Finding harmony within: how sound healing and breathwork reconnect us to our nature

In a world filled with constant digital noise and distraction, the art of truly connecting with oneself has become increasingly elusive. At the Biohacker Summit in Helsinki, transformative coach Jani Toivonen offered a refreshing counterpoint to high-tech biohacking with his presentation "Know Your Nature," demonstrating how ancient sound healing techniques and deliberate breathwork can create profound internal shifts.

The resonance of reconnection

"It's so important to take time to connect, take time to be with yourself, be present with yourself," Toivonen told the captivated audience gathered at the summit on Tuesday. The three-day event, running from July 1-3, brought together experts from various fields exploring human optimization, but Toivonen's approach stood apart with its focus on inner awareness rather than external measurement.

Toivonen's personal journey into sound healing began in 2013 when he first encountered a Tibetan singing bowl at a noisy fair. "Since 2013, when I first heard the Tibetan bowl, it changed my life," he explained. That chance encounter led him to amass a collection of Tibetan bowls and tuning forks, eventually incorporating them into his healing practice.

The simplicity of presence

What made Toivonen's presentation particularly compelling was his ability to transform the theoretical into the practical. Rather than simply discussing sound healing, he guided the audience through immersive exercises.

"Take a deep inhale and exhale with a little sound. Close your eyes for a moment and listen with your whole body," he instructed as attendees straightened their postures and placed their feet firmly on the ground. The conference room, typically buzzing with discussions of cutting-edge technology, fell silent as participants experienced the immediate calming effect of intentional sound and breath.

Laughter as medicine

Perhaps the most surprising element of Toivonen's talk was his emphasis on laughter as a transformative tool. "The most powerful breath exercise is laughter," he declared before leading the room in a minute-long laughing exercise.

What began as awkward, forced chuckles quickly evolved into genuine, belly-deep laughter that visibly transformed the energy in the room. "It uplifts mood and empties the mind within a minute," Toivonen noted as the exercise concluded, with many attendees appearing noticeably more relaxed and present.

Finding the core within

Throughout his presentation, Toivonen repeatedly returned to the theme of responsibility – for our thoughts, words, and actions. "The breath is the present moment," he emphasized, encouraging participants to use breath awareness as an anchor to stay grounded in the now.

In a particularly poignant moment, he guided the audience through a reflection exercise, instructing them to place one hand on their heart and ask themselves what they wanted to integrate from the summit into their daily lives.

"Being present on my heart, I have found the core. And the core is love, peace, wisdom and power," Toivonen shared, offering his personal discovery as an invitation for others to explore their own fundamental nature.

Beyond technology

In a summit largely focused on technological enhancements to human performance, Toivonen's approach offered a complementary perspective – that optimal human functioning begins with self-connection. His integrative approach, combining elements from his background in martial arts with sound healing practices, demonstrated that sometimes the most effective biohacks are the most ancient.

As the Biohacker Summit continues to explore the cutting edge of human optimization, Toivonen's presentation served as a powerful reminder that amidst the sensors, supplements, and algorithms, the practice of knowing one's nature remains foundational to any meaningful personal transformation.

"Helping me to connect with my nature and to know my nature," he concluded, capturing the essence of a presentation that, through its simplicity and authenticity, stood out as one of the summit's most impactful offerings.

Frequently asked questions

What did Jani Toivonen offer instead of gadgets?

Inner awareness rather than external measurement. The transformative coach used sound healing techniques and deliberate breathwork to create internal shifts, telling the Helsinki audience how important it is to take time to connect and be present with yourself.

Why does he call laughter a breath exercise?

Toivonen declared the most powerful breath exercise to be laughter, then led the room through a minute-long laughing exercise. What began as awkward chuckles became genuine belly laughter, and he argued it uplifts mood and empties the mind within a minute.

What was his central theme?

Responsibility for our thoughts, words and actions, anchored in the present. The breath is the present moment, he told the room, encouraging participants to use breath awareness as a way of staying grounded in the now.

About the event

This recap is part of the Biohacker Summit 2024 Helsinki series, recorded in Helsinki on 2 and 3 July 2024. Read the summary of the whole event or join the next edition, HOLOLIFE Summit 2026 Amsterdam, on 14 and 15 November 2026.