Heart Coherence specialist Louis van Nieuland: My day doesn't start without my heart coherence exercise

October 4th, 2021,

3 min read

In our busy and often hectic world, consciously seeking ways to relax is essential to stay well-balanced. The question is: how do you do that? We ask experts to share their tips & tricks with us. Meet Louis van Nieuland, the number one heart coherence trainer of Belgium.

Louis van Nieuland

"I am Louis Van Nieuland, heart coherence coach and teacher, mediator, team member of Revida, the stress management center at ‘AZ Rivierenland’. I am also the author of the bestseller ‘Blijven Ademen’ (Keep Breathing)."

How do you notice you’re in need of relaxation?

“After having experienced a burnout myself in the year 2000, tinnitus (buzzing in the ears) is my signal that I am pushing myself beyond the limit. Clear thinking becomes more difficult and fatigue increases.”

What do you do to take good care of yourself?

“My day doesn't start without my heart coherence exercise. Sometimes I combine them with transcendental meditation. This provides me inner peace and it clears my mind.

Working with my hands also puts me in rest mode, for example by woodworking, working with clay and drawing. I also enjoy walking in the woods, observing all sounds and watching the birds. This brings me new energy.”

What has conscious breathing brought you?

“Firstly, more awareness of my own breathing. The rhythmic heart coherence breathing literally allows peace to arise from within your body.

It is a physical happening that, with regular training, has a positive impact on your emotional experience and your way of thinking. It brings about transformation in yourself. You start to see the context in which you live with a more balanced brain, instead of an emotional brain as a result of (too much) stress.”

What’s your favorite moment to use moonbird?

“Preferably early in the morning, and before going to sleep. I also use it from time to time in preparation for a difficult conversation or after an emotionally charged conversation, for example when facing a conflict.

I often recommend moonbird to my clients. It is a tactile breathing tool that you can use with or without an app. The advantage for us heart coherence trainers is that you can set certain breathing values in the moonbird app that correspond to our way of providing the heart coherence training.”

What do you like about breathing with moonbird?

“The expanding and contracting of the moonbird closely mimics a real breath. You can use it without an app and practice breathing exercises with your eyes closed. And with the app you can easily follow whether you are well-balanced or not.

It doesn't feel plasticy either, it has a soft silicone 'skin'. With a tactile breathing tool, it becomes easier and less tiring to maintain focus than with a breathing guide on a screen.”