The practice

What is nervous system training?

Nervous system training is the deliberate practice of shaping how your autonomic nervous system responds to stress, recovery, and everything in between. At equipped. this is done through breathwork, somatic tracking, and structured protocols that build specific, measurable functions like CO2 tolerance, vagal tone, and autonomic switching. The result is better state control under pressure.

What is breathwork and how does it work?

Breathwork is the use of conscious breathing patterns to shift physiological state. By changing the rate, rhythm, and depth of the breath, you directly influence heart rate, blood pressure, carbon dioxide levels, and vagal tone. That is how a five minute practice can move you from reactive to regulated. Not magic. Physiology.

What is the difference between breathwork and meditation?

Meditation primarily trains attention. Breathwork primarily trains physiology. They work together: breathwork changes the state your body is in, meditation changes what you do with that state. At equipped. both are part of the toolkit, with breathwork being the more direct lever when you need to move fast.

What is CO2 tolerance and why does it matter?

CO2 tolerance is your body's capacity to stay calm while carbon dioxide rises in the blood, such as when you hold your breath or work hard physically. Low tolerance triggers the alarm response and feels like anxiety. High tolerance widens the window in which you can think, decide, and act clearly. It is trainable.

What is polyvagal theory?

Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr Stephen Porges, describes how the vagus nerve mediates your shift between three states: social engagement and calm, mobilised fight or flight, and shutdown. Equipped. uses the framework as a practical map. Where are you right now, where do you need to be, and which tool gets you there.

Safety and fit

Is breathwork safe?

For most people, yes. Sessions at equipped. are calibrated to the room and delivered by a trained facilitator who watches for contraindications. If you have epilepsy, a recent cardiovascular event, uncontrolled blood pressure, severe asthma, glaucoma, are pregnant, or are managing a psychiatric condition, tell us before you book. We will guide you on what fits.

Can breathwork help with anxiety, burnout, or chronic stress?

Yes. Research on slow breathing, resonance frequency breathing, and coherent breathing shows measurable effects on heart rate variability, perceived stress, and anxiety symptoms. Equipped. is not a substitute for medical or psychological care, but it is a powerful adjunct, especially for high performers whose nervous systems have been running hot for years.

Do I need any experience to join a class?

No. Classes at equipped. are designed to work for first timers and for people with years of practice. Everyone works to their own edge. You do not need to be flexible, fit, calm, or spiritual. You need to show up and breathe.

Logistics

Where are classes held?

Group classes are held in Lisbon, Portugal. Venue details are confirmed at booking. Meditations Lab runs out of Wheelhouse Lisbon. Private and corporate sessions can be delivered at your office or a venue of your choice in Lisbon and across Portugal. Nervous System Coaching is available in person in Lisbon or online worldwide.

How do I book a session?

Group classes can be booked through the classes page. Nervous System Coaching runs on a waiting list. Corporate and portfolio sessions start with a discovery call. The fastest way in for anything else is the contact form. We reply within 48 hours.

Programmes

What is nervous system coaching and who is it for?

Nervous system coaching is a structured 1:1 programme of six to twelve sessions. It includes an assessment, personalised protocols, and weekly accountability. It is built for operators, founders, and senior leaders whose work demands they be in the right state at the right time, and who want a system not a session.

What happens in a corporate breathwork workshop?

A Breathe for Teams session runs 90 to 120 minutes for up to 18 people. It opens with a short framing, moves into guided breath practice designed for the team's context, and closes with integration. Teams leave with a shared physical reference point and a small toolkit they can use in the work, not just in the room.

How is equipped. different from a yoga studio or a meditation app?

Equipped. is not a studio and not an app. It is a training practice built for operators. The language is business, the content is physiology, the delivery is small group or 1:1. No incense, no jargon, no belief required. The goal is measurable change in how you perform under pressure.

Still have a question?

Write to us. We reply within 48 hours.