DISCLAIMER: This interview discusses mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. If you are concerned about yourself or anyone else please contact youthline on Free call 0800 376 633 | Free text 234.
If you are experiencing mental health issues please contact your GP or mental health provider. The techniques discussed below may not work for everyone and should be discussed with your provider prior.
This is an opinion piece, the content of the article may not be the opinion of CYC as an organisation or the young people in it.
If you are experiencing mental health issues please contact your GP or mental health provider. The techniques discussed below may not work for everyone and should be discussed with your provider prior.
This is an opinion piece, the content of the article may not be the opinion of CYC as an organisation or the young people in it.
Ryan Hubbarb (Ry) is a young man on a mission to change the world. I started following Ry’s Instagram in January after he joined forces with Ru McKenzie, who had been the Deputy-Head-Boy in my first year at Christchurch Boys’ High. Together the pair are “Cool 2Be Conscious” and facilitate “Saturday Stillness”, “Sunday Stillness” and “The C2BC Experiecne”; classes which combine ancient wisdom and modern science that expands minds and opens hearts.When I video called Ry earlier this week he proved there is nothing disappointing about his mission.
No more than three years ago Ry didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning, couldn’t stick out a job and was unmotivated by life. He dismissed that action was required to change his life and consequently experienced increasingly frequent and violent anxiety attacks. Not uncommon to others, it took Ry hitting rock bottom before he made the decision to change his life. His rock bottom came in the form of an intense anxiety attack that caused him to faint. The significance of this occasion prompted him to rid his prior way of life, one he now believes would have lead him to take his life.
Now Ry is living a profoundly different life, one he endeavours to continue for as long as possible. Him and Ru have founded a community of consciousness on the Gold Coast of Australia. They facilitate a space to practice breathwork, meditation and connection techniques that raise consciousness and enhance well-being. Soon they plan to embark on a tour of Australia and have their sights on a New Zealand tour next year, which will include events in their old home, Ōtautahi (Christchurch). In the next five years they aim to expand to America and Europe, at which point they anticipate sold out events. The idea is to connect with as many people as possible and bring them into the Cool 2Be Conscious community where they can begin or enhance their journey with the support of a large network.
Although these ancient techniques are becoming increasingly popular in the Western world, they’re not without some resistance and western criticisms. These criticisms are rejected by people working to prove the benefits like Dr. Joe Dispenza, holistic health advocate Aubrey Marcus, journalist James Nestor and extreme athlete Wim Hof. Ry states, “When we’re breathing, consciously, connectedly; we actually alter the brainwave state from a high beta to a low beta slash alpha brainwave frequency. The more we can lower these brainwave frequencies the more we can come back into coherence with our heart, and that’s when we access intuition, inner-guidance and are super present.” He continued, “The more we dive into the subconscious mind the more we rewire it and understand why events happen for us, not to us” which relates to altering our perception on events, traumatic and alike, to first understand why it happened and what can be learned, and secondly to become comfortable with this experience so we do not encounter the same state of anxiety if the event occurs again.
I ended the interview with these quickfire questions:
M: What’s one piece of advice you would give to your 18-year-old self?
R: Stop comparing yourself to others and just do what feels right for you.
M: Who is your biggest influence and why?
R: Ram Dass. He’s just one of the most amazing teachers. He’s very good at articulating spirituality in a way that is super understandable for every single person.
M: When did you know you wanted to do what you’re doing now?
R: When I first had a shift and gained clarity. I knew there was something more to this than what we believe. I became obsessed. I wanted to learn and understand, on a scientific level, what actually happens in the physiology and be able to articulate it in a way that would captivate my old self and make him want to try it.
M: If you could ingrain one piece of knowledge or belief in everyone, what would it be?
R: You have everything you need within yourself.
M: What’s something you’d like to see change about the culture young New Zealanders grow up in?
R: I’d like to see more rejuvenation between the masculine and femininity. Men to understand it’s okay to show emotion and be open, and women to allow themselves to trust men again.
