Breathing Fix This? Real Story

Many people think that having BP or any other health issues, it's normal. I have seen so many people, they even forgot that they're breathing.

So we started walking and then started climbing, suddenly I had breathlessness. I knew that I was having BP, but not to the extent of gasping for breath. I used to cough in office. BP, then palpitation, then acid reflux. Oh, it used to go to 150, 150 by 80, pulse going to 86. My wife used to tell, you are scared, I tell you to be frank. And after a week you told—

Now how much is it?

Now it is 120-130 by 78.

And you also don't feel any heart palpitations?

No, no, no, I don't feel it. It stopped. Even today I'm not taking BP meds. What you're going to say, I'm not taking? Even for palpitation I don't take this. Especially people who are working in this cutting edge of technology, Yoga is not only doing asanas. Yoga is a way of life. It not only improves your physical health, it improves your mental health, and it uplifts your spiritual health. So I have now a balanced mind. Definitely, CBHS helped me a lot. Have a quick fix on health is absolutely impossible. Next to impossible. Breath is your medicine.

Some battles don't look dramatic from outside. They look like fluctuating blood pressure, sudden palpitations, acidity that refuses to settle, nights that never fully become sleep. Srinivasan was not searching for enlightenment. He was searching for relief. At one point, these symptoms had started feeling normal, manageable, permanent. But somewhere between a restless heartbeat and a silent prayer for better health, he stepped into the Conscious Breathing Hub. What followed was not overnight magic. It was something rarer: gradual steadiness, a lighter chest, calmer digestion, a mind that learned to absorb stress instead of becoming it. His journey is not loud; it is layered. A mind that learned to absorb stress instead of becoming it. His journey is not loud; it is layered. Today, we welcome a man who didn't just heal; he rediscovered his own rhythm. Let's welcome Shri Nivasan. Namaste, namaste, Shri Nivasanji. Thank you, thank you so much for coming to this Conscious Breathing Podcast.

Namaste, Madhriji. It is a happy moment for me. First time I'm meeting you in person, though I have met you many times during the Zoom sessions, but this has given an opportunity to meet you.

Yeah, I know you are one of our longest student, early adapter towards CBH. I think you all people, what you have trusted about CBH, now we could able to build. Right, so you people initially trusted us and you joined our program and worked on your health. So I've seen your transformation. I know it's a slow and steady, but you made it happen and you are very, very consistent in all the classes and you are doing. So can you tell me, like, um, what was the— like, many people think that having BP or any other health issues, it's normal, right? So what are you also thinking the same?

Yeah, you are right. In fact, I can quote an incident. Quote an incident.

Yes.

My son, after graduating from engineering college, he wanted to go to Sabarimala. So I also not gone earlier. When I was a young person, I have gone, but I said, okay, we'll both of us will go. So he was in his prime youth and we both started climbing. It is 4 kilometers travel with 1 meter, 1 kilometer, you have to climb up. Something like 960 meters you have to climb up. So we started walking and then started climbing. Suddenly I had breathlessness, then palpitation. I could hear my heart. Then immediately he took me to the doctor emergency. Everywhere they have put emergency doctor's room. Room at about every 100 meters or 200 meters. Then he said, you take rest and then you proceed. So I took rest, then I wanted to proceed. Then at the back of ourselves, 4 fellows were having that manual, what do you call, palanquin. Okay, they said, you want? I said, no, no, I will walk. So I didn't accept that, I walked. Then we reached the top, my son was very anxious. And climbing down was not that difficult. I came down easily. So that gave me the telling moment that, okay, I should check my health. I knew that I was having BP, but not to the extent of gasping for breath and then very difficult to climb. Then I checked up and then doctor said, yes, you are having a problem. So I started taking BP medicine. Then palpitation also, that medicine helped, but it was started giving a lower, this one, pulse. So then I thought I should not continue with that. And by the time it was going on for a few years, then by the time I joined CBH. And I was doing all exercises, yogi exercises, then prana healing, all whatever, whatever you have asked us to do, I did. Then I came to Hyderabad and then checked with KIMS. Then that doctor told, no, no, palpitation, I don't think you have palpitation. You take only BP medicine. Tell me Saturn. Tell me Saturn. One tablet daily I was taking, and then I was continuing. Then it went on for another few months. Then one day you came up and told, who are all having BP? So first-hand myself. Then he said, okay, what is your BP? Then he asked for a 15 days record and all. Then he went back. You consulted the cardiologist what CBH has brought in. And after a week you told, I don't think you have BP. So that gave me an introspection whether I should take medicine. So I went back to my cardiologist and asked her, no, no, no, no, you are— we have to check you for another 2 months continuously. I checked, then she, she was never ready to do. But I tell you, to be frank, I just, based on your words, and I said I'm doing yoga, I'm doing all the prana healing sessions.

