The art — and science — of breathing

St. Boniface

Winnipeg

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This article was published 07/05/2025 (466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s never too late to try something new. For musician and former figure skating coach Claude Bellefeuille, it was learning the art of breathing that opened the door to new experiences.

At 58, when a traumatic childhood experience resurfaced — something he’d lived with and repressed — it was time to find some new ways to heal.

Diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder, the now 60-year-old breath coach decided to learn as much as he could about treatment options as alternatives to medication. His search led him to try a range of therapies, some more mainstream than others, including hypnotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic. He ultimately discovered breathwork and HRV (heart rate variability) biofeedback, and has been learning specific breathing techniques ever since.

Originally from Ontario, Bellefeuille left to travel across Europe and Canada at age 18, and coached figure skating for over 20 years before landing and staying in Winnipeg.

The musician and singer — who plays piano, ukulele and keyboard — has begun blending his creative story-telling skills with his newly acquired breathwork knowledge.

“I’ve done a few talks, with some francophone senior citizens, with some musicians to help with stage fright,” said the St. Boniface resident.

“I’m doing a presentation at a homeless shelter this month, to help as a volunteer. If there’s anybody that lives through stressful situations, it’s those who are not shelter-secure. It’s a tremendous burden on their nervous system. I’ll teach them to regulate their own nervous system. I’ll be presenting that to them in the format of a story with music. They become the character in a story,” he said, explaining that he’ll start with the staff, and then present to the clientele.

The certified Advanced Oxygen Advantage instructor is dedicated to helping individuals harness the power of their breath for optimal health, stress management, and peak performance. Bellefeuille said he integrates the Oxygen Advantage method into his teaching because he was drawn to its science-based approach, which aligns with his commitment to evidence-based practices that deliver real, measurable results.

“What’s great about it is that it’s used at the clinical level—also the high performance level, and it’s also being used by the military, NHL athletes, and [elsewhere in] the corporate world. Progressive schools are using this. Kids are coming in and regulating their own systems.”

According to Bellefeuille, there are thousands of breathing methods; this one is called resonance breathing, also known as coherent breathing.

“It’s very similar to meditation. In terms of stress, it helps with that, helps with depression, and helps balance the nervous system.”

Bellefeuille is committed to teaching others this method to benefit their own lives.

“It’s simple to learn. It’s easy, it’s accessible, it’s with you all the time. I teach participants how to use an evidence-based tool that they can use on demand to manage their stress and become more resilient. They learn to identify their optimal breathing rate, listen to the most prominent signs of their parasympathetic nervous system, and anchor those signs to stay calm in the moment. The goal is also to achieve a more balanced and resilient nervous system in the long-term, without relying on external devices to manage their state.”

Other benefits include better quality sleep and digestion, and chronic pain management.

Lucie Madeleine D., one of Bellefeuille’s students, said she found the practice invaluable in a number of ways.

“I feel so much better after my sessions with Claude. He taught me various breathing techniques, and as a result I breathe deeper, I feel calmer, I sleep better and it made quitting smoking a much easier process.”

This month, Bellefeuille will be attending a conference in San Diego hosted by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, where he will receive training to become a certified HRV biofeedback technician.

Bellefeuille offers in-person sessions, group workshops and presentations.

For more information, email claudejpb@gmail.com