HYPOXiX INSTITUTE
Mobilizing Exercise Research To Benefit Real Communities
Our Mission
We are a nonprofit organization committed to using breath-work and movement to benefit the health of local families and communities — especially those who face childcare barriers that prevent involvement in consistent exercise
HYPOXiX Institute advances breath-work and altitude-based research, with a special focus on women’s health, postpartum recovery, and menopause
Through research collaboration, community programs, and performance-based outreach, we translate science into lived experience — supporting real people in real bodies, within real communities
HYPOXiX Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law
Why We Exist
Breathing and oxygen availability influence nearly every system in the body — from the nervous system and cognition to movement efficiency, recovery, and resilience. Yet these tools remain under-researched, especially in women and in populations navigating major life and career transitions.
Our Goals Are
Advance scientific understanding of breath-work and altitude-based practices
Educate communities using accessible, evidence-informed tools
Support women-centered research across postpartum recovery and menopause
Create performance and outreach experiences that translate science into embodied learning
We believe intentional breathing is not just automatic — it is trainable, measurable, and deeply impactful across the lifespan
What We Do
Research and Education
We support and collaborate on research exploring how breathing and intermittent altitude exposure affect:
Nervous system regulation and stress tolerance
Cognitive function, attention, and mental clarity
Functional strength, mobility, and recovery
Our educational programs translate this research into workshops, training materials, and community-based learning opportunities that are accessible to both professionals and the general public.
Women-Centered Health Research
Women’s physiology has historically been underrepresented in performance and exercise research.
We actively support research and education focused on:
Postpartum breathing and core recovery
Perimenopause and menopause-related changes in respiration, strength, and cognition
Nervous system health during hormonal transitions
Our goal is to help women move, breathe, and live with greater confidence and evidence-based support during these life stages.
Dancer Transition Education
We believe dancers play a vital role in transforming health, education, and community through movement.
Dancers possess an extraordinary ability to connect with the human body — combining joy, discipline, creativity, and deep anatomical understanding in a way that can profoundly change how people experience movement, breath, and self-expression.
Our organization exists to support dancers in their education and career transition, equipping them to become HYPOXiX-educated movement and breathwork trainers who deliver exceptional, research-informed classes to the public of New York City.
Alongside public programs, we collaborate on inspiring, performance-based outreach through the HYPOXiX Dance Company — creating work that educates, inspires, and bridges science and art, while supporting dancers’ artistic expression, professional development, and long-term career pathways.
Through research collaboration, community education, and performance, we bring science out of the lab and into real bodies, real communities, and real life.
Public Outreach Performances and Education
We believe education does not only happen in classrooms or laboratories.
Through public performances, workshops, and community events, we:
Present breath-centered movement and altitude-informed performance experiences
Create accessible entry points into science-based movement education
Engage diverse audiences through art, movement, and lived experience
These outreach efforts serve as both education and inspiration, expanding access to tools that support physical and mental resilience.
Public Outreach Performances and Education
We believe education does not only happen in classrooms or laboratories.
Through public performances, workshops, and community events, we:
Present breath-centered movement and altitude-informed performance experiences
Create accessible entry points into science-based movement education
Engage diverse audiences through art, movement, and lived experience
These outreach efforts serve as both education and inspiration, expanding access to tools that support physical and mental resilience.
How Your Class Makes an Impact
Every Class Supports the Mission
When you take a class, your donation directly supports:
Research initiatives and pilot studies
Educational programs and workshops
Public outreach performances and community events
Dancer transition education and training opportunities
Your participation helps fund research, education, and access — connecting movement, science, and community.
Why Breath and Altitude?
Breathing patterns and oxygen availability influence how we:
Regulate stress
Move and stabilize the body
Recover from injury or fatigue
Maintain cognitive and emotional resilience
By studying and teaching these tools together, we support healthier movement, clearer thinking, and greater adaptability across life stages.
About the Founder
AJ Fisher is a movement scientist, educator, and researcher working at the intersection of breath, physiology, and human adaptability. She began her career as a Broadway dancer and singer, where embodied awareness, breath control, and human expression were central to her work. Her research now focuses on how internal regulation through breath and movement influences cognition, nervous system health, and human connection. She has spent over a decade teaching and developing evidence-informed approaches across diverse populations, with a commitment to education, research, and community impact.
HYPOXiX Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law