It sounds rather abstract, but it’s a fact. Breathwork is a method of working with the breath that induces an experience similar to that after taking psychoactive substances. Breathing can transform consciousness and open access to self-healing. Many schools of breathing have emerged in recent years, but their origin is ancient pranayama. This technique has its origins in India and is a practice that positively affects the mind and body. Can the breath be a transformative experience? Can it lead to an altered state of consciousness?
What does breath work provide?
Controlling the breath is part of yoga. Its rhythmicity, slowing it down, is intended to improve well-being and also to penetrate consciousness. “Prana,” or vital energy, and “yama” – expansion. Conscious breathing, depending on our needs, is able to calm or mobilize our mind. Regular practice of pranayama will certainly reduce the level of stress in our lives, lower hypertension, relieve depression and anxiety. It will positively affect the quality of sleep and strengthen our strong willpower. But this is just the beginning…
What does LSD have to do with breathing?
When Albert Hofmann invented LSD acid, its properties were used in psychiatry. LSD was a drug that helped with a variety of mental disorders. It was distributed around the world in research centers, scientific institutes, universities and hospitals. Psychiatrists were eager to include it in their research, and patient results were promising, even groundbreaking. One doctor who saw great potential in LSD was Stanislav Grof. He began his research while still in Prague at the Institute of Psychiatry. His career related to the subject developed very quickly and he moved to the United States, where he continued his experiments at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and later Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.
Unfortunately, the abolition of the legal use of LSD in the early 1970s interrupted the enthusiasm of scientists and doctors. However, Grof did not give up, he and his wife Christina developed a new method of working with the mind. Forced to eliminate psychedelics, he introduced breathwork into therapy. His method, called holotropic breathing, combined accelerated breathing technique, evocative music, body work and mandala drawing. This compilation, which triggered altered states of consciousness (psychedelic), allowed him to continue treating patients.
Stanislav Grof is one of the founders of transpersonal psychology. He contributed immensely to research using altered states of consciousness for psychological healing. He left behind a remarkable legacy and inspiration for work on the human mind.
Methods of working with the breath
Breathwork is any form of controlled breathing practice. Most methods are based on increased oxygenation of the body, which in turn can lead to a change in perception. Benefits of breathwork include improving vital energy levels, healing traumas and fears, coming to terms with a dramatic past, healing from addictions, improving self-esteem, or even having a transcendental experience. Lama Rinpoche Tulku Thubten said of one of the breathing techniques, “They have the power to lead a person to directly experience liberation on many levels. You could call it a shortcut to enlightenment.”
Holotropic breathing
It derives its name from the Greek words holos, which means “whole” and trepein, which means “moving in a direction.” This technique was developed by the aforementioned Stanislav Grof. The method uses the well-known phenomenon of hyperventilation. More oxygen in the blood changes its chemical composition and affects brain function, leading to altered states of consciousness. The practice takes place in a group, a dozen or even several dozen people. Participants are matched in pairs and take on the roles of “breather” and “caregiver.” The session of the “breather” lasts 3 hours, the “caretaker” during this time accompanies him during the process. His task is to give water, correct the pillow, give a blanket, observe and possibly call the facilitator if necessary. After this time there is a switch, the “caregiver” becomes the “responder”. The whole thing is supervised by a qualified facilitator, that is, a person trained in respiratory therapy. The facilitator begins his work even before the breathing session, he leads the initial exercise. During the session he ensures the safety of the participants, and after the process he holds the space during the discussion. The breathing session takes place in a darkened room, the “breathing” person lies on a mat with his eyes closed and begins to breathe very deeply and quickly, hyperventilating. The process is supplemented by loud music, rhythmic and filled with emotion. If you’re wondering why participants should be in pairs and why they get into the role of “caring,” I’ll answer from my own experience – being a silent witness to someone else’s process can be a bigger lesson than your own breathing process. But to fully understand it, it’s worth trying the technique. With my hand on my heart I can recommend Tom Kwiecinski, who graduated from the Grof school and organizes workshops around the world.
