Franzisca's path to resilience through cold water therapy and breathin

Introduction

In our latest episode of Road to Calm, we had the honor of interviewing Franzisca Gartenmann, co-founder of Keen Wellbeing. She shares her personal journey through burnout and trauma to a fulfilling life as an entrepreneur. 🌟

Franzisca talks about the benefits of cold water therapy, sauna, and breathing exercises for regulating the nervous system and how these practices have helped her develop deeper self-regulation and resilience. ❄️🔥💨

Quotes and Highlights

Quotes:

"The benefit of a cold shower comes from letting go, because you learn to self-regulate in an uncomfortable environment." - Franzisca Gartenmann
"Self-regulation is the key to resilience." - Franzisca Gartenmann
"I have found my path and embarked on my healing journey to truly discover who I am and what fulfills me." - Franzisca Gartenmann

The full interview:

The interview was conducted by our Podcast host Sandro Meyer .

Sandro Meyer: Welcome back to Road to Calm ! I'm your host, Sandro Meyer. It's great to have you here. Every week, we delve into the world of mental health together. Joining me in the studio today is Franzisca Gartenmann. Frankie, I'm so happy to welcome you to the podcast. It's great to have you here!

Franzisca Gartenmann: Thank you so much, Sandro! I'm happy to be here.

Sandro Meyer: We always start the podcast with a quote. I found your quote on LinkedIn: "At 15, I founded an NGO, at 21 I was studying full-time and working on the side, at 23 I had my first management position, and now at 25 I've founded my own startup." Although all of this is true, I could also put it this way: "At 15, I was deeply affected by the suffering around me, at 21 I was overwhelmed, at 24 I was on the verge of burnout." What led to this change of perspective?

Franzisca Gartenmann: There were several reasons. A turning point was when I sat on the kitchen floor and said, "I can't go on." Fortunately, my parents, both coaches, were quickly able to arrange coaching and therapy for me.

About Burnout & Trauma

Sandro Meyer: What does burnout mean to you?

Franzisca Gartenmann: Burnout is highly individual. In my case, it was overcompensation; I worked too much to avoid things. I wasn't living according to my values. I lacked meaning in my work.

Sandro Meyer: How did you get into trauma work?

Franzisca Gartenmann: Trauma is not only individual, but also collective. For me, it was important to go through the pain and not over it. I completed a two-year training program to understand and process individual, transgenerational, and collective trauma.

The idea behind Keen Wellbeing

Sandro Meyer: How did Keen Wellbeing come about?

Franzisca Gartenmann: The idea originated during a silent meditation retreat. My co-founder David and I were discussing the importance of rest and self-regulation. We wanted to create something that helps people recover and regulate themselves. Keen offers a program that combines cold water therapy, sauna, and breathing exercises.

Sandro Meyer: What does the nervous system mean to you?

Franzisca Gartenmann: Our nervous system controls how we experience the world. It is responsible for our reactions to stress. Through breathing exercises and cold water therapy, we can learn to regulate our nervous system and cope better with stress.

Final thoughts

Sandro Meyer: Thank you so much for your time, Frankie. Is there anything else you'd like to say to the audience?

Franzisca Gartenmann: I hope my story encourages people to find their own path and persevere through difficult times. There are always more possibilities than you see when you're at your lowest point.

Sandro Meyer: Thank you so much for your openness and for sharing your story with us.