Who Are We?
Many years ago, high school mental health talks that we experienced, helped start important conversations but didn’t always provide practical tools for managing stress. We wanted simple, effective strategies to feel calm and focused quickly.
Breathwork entered our lives during our professional sports careers, initially as a performance tool but soon as a vital way to handle stress and regain control. After COVID-19, we created Uplift—starting with informal beach sessions—to meet the growing need for connection and accessible mental health support.
Now, drawing from elite sport and corporate experience, we share relatable stories and evidence-based techniques with schools, workplaces, and communities. Our mission is to equip people with practical tools to reduce stress, build resilience, and stay grounded in a fast-paced world.
James Hartson
Having spent four years travelling the world competing in the NCAA Men’s Collegiate Tennis System and on the Men’s International Tennis Tour, I often struggled to stay calm during high-pressure moments. On court, I was known as a bit of a hot head, but off court, these challenges became even more difficult to manage and began affecting my overall wellbeing.
Performance anxiety and an inability to slow my racing mind made it hard to perform consistently at my best, until I discovered breathwork. This practical tool became a reliable way to centre myself daily, both during matches and in life beyond sport.
Breathwork didn’t just help me control my emotions on court; it significantly improved my mental health and resilience off court. Experiencing these benefits firsthand sparked my passion to share these techniques with others, hoping they too can find practical ways to manage stress and stay grounded under pressure.
Fischer Mcasey
I first found breathwork and meditation in 2019 and have been practising regularly ever since.
I played for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL for three years, before returning to Melbourne in 2023. During my time in professional sport there were many challenges along the way. One thing I could always come back to were these practices. Learning to regulate my breathing and find stillness in the present moment were key in navigating through those challenges
Having experienced the benefits of these practices firsthand, my curiosity grew, and I began learning more about Breathwork, the nervous system and how these practices improve our health. I completed two Breathwork facilitation courses and started running some small workshops.
Fast forward to today, and I gain a lot of fulfilment from guiding other people through these practices and seeing how it positively impacts many other people.