When Was the Last Time You Really Breathed?
“I had to make a change. I resigned from the job I had dreamt of. I gave up the financial comfort, the benefits, the status. I let go of the person I thought I wanted to be.” Mariana Ormaechea shares her journey from burnout to self-discovery.
By Mariana Ormaechea
You’re breathing. You took a breath just a second ago. But when was the last time you really breathed—a deep, conscious inhale that filled your lungs and brought you clarity, followed by a slow, mindful exhale that released built-up tension? Most of us don’t stop to think about it, but when life’s inevitable challenges arise, sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply breathe.
For many of us, especially in today’s fast-paced world, we forget to connect with the most vital part of our existence—our breath. It sounds so simple, yet we often overlook its power. That’s something Mariana Ormaechea, a yoga and swimming instructor, has come to understand on her journey from corporate burnout to self-discovery. It’s a lesson we can all take something away from.
How “set” do you feel right now? A good job? A decent routine? Your ducks somewhat in a row? Are you happy? Truly happy? It’s easy to go through the motions, ticking off boxes and convincing yourself everything’s “fine.” But deep down, we all know there’s a difference between being fine and feeling fulfilled. And making that leap from one to the other? That takes real courage.
It’s often easier to sweep those nagging thoughts under the rug, telling yourself you’ll deal with them later. But some people, like Mariana, listen to those whispers. They have the courage to stop, take stock, and say, “This isn’t working. I need to change.” And while that leap often comes with uncertainty, it can lead to the kind of fulfilment we all crave.
That’s why we want to share Mariana’s story—because she took that leap, leaving behind a path that no longer served her and finding fulfilment through sport and mindfulness. At Glorious, we celebrate stories of resilience and transformation, and Mariana’s journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop, breathe, listen to your gut, and embrace the unknown.
Now, let’s hear directly from Mariana, in her own words…
So there I was, 26, a lawyer, fresh out of law school, and full of ambition. My dreams were all mapped out—build a professional career in law, maybe even make a mark in a case that could set a legal precedent. That had been my dream since I was 12, ever since a teacher inspired me to chase my goals.
But life doesn’t always follow the plans we lay out for ourselves. Fast forward a few years, and I found myself lost. More lost than I’d ever been. I was 31, and I was floating—literally—in the depths of the Mexican seas, searching for any clues about what my future might hold.
The certainty I once had was gone, and all I had left were questions. My name is Mariana Ormaechea. I’m 33 years old, born in Argentina, and for the past five years, I’ve been living in the UK. Let’s pause for a moment together.
I invite you to take part in a little exercise, and if possible, we’ll do it with our eyes closed. What does the exercise consist of? We’re going to connect with our breath, with our prana, which in Hinduism means vital energy. How will we do it? We’ll inhale and exhale deeply through our nose five times.
Close your eyes, 3, 2, 1…
INHALE AND EXHALE.That simple breath can ground you, can bring you back into the moment. Breathing has become my tool for well-being. It’s the key that has led me to the deepest connection with myself, and it helps me navigate life when things get overwhelming. When I was younger, becoming a lawyer was everything to me. I was determined to make a difference in the world, to help people—especially children and families. I started working early to finance my studies. By the time I was 16, I had already interned at several law firms. I was on my way, or so I thought.
After graduating, I decided to move to Europe to study English, thinking I would return to Argentina eventually. But destiny had other plans. I fell in love, and that love led me to stay in the UK. My professional plans shifted too. Suddenly, I was in a foreign country, learning a new language, and trying to figure out how everything worked. It was a huge challenge, but I believed I would make it work.
Over time, I started gaining clarity. I began volunteering for charities that helped families, thinking this was how I’d realign with my original purpose. But then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. I had been facilitating workshops with these charities, but that opportunity came to a halt. Instead, I shifted gears and got involved in creating a circular economy consultancy. I convinced myself this was a meaningful new direction.
Eventually, once the world started to adjust to the new normal, I had the opportunity to join one of the biggest social media companies in the world. On paper, it seemed perfect. It was a good job with great benefits, and I thought, “This is it. I’ve found my new path.”
