Breathwork is one of the most powerful tools in biohacking, yet most people only experience the surface level techniques. When you use it the right way, breathwork can upgrade your brain, strengthen your nervous system, improve sleep, and open awareness states that amplify longevity and human performance.
This episode features Ishan Shivanand, a globally celebrated yogic scholar, mental health researcher, and bestselling author who was raised in the monasteries of India under Mahasiddha Avdhoot Shivanand. He carries one of the world’s oldest Shiv Yogi lineages and created the clinically validated Yoga of Immortals method, which has helped millions reverse anxiety, depression, insomnia, burnout, and trauma. Together, Host Dave Asprey and Ishan reveal how lineage level breath practices shape consciousness, neuroplasticity, and emotional resilience.
Listen to the FULL-LENGTH version of this episode on your favorite audio platform:
-Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-human-upgrade-biohacking-for-longevity-performance/id451295014
-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mkB9OoukPVKCTKSuAIgCq
Host Dave Asprey and Ishan explore the full arc of ancient yogic training, from how breathwork directs prana through the body to how chanting alters brain states, emotional regulation, and nervous system function. They break down the role of visualization in building neuroplasticity, the symbolism and physics of sacred sound, and the science of moving awareness through the spine. The conversation moves into rarely discussed topics including the yogic art of choosing one’s death, how advanced practitioners leave the body, the meaning of immortality in spiritual traditions, and how dharma shapes whether long life becomes a blessing or a burden. You will hear how ancient monks trained through martial arts, mantra repetition, sacred geometry, gold symbolism, alchemy, and the cultivation of higher states of consciousness, and how these practices compare to modern biohacking tools like fasting, ketosis, nootropics, supplements, sleep optimization, functional medicine, and mitochondrial support.
This conversation also covers plant medicine, psychedelics, and the difference between ancient ceremonial use and modern recreational misuse. You will hear how lineage based training uses breath, awareness, and mantra to alter redox balance, regulate the autonomic nervous system, strengthen energy production, and shape brain optimization at the deepest levels.
You’ll Learn:
• Why breathwork changes brain states faster than basic meditation and how it drives neuroplasticity
• How chanting affects the vagus nerve, emotional regulation, and nervous system balance
• How visualization strengthens nerve pathways, trauma resolution, and sleep optimization
• The meaning behind sacred sound, vibration, and the origins of consciousness in ancient lineage training
• Why monks train with martial arts, mantra repetition, and sacred geometry to enhance awareness
• How yogic philosophy approaches immortality, choosing one’s death, and leaving the body consciously
• Why dharma shapes whether long life becomes a blessing or a curse
• How plant medicine differs when used ceremonially versus recreationally
• How to integrate these teachings into your own longevity, performance, and human potential strategy
Thank you to our sponsors!
-Generation Lab | Go to http://generationlab.com/, use code Dave20 for $20 off, and see what your body’s really doing behind the surface.
-Our Place | Head to https://fromourplace.com/ and use the code DAVE for 10% off your order.
-BodyHealth | Go to https://bodyhealth.com/ and use code DAVE20 to save 20% off your first order of PerfectAmino.
Resources:
• Ishan’s Website: https://ishanshivanand.com/
• Ishan’s Book ‘The Practice of Immortality’ : https://practiceofimmortality.com/
Timestamps:
0:00 — Trailer
1:25 — Meditation Training
4:12 — Chanting and Mantras
8:09 — Jesus in India
10:50 — Coffee and Consciousness
14:54 — Unity of Religions
19:57 — Visualization Practice
22:57 — Gold Symbolism
26:01 — Alchemy and Transformation
28:45 — Psychedelics as Medicine
31:42 — Technology and States
37:43 — Choosing Death
39:12 — Death and Consciousness
43:31 — Dharma and Immortality
45:18 — Art of Dying
51:00 — Longevity and Meditation
Website: https://daveasprey.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daveaspreyofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.asprey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daveaspreyofficial/
X: https://x.com/daveasprey
Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15
Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com/
Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated/
Dave’s favorite supplements: https://www.shopsuppgradelabs.com/discount/DAVE15
Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com
Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com
40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com
