“I first met Kai in 2022, and from the very beginning she became a true guiding light in my life. At that time I was navigating one of the most difficult seasons I had ever faced, grappling with deep loss, panic attacks, and the feeling that I could barely catch my breath.

Through our personal sessions, Kai introduced me to new ways of breathing, simple yet profound practices that helped me find calm, presence, and strength again. Bit by bit, I began to reclaim control over my mind and body. With her support, I not only regained confidence but also overcame a new and irrational fear of swimming without covering my nose. Before long, Kai and I were swimming more than a mile together at Indian Brook in Vermont.

Kai and her family have touched my life in ways that words can hardly capture. Their compassion, wisdom, and unwavering support quite literally changed the course of my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and guidance.”

There is so much to say about Kai and Quiet Warrior. What started as a small conversation has become a complete game changer for our 6-year-old son. Logan has always been a kid who carries doubt, puts mental pressure on himself, and struggles with anxiety when it comes to sports and competition — even simple games at home.

We began working with Kai three months before wrestling season started, knowing we were gearing up for a challenge. Through both the good and tough sessions — in the pool and in dryland training — Logan showed incredible improvement. He was truly put to the test at his first tournament this year, and Kai was right there with him the entire day. She stood mat-side during every match, especially when his mind started to give in after a loss. With her calm reassurance, positive coaching, and breath work, Logan reset, came back, and walked away with an overall win.

We feel so blessed to have Kai as part of Logan’s growth and his journey toward understanding stress and overcoming self-doubt. She has worked side by side with him and has been the most amazing coach, even in the moments when Logan wanted to quit. Watching your child learn about himself and conquer his own doubt is something I will forever be grateful for.

For the past three recruit academies, we have contracted with Kai at Deep End Fitness Vermont (DEF VT) to conduct weekly pool sessions for the recruits.

While running our recruit academies, I sought ways to build the recruits’ resistance to stress and expose them to new ways to down-regulate. DEF VT provided that through water-based workouts and breath training that pushed the recruits physically and mentally.

For the fire service, being able to remain calm and operate during stressful situations is imperative to our success, and often, when utilizing our SCBAs, we need to be mindful of how much air we are using and control our breathing rate. With both academies, I saw a marked difference from day one in the pool to the final session and witnessed how the skills learned in the pool translate to calmer and more capable firefighters on the training ground.

Kyle Blake

Lieutenant

Burlington Fire Department