Breathing Elemental Rhythm
Breathwork in this method may not yet be very popular in Europe, but I put it second because it is the closest to me. This is where I started my adventure with breathing, Elemental gave me the most insights. As I learned about the possibilities of breathing, I tried many other techniques, I was very curious about the subject. Eventually I went back to the source, which is precisely Elemental Rhythm. Ultimately, I decided to do a facilitator course and share with others what I got myself. The method combines several techniques: pranayama, holotropic breathing, transformational breathing, Wim Hof breathing, meditation, music and body work. This compilation makes the process complete for me. The workshop begins with meditation and body work. This is followed by a breathing session led by the four elements, followed by meditation and integration of the experience. The originator of this breathwork is Giovanni Bartolomeo, who founded his school in Costa Rica. An inspiring man who drew from his mentors to create his own technique, combining therapeutic forms with shamanism. If you would like to learn more or participate in a session with me I invite you here.
Transformational Breathing
Transformational Breathing is breathwork that can lead to very profound changes in a person’s life. The method is based on techniques that use the vibrational energy that is generated by the breathing process. By inhaling greater amounts of higher vibration oxygen into previously closed areas of our respiratory system, we open access to lower vibration patterns (such as traumas, emotions, or physical illnesses). The universal law of vibration states that if two things that vibrate at different frequencies meet – the lower vibration will automatically rise and match the higher one. This process makes us feel lighter after a breathing session, attuned to more positive energy. We can feel peace, fulfillment and reach a higher level of consciousness. Depending on the level at which we breathe, transformational breathing affects our physical, mental and subconscious feelings, or can lead to mystical experiences.
Wim Hof’s Breathing
Wim became famous as a record holder for exposing his body to the cold. He was the one who conquered Kilimanjaro in just scrubs and boots. By completely controlling his body through breathing, he is able to withstand extreme temperature conditions. He was inspired by Buddhist meditation and became the “Ice Man,” breaking more records. Wim and his students are eager to participate in experiments by scientists that confirm the flexibility of the mind-dependent human body and regularly push the limits of human endurance. Interestingly, the Dutchman currently lives in Poland in Przesieka and has his education center there.
What is psychedelic breathing?
Summarizing the methodology of all the techniques, it can be said that breathwork (breathwork) gives a safe space for the practitioner to face the deepest fears and emotions. This is the main connection between breathwork and psychedelics. Both are able to open the door to our subconscious. Therapeutic use of psychedelics and breathing techniques can have the same effects. Breathing can lead to visions or even fractals, certainly less intense than on psilocybin mushrooms or other psychedelics, but the experience on an emotional level can be confidently comparable. The processes done have lasting effects, and healing of traumas, fears is just as possible as after the use of psychoactive substances. Do I recommend breath work – YES! I have gone through it myself and use it regularly whenever I need insight, have something to work through or just feel an inner need. Every time it’s different, I discover new things. And although I conduct breathing workshops myself, I recommend you to check out different techniques and feel which one suits you best. Which method is the most effective? Yes, which one will work for you. It’s important to put yourself in the hands of someone who is qualified to do so, and you will intuitively feel this person will be a safe haven for you in the process.
Advertising
The content on psychodelicroom.co.uk is educational, research, and is an expression of many opinions, to which one should reserve. We do not encourage or even discourage the use of any means of influencing consciousness, all of which can both cure and do great harm. In particular, we advise against growing mushrooms from growkits in countries where it is illegal – min. in Poland – because it involves criminal liability. We recommend that growkits purchased from us be disposed of 72 hours after receipt.
Footnotes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Grof
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4677109/
https://doubleblindmag.com/breathwork/
https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2021/fall/holotropic-breathwork-ptsd-therapy/
https://przekroj.org/swiat-ludzie/wystarczy-oddychac/
https://www.transformationalbreath.com/blog/what-is-transformational-breath