I stopped.

Tell me certain, I stopped. Even today I am not taking BP medicine. I am not taking. Even for palpitation, I don't take medicine. Nothing has happened. My wife used to tell, you are scared and you wanted Mr. Badrinath to tell you. I said, he is my guru, he only has to tell. Okay, so it went like that. So somehow that medicine I stopped. But I had some other problem.

But BP was how much? Was your BP before?

It used to go to 150. Okay, 150 by 80, pulse going to 86.

Now how much is now?

It is 120, 130 by 78.

And you also don't feel any heart palpitations?

No, no, I don't feel it. But only thing I tell you, I must follow you and do all the exercises regularly, like a routine. And that breathing exercise I do. If I do all these things, my medicine is only this now.

Great, great, great. And what are the other challenges? Because of BP and all, I had another thing was acid reflux.

I used to cough in the office. So I was working in ISRO, many meetings I had to chair. Suddenly I start coughing, then meeting will stop, then people will wait for me, then all concerned looks. Then it was an embarrassing moment for me. Then again I came to Hyderabad. Hyderabad is my kind of a, what do you call, second home. Then I came to AIAG, All India Institute of Gastroenterology, and met that great man, Dr. Nageshwar Rao.

Yes.

Then he said, you are having hiatus hernia. So because of that, acid is coming up. So you take these medicines. He gave me Ganetone, 1 tablet daily, plus Vanoprazole. That is a kind of a prazole tablet for acid. And he said, you come after 3 months. By the time I— this is okay, there's a mismatch in time. I have just joined GBH, but this medicine I was taking. Then he said 3 months, I went to him after 6 months, again endoscopy was done. And he said, hey, you look good, there is only a small opening. You do one thing, you say— I met him in the night 10:30, right from morning to— you have to wait, no, such a busy man. I waited and then he said, you take only for another 3 months. Then I asked him with all innocence, then stop.

Okay.

So I stopped. So BP, then palpitation, then acid reflux. Acid reflux mainly due to the structural change in the diaphragm. But with regular food and the exercises, I am able to control. I am not taking medicine for these two. And the third problem is, is more of a, what do you call, an occupational hazard. It meant attention and this one, sleepless nights.

Yeah, because you are chairing the leadership position.

Not only that, whenever a launch has to go well, hundreds of systems are going. So, and many of the systems are one-shot devices. They are not tested on ground. They are flown based on a similar test on a similar system. Electronics you can test on ground, but not this kind of propulsion elements. So you have to keep watching in a bated breath and assume that you are done on your duty. But things have gone well so far, absolutely no issue. But another thing, because of the tension, worries, all these things, that is more of an associated problems. But you used to tell circadian rhythm. You start sleeping at 10, 9 o'clock have a digital detox. All these things I used to follow. Then slowly, slowly it improved, and I came to a position that at least some 5 to 6 hours I could sleep without any issue. So what I find is, if I follow whatever you are giving as guidelines, things definitely improve. That nothing can be brought us a miracle. It has to be done slowly, and then it happened.

