Breath, Energy, and Embodied Humanism: A Somatic Leadership Framework from Sundoism
Abstract
In the rapidly evolving landscape of human resource development (HRD), organizational behavior (OB), and leadership studies, there is a renewed emphasis on embodied and energetic dimensions of leadership. This paper introduces a somatic leadership framework inspired by Sundoim, particularly the practice of Danjeon Breathing (단전호흡), also called Doldan-Soom Swigi (돌단숨쉬기). Drawing from the traditional Korean philosophy of Embodied Humanism (인체주의), this essay explores how conscious breath regulation enables leaders to transmute emotional energy into purposeful thought, ethical speech, and right action.
The core thesis builds on four propositions:
- the key distinction between living beings and machines lies in their capacity for energy conversion;
- humans differ from other animals by their ability to consciously manage breathing;
- regulated breathing enables the modulation of emotions, which directly impacts physiological health and cognitive-behavioral functions;
- embodied breathing offers leaders the somatic grounding necessary for ethical, adaptive leadership in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world.
Introduction: Somatic Intelligence in Leadership
Leadership studies have long focused on cognitive skills, relational competencies, and systems thinking (Uhl-Bien et al., 2007). However, contemporary theorists increasingly acknowledge the somatic and embodied dimensions of effective leadership (Laloux, 2014; Ladkin, 2008; Brown & Vaughan, 2011). Somatic leadership refers to the intentional cultivation of body-based awareness, where physiological regulation, especially through breath, serves as a portal for emotional intelligence and ethical decision-making. The Eastern philosophy of Sundo—an ancient Korean Taoist tradition—offers a uniquely integrative model of breath-centered leadership development. In particular, Danjeon Breathing (단전호흡 = 돌단숨쉬기) as taught by Chungsan, and the broader practice of Embodied Humanism (인체주의), present a holistic framework that connects breath, emotion, organ function, cognition, and morality. This model offers valuable insight into how breath functions as both a diagnostic and transformative tool in leadership development.
Beyond Mechanism: The Energetic Nature of Living Systems
Unlike machines, living organisms are characterized by their intrinsic capacity to transmute energy. Whereas machines require external input for function, living systems internalize, convert, and distribute energy across complex physiological and psychological networks (Capra & Luisi, 2014). In humans, this capacity is most fundamentally accessed through the breath. Breath, as the interface between the external environment and internal vitality, allows living beings to integrate atmospheric Qi (energy) with somatic processes. Machines, however, lack this auto-regulatory and self-integrative mechanism. Sundo philosophy views the body as a microcosm of the universe, with breath functioning as the mediator of cosmic and bodily harmony.
Danjeon Breathing (단전호흡 = 돌단숨쉬기) and the Human Capacity for Conscious Regulation
A core distinction between humans and other animals is the ability to purposefully manage one’s own breath. While most creatures breathe automatically in response to metabolic demands, humans can consciously alter the rhythm, depth, and location of breath.
Danjeon Breathing, or 돌단숨쉬기, centers breath in the lower abdomen (Danjeon), the traditional seat of vital energy (Ki, 氣). This technique involves a deep, focused inhalation (들숨) into the Danjeon and a controlled, intentional exhalation (날숨). The practice not only accumulates and balances energy but also cultivates emotional regulation and mental clarity.
Scientific literature supports this: breath-focused practices increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, reduce cortisol levels, and enhance emotional regulation (Brown & Gerbarg, 2005; Porges, 2011). These findings align with Sundo’s emphasis on breath as the foundation of vitality, wisdom, and ethical action.
Emotion as Energetic Medium: Regulating the Inner Ecosystem
Sundo philosophy, particularly as articulated in Inchejuui, holds that every emotion directly affects specific organs. Anger damages the liver, fear harms the kidneys, grief weakens the lungs, and excessive joy overstimulates the heart. Modern psychosomatic research echoes this insight: unregulated emotions are a leading cause of chronic illness and stress-induced dysfunction (Pert, 1999). Chungwoon (Blue Mountain, Chungsan’s teacher)'s teachings emphasize this interdependence with clarity:
“You have lived until now as a person of Heaven, following the Heavenly Way. But now, you must come to understand the meaning behind that Way. If ever you feel displeasure or resentment, it is a sign that your left lung, large intestine, and essence (精, jeong) have weakened. When you are sad or mentally disoriented, it affects your right lung and your spiritual sensitivity (靈感, yeonggam). Shock, fear, or overexertion damages your kidneys and bladder, making them weak. Overthinking causes thoughts to multiply and overburdens the spleen and stomach, reducing appetite and weakening the spirit (三, sam). When you are angry or enraged, your liver and gallbladder deteriorate. Excessive joy and excitement strain your heart and small intestine. Most people are unaware of these dynamics, and through unchecked desire, they fall into anger, mental turmoil, and conflict. This ignorance leads them to generate disease within themselves and to die prematurely.”
This wisdom underscores that leadership cannot be separated from physiological and emotional coherence. Leaders who regulate their breath can stabilize their emotional states, preserving both their health and their capacity to lead others responsibly.
The Five-Organ Ethical Framework of Embodied Humanism
Sundo extends this model further, articulating an explicit connection between organs, virtues, and leadership ethics:
- Kidneys (智-智感): Vessels of wisdom, embodying generosity and discernment.
- Heart (體-分辨): Governs correct action and farsighted decision-making, distinguishing right from wrong.