But that’s when it all started to go wrong.
reconnected
INHALE AND EXHALE.
While working at that company, I started to feel unwell—mentally and physically. I was chasing a dream that wasn’t mine. I was exhausted, disconnected from myself, and spiralling toward burnout. Then came the panic attack. One day, sitting at my desk, my heart started racing, my breath quickened, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe at all. It was like I was being suffocated by the very life I had worked so hard to build. I was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack. But I didn’t call my boss. Instead, I called my best friend. She knew exactly what to say. “Mariana, breathe. Inhale and exhale deeply. You’re safe.” Those words brought me back to the moment, helped me reconnect with my body, and calmed my racing thoughts.
It was in that moment that I realised I had been living on autopilot for years. I had been chasing goals that no longer aligned with who I was. I was living out someone else’s dream, not my own.
Shortly after, I spoke to my boss and explained what had happened. I also had a conversation with the company psychologist, who told me what I already suspected: I was experiencing burnout. And then it happened again. The second wave of burnout hit me, even harder than the first. This time, I couldn’t ignore it. I had to face the truth—I wasn’t aligned with the values of the company. I wasn’t doing something that nourished my soul.
INHALE AND EXHALE.
I had to make a change, and so I did. I resigned from the job I once thought was my dream. I gave up the financial comfort, the benefits, the status. I let go of the person I thought I wanted to be. With no real plan, I bought a plane ticket and decided to travel. I was searching for something, though I wasn’t sure what it was. A month into my trip, I found myself on a paradise island where the waters of the Gulf of Mexico meet the Caribbean Sea. It was here that I reconnected with the water, with my roots, with the ocean that had always been a part of me.
I grew up in Mar del Plata, a coastal city in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had forgotten what it felt like to live near the sea, to feel the comfort and stillness that comes with being close to the water. In that moment, as I floated in the ocean, I found clarity. While I was there, I met a couple and their young daughter. I found myself playing with their baby in the water, and something shifted inside me. I looked into the baby’s eyes, and it hit me: this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to teach babies how to swim. I had found my new calling.
fulfilment
Three months later, I was back in London, taking a course to become a swimming instructor. I had so many doubts. I was terrified. Could I really start over? Was I too old to make this kind of change? But I kept going. Even though I was scared, I knew that this was the right path for me. Life, as I was starting to learn, is an adventure. And sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith, even when you don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead. One day, as I was walking through Tooting Bec market, I ran into two friends. It felt like fate, because these were friends I had met at a festival, and they just happened to be on their way to a yoga event. They had an extra ticket and invited me to join them. I hadn’t planned on going to a yoga event that day, but something told me to say yes.
So, I went. We walked through the iconic Alexandra Palace. It was the first time I had ever been to an event where the word “holistic” wasn’t just a buzzword—it was the centre of everything. There were yoga classes, breathing exercises, meditation, mantras, talks on empowerment, feminine cycles, and mindfulness. It was like a whole new world was opening up to me.
That day, I realised something that had been quietly brewing inside me for years. I wanted to become a yoga teacher. As I walked through the event, it was as if the universe was listening to my thoughts. A little boy stood in front of me and struck a yogi pose. “Do you want to be a yoga teacher?” he asked, his voice full of curiosity. Before I could stop myself, I said, “Yes! I want to! It felt like a moment of serendipity, as though I was being gently nudged toward this new path. The boy grinned and said, “Great! Because if you sign up with my dad, I’ll earn 10 pounds!”
And just like that, I signed up for a 10-month yoga teacher training course near Stevenage station. The boy got his 10 pounds, and I got a new beginning. It’s been about a year since I became both a swimming and yoga instructor. There have been plenty of fears and challenges along the way, but I’ve found a sense of purpose and fulfilment that I never knew existed.
INHALE AND EXHALE.
What I was, what I am, what I will be—I still don’t know. Every day, I write a new beginning, breathing through the uncertainty and embracing the journey.
We can always return to what our inner child craves—not necessarily changing careers or making drastic shifts, but simply reconnecting with what ignites us. Self-discovery begins the moment you truly become aware of your breath.
So, let me ask you again: When was the last time you really breathed?
Find out more about Mariana here: