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Unfolding Path
Unfolding Path

Our Story: A Path Made by Walking

My name is Jean-Michel Piedagnel (JM). If you aren't from a French or Latin-speaking background, that name can be a bit of a tongue-twister (and "Jean" and “Michel” often get mistaken for a female name). Please don’t worry about getting it perfect—to keep things simple, warm, and easy inside this space, most people just call me JM.

Before starting this studio, I spent more than thirty years working in international humanitarian aid and public health, a job that took me all over the world before I relocated to Malaysia in 2008. For me, the focus was always simply on the people—because at the end of the day, people are what truly matter. The work was about trying to be useful, learning from different cultures, being open to new ideas, and trying to be a decent human being in a world that often struggles with kindness, equity and humanity. It was demanding, high-pressure work, and finding a way to quiet my mind, I felt, was essential.

The Foundations of Breath 

My search for a quieter, healthier life began in London back in 2004. Navigating a high-demand, stressful career, I took my first steps by practicing yoga. It was a wonderful introduction to mindfulness—a grounding habit that I carried with me when I relocated to Malaysia in 2008.

However, it was in Malaysia that my journey took a major, pivotal turn. I began exploring pranayama and breathing, and I quickly realized that working directly with the breath was highly effective—and far more suited to my own mind and body than physical yoga postures. This is purely a personal choice, of course, and not a value judgment on yoga itself; we each have to find the key that fits our own lock. For me, the breath was that key.

I was fortunate to first learn the art of pranayama yoga under the late Dominique Lonchant—a dedicated master of breath who had spent years studying under deep spiritual lineages, including time at the Osho community in India. Through Dominique, I learned that correct breathing is not a mystical mystery; it is a physical craft that brings balance and equilibrium to the entire nervous system.

Seeking to deepen this foundation, I later explored and trained with the Art of Living, an international foundation focused on rhythmic breathing and daily spiritual routines. These experiences gave me a deep respect for the lineage of breath. But as my professional career grew, I hit a very common roadblock.


The Modern Dilemma: Finding What Fits

Traditional, immersive spiritual systems are incredibly beautiful. However, I increasingly found that the demanding, high-pressure environments of my working life did not easily accommodate the hours of daily dedication or the specific, set rituals.

Like many seekers, I set out to find a new school, a new guru, or a specific guide who could help me navigate this tension. Thanks to the availability of online information and resources, I was able to explore widely on my own— reading, testing different styles, practicing quietly, and organising my own retreats.

Yet, the guide I was searching for never materialized.

Instead, something else happened: through that quiet trial and error, my own personal practice began to develop. By developing a grounding practice based on breathing techniques, and by setting aside fixed rules to focus on learning and exploring various practices, I was building a practice that was resilient, deeply grounding, and fully integrated into my active life.

Sharing the Path

Eight years ago, I began sharing this approach—based on breathing techniques and finding other practices that work for you—with friends who were also managing demanding daily schedules. Seeing how these tools helped them stabilize their own busy minds supported what I had experienced: you do not need to withdraw from the world or live in a quiet environment to find a steady center. In pragmatic meditation, your own life is the canvas, and the breath is simply where we start.

Now, as I step away from my career in public health, I want to dedicate my time to sharing these tools more widely.

Meditation is a form of knowledge about self, and this studio is simply a way of passing on that experience. I am not here to act as a guru with all the answers. I am here as a practical companion, offering simple coordinates of breath and focus so you can build a practice that fits your own life.

Welcome to the Unfolding Path Online Studio.