- Liver (仁): Circulates fresh energy, drawing in goodness and virtue, representing supreme moral conscience.
- Lungs (義): Discard the impure and gather what is righteous, symbolizing moral integrity.
- Spleen (信): Integrates wisdom, discernment, and action, enabling consistent trust and ethical practice.
When leaders embody wisdom, propriety, compassion, righteousness, and trust, they naturally extend this alignment into their social and political lives.
They revere Heaven (敬天), care for all beings with sincerity (至誠), serve their country with loyalty (忠國), honor their elders with sincerity (孝親), and cultivate harmony in relationships (親和). Living this way—authentically and truly (眞實)—is both the right path and the path to holistic health.
Conversely, when leaders fail to cultivate such embodied awareness, they generate imbalance within themselves and their communities, leading to dysfunction and decline. To live without regard for others is to invite mutual destruction.
Thus, to lead in alignment with Embodied Humanism (人體主義) is to dedicate one’s thinking, speaking, and acting to the well-being of others. This principle grounds organizational leadership in timeless ethical truths: unity and harmony (一和統一) and the fulfillment of human destiny (定命完遂). To deny this path is to abandon the very essence of humanity.
Breathing in Complexity: Somatic Leadership for VUCA Environments
VUCA—Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous—conditions define much of modern organizational life. Leaders are not merely tasked with solving problems; they are often expected to make decisions amidst high stakes, emotional overload, and informational chaos. In such conditions, cognitive intelligence alone is insufficient. Somatic intelligence, or the capacity to remain centered, calm, and responsive in the body, becomes essential (Scharmer, 2009).
Here, Danjeon Breathing (단전호흡 = 돌단숨쉬기) offers a unique contribution. It allows leaders to ground their attention, center their energy, and sustain a state of embodied presence. From this embodied awareness, decision-making is not reactive but responsive—rooted in clarity, compassion, and systemic sensitivity. Leaders trained in such practices are more capable of ethical discernment, adaptive thinking, and team cohesion (Palmer & Crawford, 2021).
Conclusion
The future of leadership is not post-human—it is profoundly, vulnerably, and vitally human. In an era increasingly dominated by automation, artificial intelligence, and disembodied interactions, the return to breath—Danjeon Breathing (돌단숨쉬기)—is a radical act of remembering. Remembering that to lead is not to control, but to connect; not to dominate, but to integrate; not to perform, but to be. Embodied Humanism offers a path forward: one that honors the complexity of systems, the centrality of breath, and the sacredness of human dignity. Through the ancient, disciplined, and life-affirming practice of Danjeon Breathing (돌단숨쉬기), leaders can reawaken their capacity for ethical, systemic, and embodied action.
References
Brown, R. P., & Gerbarg, P. L. (2005). Sudarshan Kriya yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(4), 711–717.
Capra, F., & Luisi, P. L. (2014). The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision. Cambridge University Press.
Kim, H. (2025). Sundo: An Ancient Taoist Breathing Meditation Journey toward Enlightenment. Poil Publishing.
Laloux, F. (2014). Reinventing Organizations. Nelson Parker.
Ladkin, D. (2008). Leading beautifully: How mastery, congruence, and purpose create the aesthetic of embodied leadership practice. The Leadership Quarterly, 19(1), 31–41.
Palmer, I., & Crawford, J. (2021). Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach. McGraw Hill.
Pert, C. (1999). Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel. Scribner.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. Norton.
Scharmer, O. (2009). Theory U: Leading from the Future as It Emerges. Berrett-Koehler.
Uhl-Bien, M., Marion, R., & McKelvey, B. (2007). Complexity leadership theory: Shifting leadership from the industrial age to the knowledge era. The Leadership Quarterly, 18(4), 298–318.
Further References
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-from-within-power-somatic-intelligence-paul-slezak-vho9c/
Leading from Within: The Power of Somatic Intelligence in Leadership
Last week I facilitated a workshop for a group of senior leaders from a mid-tier professional services firm. Over the course of the three-day program, I covered several core topics including authentic leadership during which I ran an activity centred aroun
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한글 요약
이 글 *「호흡, 에너지, 그리고 인체주의: 선도(仙道)에서 본 체화적 (소마틱) 리더십 프레임워크」*는 한국 전통 선도 철학을 기반으로 한 리더십 모델을 소개합니다. 단전호흡을 통해 감정을 조절하고, 윤리적 토대를 강화하며, 복잡한 환경 속에서 적응적 리더십을 발휘할 수 있음을 강조합니다.
- 리더십의 근본으로서의 호흡: 기계와 달리 인간은 의식적으로 호흡을 조절할 수 있습니다. 단전호흡을 통해 에너지를 다스리고, 감정을 균형 있게 조절하며, 사고와 행동의 명료성을 높일 수 있습니다.
- 인체주의와 윤리적 리더십: 감정은 신체 장기뿐만 아니라 도덕적 성품에도 영향을 미칩니다. 호흡, 신체, 윤리를 조화시킴으로써 리더는 지혜, 자비, 정직, 신뢰를 구현하며 조직과 사회에 조화를 이끕니다.
- VUCA 시대를 위한 인체주의 리더십: 불확실하고 복잡한 환경에서는 인지적 지능만으로는 부족합니다. 호흡 중심의 체화 수련은 리더를 중심에 서게 하고, 차분하며 윤리적이고 적응적인 의사결정을 가능하게 합니다.