Absolutely. So you served our country and you hold a very good position. How important do you think, like, these practices, especially who are—

you asked, you touched the right question. Especially people who are working in this cutting edge of technology, rocketry. Rocketry people used to say, whenever you do some work and you find it difficult, they say it is not rocket science. Because that is the reference, rocket science is difficult. Actually, people should practice yoga, practice meditation, then breathwork. Especially the breathwork, what you have taught us. Breathwork, I don't think everybody teaches. Okay. So I still remember the story what you used to tell us, that you You will go 10 kilometers on a cycle in Netherlands and then teach and then come back another 10 kilometers. That is the kind of journey you have gone through to reach this kind of a level. So we also have to build our house stone by stone. So that definitely everybody has to do. I think unless and until they follow a disciplined life, things are difficult. I think you asked me the right question.

It's very, very important because I know that the kind of effort they put and the kind of stress and tensions they go through. In the process, they forgot themselves. Exactly, you are right. So you are serving everyone, but you forgot the important person, which is you, right? So we run like— I have seen so many people, they even forgot that they're breathing until they get their breathing problems. They don't, they don't recognize that they're breathing.

I still remember your words, breath is your medicine.

Yes. So how did it affect you?

Like, yeah, Nowadays what I do, whenever I breathe, I concentrate on breathing and then see how I inhale, how I exhale.

Exactly, exactly. So that's what, like, breath is your medicine. Yes. And if you take breath as your medicine, then you don't need to take any medicine. Exactly. So, uh, you know that healing is not sudden. Like, before you getting these challenges of BPA or anything, if you go through 10 years back, whatever we have done to ourselves That is a reflection of whatever the health challenges we are having. But many people expect a quick result. So what is your opinion on that?

See, my opinion— see, I am an old person, okay? My thing is you cannot have any— have a quick fix on health. It is absolutely impossible, next to impossible. But people feel quick fix gives them the kind of solution, or it's an attractive solution. But it is not so. They have to follow this, follow whatever procedures you have laid down. Because it is not one day you have laid down the procedure. You have taught so many people and then you have formatted and then you are told you have to do this way. That procedure people have to follow. Absolutely true. I think without that, I think by seeing the YouTube or seeing some other channel, it is very difficult.

Yeah, the structured way if you implement, otherwise it's very difficult to get the results.

Right, right.

So many people think yoga as an exercise. In CBH, the philosophy of yoga, we go more deeper into this. What is your opinion on that? How it really impacted you personally as well?

Yoga is a way of life. It not only improves your physical health, it improves your mental health, and it uplifts your spiritual health also. So it, it is, uh, it encompasses all the three domains.

Like, what changes have you observed in terms of your emotional and mental health?

Okay, um, I, I don't reply immediately for any question. I think, and if somebody is, uh, reaction, your reactions got reduced, you are accepting, and somebody is very reactive, somebody is short-tempered, I at least count 10. Okay, okay, then, then only answer slowly. So never, never show your reaction because that person, you don't know what kind of stress level he is. So I have now a balanced mind, look at things more in a more balanced way. And I think definitely CBHS helped me a lot. I tell you, the kind of people you have brought in, like many domain experts. Like doctors, doctors and cardiologists, pulmonologists, psychiatrists, financial experts, even the dentist. See, I tell you frankly, many people, even people who are sitting here, they do not know how to brush.

Yes.

So that, that person taught us how to brush. Yes. See, now we have learned. Yes. So it is a relearning.

Foundations, basics.

Yes.

Once basics are there, like anyway, whatever we are doing, we are doing in a better way. Better way, you are right. So for example, anyway, we are brushing. But we are learning how to brush. We are breathing. It's about how we have to breathe. We are eating. It's about how you have to eat.

So that's especially, you know, when you eat, you said daily eat 2 fruits. 2 fruits. I follow it even today.

Nice.

Okay, that actually improves our gut health.

Yes, absolutely, absolutely true.

So many, many of the things what you have taught, not only for health, even for other aspects, like, you know, even in the management, I will say, What do you want to achieve in the next 1 month? What is your goal for the next 1 year? See, as an elderly person, I may not have, but I started finding. Yeah. Okay, today in another 2-3 months, I visit Cambodia or I visit Netherlands. Then I will chalk out a plan and I will ask my friends, '74 batch, '93 people,' and then we go on expedition kind of thing. Wow, so I think actually CBHS helped me in planning well, advanced planning.

