Meditation, Music, And Breathwork For Sober Living With Jason CampbellMeditation, Music, And Breathwork For Sober Living With Jason Campbell
I Love Being Sober
Tim Westbrook and Jason Campbell talk about how meditation, breathwork and music can support sober living beyond simple abstinence. The conversation focuses on starting small, creating mental space, and using self-care rituals to reduce stress and reactivity in recovery.
40:42•23 Dec 2020
Meditation, Music and One Simple Breath for Sober Living
Episode Overview
- Recovery is about more than abstinence; people often replace substances with chaos, adrenaline or other compulsive behaviours.
- Meditation can be approached through sitting, standing and moving practices, making it accessible to different temperaments and bodies.
- Starting with just one intentional breath a day can help build a sustainable meditation habit without feeling overwhelmed.
- Watching thoughts like “clouds passing by” creates space from negative inner dialogue and reduces reactivity.
- Regular self-care routines, including breath work and meditation, support emotional stability and clearer decision-making in sober living.
“People change best by feeling good, not by feeling bad.”
Ever wondered what it takes to turn meditation from a vague idea into a daily lifeline in sobriety? This conversation between host Tim Westbrook and Zen Wellness founder Jason Campbell shows how breath, music, and simple rituals can support life after alcohol and drugs. Right from the start, Tim points out that getting clean is "so much more than just not drinking and doing drugs" and shares how many people swap substances for chaos, drama, or endless scrolling.
Jason adds humour to the mix, joking that he could teach seminars on "how to get stressed and upset", before flipping the script and showing how breath and awareness can do the opposite.
Jason explains his journey from piano prodigy to seventh-degree black belt and meditation teacher, starting with his childhood lesson: "Masters listen to the space in between the notes." That idea of space runs through the episode – space between thoughts, space between action and reaction, and space in the music that helps calm a racing mind.
For anyone in recovery who "just can't meditate", Jason breaks it down into sitting, standing, and moving practices, and encourages starting tiny: even one deep breath with eyes closed counts. As he puts it, "People change best by feeling good, not by feeling bad," so the goal is to set yourself up to win with small, doable steps.
Tim shares his own morning routine of breath work, prayer, and meditation, describing it as self-care that keeps him grounded rather than reactive, especially when life or technology goes sideways. Together, they frame meditation and breath work as practical tools for reducing mental noise, easing anxiety, and supporting long-term sober living. If you're sober or sober-curious and your mind feels like "a turbid snowstorm", could one intentional breath be the first step toward a calmer day?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.