A Record for the Most Concurrent Records
I’m guessing he doesn’t come close to David Blaine’s 17:04 breath hold record though
Ever feel like your life's a non-stop carnival ride?
Not a fun one, but one starring creepy clowns and flaming chainsaws and YOU, tap dancing on a tightrope?
Yeah, neither have I 🫣
Kidding! Snort.
But hold onto your stress balls, because I'm about to introduce you to a guy who makes all of our to-do lists look like post-it notes.
David Rush is the human equivalent of a Guinness World Records book on steroids. This dude isn't just breaking records, he’s turning them into confetti, and using that confetti to break even more records.
I think he woke up one day and said, "I think it’s time to become a living, breathing embodiment of 'hold my beer.'"
David's broken over 300 records, from the mundane (most brussels sprouts eaten in one minute) to the downright bizarre (fastest time to wrap someone in plastic cling-wrap) to the seemingly metaphysically impossible (he’s both the world’s fastest AND slowest juggler).
And as if it doesn’t take enough time to practice all those record-breaking attempts… he's doing it all while working a full-time job in tech and raising a family.
Sound familiar?
After coming across his story recently, I realized we could all learn a lot from David. (Including about STEM education, which he is a passionate advocate of. But let’s be real, that’s not what I’m here to talk to you about.)
Can Breathwork Turn You Into the World’s #1 Guinness Record Holder?
Nope. But it can help give you some of his enviable qualities.
1. Stress Management: David faces constant pressure and deadlines (before someone else breaks his record-breaking record!). Every attempt is a high-stakes situation.
Sound like your average Thursday? Hmm, if only we knew a technique that could help us keep calm under pressure 🤔
2. Focus and Concentration: Whether he's solving Rubik's cubes or stacking M&Ms, David needs laser-like focus. In fact, he once balanced a pool cue on his forehead for 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 14 seconds.
How to master that next-level concentration?
Breathwork, anyone?
3. Energy Management: Breaking records takes stamina. David has to maintain high energy levels while balancing work, family, and his record-breaking pursuits. This guy once bounced a table tennis ball on a paddle 14,686 times in an hour, a thought which makes my arm ache just typing it.
To be able to perform at high level means being able to get into high gear when you want… and also being able to downshift quickly when you want.
Can breathwork help with that?
You know it.
4. Resilience: Not every attempt is successful. David's had his fair share of fails, but he keeps coming back. And it’s not like he’s done… he’s got a reputation to defend.
But whatever anger and disappointment he feels at those misses, he tries again until he’s successful, which takes emotional regulation.
You know where this is going, right?
Breathwork can help you control your emotions. It’s a somatic, “bottom up” approach where we can treat the body to impact the mind. When we change our physiology with our breath, our emotions follow suit.
That’s a Potent Set of Skills for Your Everyday Toolbox.
So does David Rush actually have a breathwork practice?
I have no idea. But I wouldn’t be surprised!
What I do know is that we can apply some of David's record-breaking mindset to our everyday lives.
Here's a new breathwork technique inspired by David's quest. I call it the "Rush & Calm" breath. Yeah, because his last name is Rush.
I know it’s a terrible pun. I LIVE for terrible puns.
Try the “Rush & Calm” Breath
1. Inhale sharply through your nose for 3 seconds.
2. Hold that inhale for a count of 3.
3. Exhale slowly and steadily through your mouth for a count of 6.
4. At the bottom of the exhale, hold again for 3.
5. Repeat the cycle 5 times (because David has broken 5 records in one day!).
This technique mimics the excitement and then calm control needed in record-breaking attempts… or just living your best life.
The quick inhale represents the initial rush of adrenaline, giving you a little burst of energy. Then long exhale helps activate your internal chill mode, bringing you back to a state of calm focus.
Give it a go next time you're facing a challenging task or feeling overwhelmed. Hopefully you’ll feel a pleasant buzz like I do with this technique.
That’s what I love about breathwork. Whether you're aiming to break records or just make it through your day without swearing up a blue streak, your breath is your superpower.
Use it wisely, and who knows? You might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
Last Gasp
What’s the craziest record held by someone who currently holds 181 Guinness Records?
I think it might be the one where David downed a liter of lime juice through a straw in less than 14 seconds.
It didn’t stay down for long. 🤮