Also experiencing more life, experience more moments at this age especially, right? Yeah, great, great, awesome. And what really inspired you to be part of Diamond Membership and what do you think, how did it help you?

Okay, let me start from the beginning. First, I attended the 2-day boot camp. 1998. Then I became a silver member 21 days. Then I got that best performer award from you, that weavers mat. That was yoga mat. Even my sister got, she also joined. Then I thought, see, it is, I'm a human being. Unless and until somebody drives you to the wall, you will not be systematic. See, I have learned for 21 days and then I will do yoga, means no chance. 6 o'clock, Badri Ji will come. So I have to get up at 5:30, be ready, and then do. So that is the kind of a system I want to follow. You may say that you don't know how to get yourself disciplined. No, that's not the way. Because I'm answerable to somebody, one more person, my Guru. That is why I joined the Diamond.

Accountability.

Accountability, exactly.

And you have been in leadership position, right? So what is the role of mentor? What do you think? You might have mentored so many people in this room.

In fact, I just wanted to tell you, we went on a tour to Mahabalipuram. My batchmates, some 30 people with their spouses came. So then I said, 2 days yoga class I will take. So whatever I learned from you and Dr. Subrah, very simple exercises. These people did. Then daily I'm getting a lot of questions. So you then finally you are sent one beginner's plan that I sent them. So they are all very happy. Except the problem is it's, it's more of ignorance. People do not know where to go.

So what are the things have you implemented, uh, in CBH? What are the like habit tracker or anything? Is there any list of the things which you have implemented that will be helpful for the viewers also?

Exactly. One is habit tracker, definitely.

Okay.

Second one is the goals writing. Every Monday we write, and yearly planner also we have. Then that is one thing. Third is charity. I find at this age, if I don't do charity, I don't— I, I, I am not fit to be a human being. Okay. Third is charity. Fourth is Taking care of yourself, proper food, and then detox. Detox is very important.

7 PM meals.

Yes, so those things I do.

So, and daily classes.

Daily classes, and then pranayama class. I find more than this, it will be— I may not be able to do that kind of thing. And I, one thing I must tell you, You always tell that, listen to your body, do what you can, don't overstretch. That I think, those are the things people should follow very seriously. Instead of doing, you know, Badri Ji is able to touch his foot, but I can only touch here because my spine is so hard.

Exactly, that comparison.

Yes.

People keep comparing. You have to drop that comparison and listen to your body. Depending on your requirements to the body. You have also mentioned that I'm happy for the person I have become in the process. Can you please elaborate on that? Any situation or anything?

One is, earlier I never bothered about my health, as you said. Okay, you do the work, so just you go with the stream. So now, you know, you come to a stage where I have to take care of my health. So the longevity requires more of discipline, more of yoga, more of food regimen. All these things is required. So that they thought the only solution is CVH.

So it's because it's a holistic approach you have. Like I saw that you joined some of the chanting club sessions.

It's a standing truth there. Yes.

How was your experience with Wednesday sessions?

Wednesday theory classes are excellent. It is like this, you know, you are trying to give everything on a platter, collecting from many places and then giving and then saying why it is to be done. Even the last class about breathing, why you should breathe, nasal breathing, and very scientific. I think it will appeal to one's senses. Now you see, people need not have to do blindly. There are scientific truths behind.

So today, if you look back your journey, so what is the biggest thing you would like to highlight about yourself in the last 2 years in CBH?

Biggest thing is, to be frank, I am not worried about my health. Otherwise, people like me, our biggest worry is, say, we are like a rocket, you know, we are on a countdown mode. Okay, but nowadays I don't count. Okay, as long as you are there, You do all these things, all the CBH, whatever Badri Ji tells, and live happily. That's the kind of thing I have. I don't have worries.

Basically, you are not surviving, you are living.

I am living, you are right. Yes, you said it.

Yeah, many people just survive. They just want to survive with the medicines. They just want to survive with this. Like now, you don't care about anything, right? You don't have that fear inside you.

I don't have it.

So you just like living your life, whatever is there.

You ask in CBH itself, you can ask all the elderly people. This is their principal worry. All the financial things come afterwards.