Ry’s message is positive and full of wisdom. He allows himself to be vulnerable in hope that his message spreads far and wide as soon as possible. I can only hope for the same. His journey is something to be inspired by, one which can encourage us to implement disciplines that can change our lives for the better, without needing anything more than what we’ve had access to since birth; the breath!
Ry, thank you for time, energy and words. We look forward to following what is next for you in your journey, and also to see you at a Cool 2Be Conscious event next year, at home in Otautahi. Te rangimarie me te aroha, tuakana!
Max Anderson (CYC).
If you want to find out more about Ry's project Cool 2 B Conscious you can visit their website
Need Help?
Click Here for Youthline
No more than three years ago Ry didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning, couldn’t stick out a job and was unmotivated by life. He dismissed that action was required to change his life and consequently experienced increasingly frequent and violent anxiety attacks. Not uncommon to others, it took Ry hitting rock bottom before he made the decision to change his life. His rock bottom came in the form of an intense anxiety attack that caused him to faint. The significance of this occasion prompted him to rid his prior way of life, one he now believes would have lead him to take his life.
Now Ry is living a profoundly different life, one he endeavours to continue for as long as possible. Him and Ru have founded a community of consciousness on the Gold Coast of Australia. They facilitate a space to practice breathwork, meditation and connection techniques that raise consciousness and enhance well-being. Soon they plan to embark on a tour of Australia and have their sights on a New Zealand tour next year, which will include events in their old home, Ōtautahi (Christchurch). In the next five years they aim to expand to America and Europe, at which point they anticipate sold out events. The idea is to connect with as many people as possible and bring them into the Cool 2Be Conscious community where they can begin or enhance their journey with the support of a large network.
Although these ancient techniques are becoming increasingly popular in the Western world, they’re not without some resistance and western criticisms. These criticisms are rejected by people working to prove the benefits like Dr. Joe Dispenza, holistic health advocate Aubrey Marcus, journalist James Nestor and extreme athlete Wim Hof. Ry states, “When we’re breathing, consciously, connectedly; we actually alter the brainwave state from a high beta to a low beta slash alpha brainwave frequency. The more we can lower these brainwave frequencies the more we can come back into coherence with our heart, and that’s when we access intuition, inner-guidance and are super present.” He continued, “The more we dive into the subconscious mind the more we rewire it and understand why events happen for us, not to us” which relates to altering our perception on events, traumatic and alike, to first understand why it happened and what can be learned, and secondly to become comfortable with this experience so we do not encounter the same state of anxiety if the event occurs again.
I ended the interview with these quickfire questions:
M: What’s one piece of advice you would give to your 18-year-old self?
R: Stop comparing yourself to others and just do what feels right for you.
M: Who is your biggest influence and why?
R: Ram Dass. He’s just one of the most amazing teachers. He’s very good at articulating spirituality in a way that is super understandable for every single person.
M: When did you know you wanted to do what you’re doing now?
R: When I first had a shift and gained clarity. I knew there was something more to this than what we believe. I became obsessed. I wanted to learn and understand, on a scientific level, what actually happens in the physiology and be able to articulate it in a way that would captivate my old self and make him want to try it.
M: If you could ingrain one piece of knowledge or belief in everyone, what would it be?
R: You have everything you need within yourself.
M: What’s something you’d like to see change about the culture young New Zealanders grow up in?
R: I’d like to see more rejuvenation between the masculine and femininity. Men to understand it’s okay to show emotion and be open, and women to allow themselves to trust men again.
Ry’s message is positive and full of wisdom. He allows himself to be vulnerable in hope that his message spreads far and wide as soon as possible. I can only hope for the same. His journey is something to be inspired by, one which can encourage us to implement disciplines that can change our lives for the better, without needing anything more than what we’ve had access to since birth; the breath!
Ry, thank you for time, energy and words. We look forward to following what is next for you in your journey, and also to see you at a Cool 2Be Conscious event next year, at home in Otautahi. Te rangimarie me te aroha, tuakana!
Max Anderson (CYC).
If you want to find out more about Ry's project Cool 2 B Conscious you can visit their website
Need Help?
Click Here for Youthline