True, true, because initially people ignore their health for running behind financials. Then after they got money and they don't have health, then how they can use that money, right? So both are important, especially youngsters who is looking this podcast. I highly recommend them like work on both the things so that you can have a better retirement, better life. Is there anything, any lesson you would like to share with our audience?

My suggestion is only one thing. If you want to take care of our health, not only your physical health, your mental health, spiritual well-being, you have to do all these things. Do yoga exercises, you do breathing exercises, then You do planning well. So all these things are available in CBH. So you need not have to search anywhere.

Yes, one-stop solution.

And one-stop solution. And I tell you, your goal of making 1 million people breath-conscious, healthy, and then, and you want for the lakhs of people to become breath healers. This is an excellent motto, yeah, mission. In fact, I have told you many times, if I had the capacity to give Padma Awards, I will give you this year.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. It means a lot, it means a lot. Thank you so much. So that is what I recommend everyone, like, but it's very simple. Taking care of health is very, very simple. Now we have a special segment where we are going to learn a practice. So before that, I want to ask Shri Vasanth Ji, may I know what is your favorite breathing practice?

Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama. Nadi Shuddhi.

Okay, so why is it? Why did you choose Nadi Shuddhi?

I do 10 counts, I am at peace.

Wow.

Okay, no tension, no worries. Even my wife tells something, I won't listen. I'm at peace.

Yeah, true, true. That is the state we have to be. That is called equanimity, samatvam, right? So like the Nadi Shodhana, Nadi Shuddhi is also balancing breathing, so it will bring balance to your mind. So let's practice it. Please sit comfortably. So please sit comfortably. So left hand in Dhyanamudra, left hand in Dhyanamudra, keep it on your thigh. Right hand in Nasikamudra, Nasikamudra, where you have to close your ring, ring, ring, middle finger as well as index finger. You have to close your index finger as well as middle finger, and other fingers are open. So by using your right hand thumb, close your right nostril, exhale through your left. Now inhale through your left. Now close your left with your ring finger and open your right. Exhale through your right. Now inhale through your right. Now close your right, open your left. Exhale. We have to repeat this. Sit, sit straight, shoulders relaxed, neck relaxed. Breathe in through your left, close your left, open your right. Exhale. Inhale through your right, close your right, open your left, exhale. Now let's make it rhythmic. Inhale for 3 seconds, exhale for 3 seconds. Close your eyes, let us practice. Breathe in through your left, close your left, open your right, exhale 1, 2, 3. Inhale 1, 2, 3. 3, close your right, open your left, exhale, 1, 2, 3, inhale, 1, 2, 3, close your left, open your right, exhale, 1, 2, 3, inhale, 1, 2, 3, close and change. Keep repeating this for 2 more times. Now slowly exhale through your left. And release your hand. Keep your eyes closed. Normal breathing. Observe the changes. Slowly and gently open your eyes. Make sure that you are practicing at least twice a day, 5 minutes. Start with 5 minutes. You don't need to go long. Start with 5 minutes in the morning, in the night. You'll see so many results because this is one of the powerful practice which will help you in improving your lung capacity, helps in balancing your energies, improving your gut health, reducing your stress and anxiety, and many more. Also, I'm very happy that you also started spreading this wherever you go. Like, it doesn't matter, like, you have to start a studio and do this as per your capacity. You started teaching to others. This is the only way we can take it forward to as many people as possible. I'm very happy to have you in our community, and consistently for the past 2 years, whatever you are doing is fabulous and very, very inspiring. Thank you, thank you so much.

Thank you, Badriji, for your selfless help to all of us. Thank you very much.

Thank you. You have just watched another powerful episode of Conscious Breathing Podcast. Thank you so much for staying with us till the very end. It truly means a lot. If you haven't subscribed yet, don't miss out. Your journey towards a healthier, medicine-free life and more conscious life can begin today. And if you are ready to go deeper, register for my upcoming workshop. The link is in the description. I would love to see you there. That's it for today. I am Madhulika Kella, founder of Conscious Breathing Hub, and I'll see you soon in my upcoming workshop.