One of the most important parts of living a fully conscious life is the way you breath. This activity shows the private space of a human being, much more than words.

We were taught this process as children, but although it was not taken seriously or it might seem like a waste of time, knowing how to breathe is extremely important and can help avoid illness and physical discomfort.

Breathing is produced under the control of the regulatory centers of the brainstem, that is, from the base of the brain.

According to the American Institute of Stress, inhale and exhale tends to bring a person from an altered mental state (fight or alert instinct) to a slower heart rate state, thus decreasing the sensation of pain.

Health specialists said that breathing correctly not only increases the number of red blood cells in the body, which causes more blood to be produced, but also:

  • Toxins are eliminated.
  • The digestion of food is improved.
  • Improves the quality of sleep.
  • Relaxes the brain, etc.

Stanislav Grof, one of the founders of transpersonal psychology, created euphoric breathing ('Holotropic Breathing'), which is the "altering levels of consciousness" that helps people to self-exploration and healing.

In 1970, this practice made scientists, psychologists, and therapists go beyond consciousness, testing different sensations within the human body.

According to the research "The Perceived Impact of Holotropic Breathwork" this practice "invites people to immerse themselves and embrace their symptoms as a path of transformation from within".

However, in ancient times, many breathing techniques have played an important role in the spiritual and ritual practices of different peoples, which means that there is not only a relation at the scientific level.

In the research, 'The Natural Breath’, the professor specialized in native traditions of Southwest Asia, Neil Douglas-Klotz, refers that several texts of the yogic tradition (written between 2000 and 1000 B.C.) affirm that the conscience of the breath is a door to the "illumination".

For Zen master Thich Nhat, the term "enlightenment" refers to spiritual liberation, that is, to an expanded state of consciousness. Breathing would be a means to "awaken" and see the nature of all things.

In Buddhism, the practice of breathing appears in the Ānāpānasmṛti Sūtra, which consists of bringing attention to the breath and using it to amplify the body's awareness.

In Sufism, as early as the ninth century, the mystic al-Qushayri referred to mindfulness practice as a means to connect with the divine.

Research claims that this practice of mindfulness can awaken different capacities related to extrasensory perception. Some benefits experienced by practitioners include:

  • Deep sense of relaxation.
  • Emotional balance.
  • Mental clarity and,
  • Increased empathy.

Holotropic breathwork: benefits

This form of breathwork aims to help us develop personal growth and emotionally heal ourselves.

If you are attending a session, you can expect the following to happen:

  • Relieves phobias and anxiety.
  • Helps with traumas.
  • Promotes the release of toxins from the bloodstream and tissue.
  • Reduces blood pressure.
  • Stimulates the immune system.
  • Reduces physical and emotional stress.
  • Increase mental clarity and creativity.
  • Creates new neural pathways in the brain.

The "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine", published a study that reveals that Holotropic Breathwork can be useful for self-control, especially in people with tendencies to mood swings or who have frequent negative attitudes.

On the other hand, research in 2013 documented sessions of people who for several years frequently participated in holotropic breathing practices, and the results showed that this technique was used to achieve emotional stability in the people studied.

With Holotropic Breathwork practices, it is possible to unblock or handle experiences that contribute to the release of emotional circumstances of those who access this euphoric activity.

3, 2, 1... inhale and exhale!

This fire breathing must follow different ways that help the practitioner to enter the deepest part of the human being, the consciousness, and in this way, purify, cleanse or improve experiences to build a future with purpose.

An expert in the area should preside over the practice, followed by different musical notes previously studied.

The vibration of the sounds will penetrate the brain, and cause the body to send out patterns (movements in the arms or hands, dry lips, yawning, etc) to get in touch with or experience "No space, no time".

The breathwork session usually lasts between two and three hours. Each participant will make an "inner journey".

Fields of consciousness

Every child in this world learns different models in society (religious, sociological, cultural, educational, and family beliefs) but when they become adults, some choose to break away from that bond.

This acquired personality, depending on the level, often does not tend to connect with their "Inner Self" and contradicts the mental reality of that person.

To enter into Holotropic Breathwork is to seek the opportunity to explore, to know and inquire into the ears of the consciousness and to perceive a reality different from the one already adopted.

Remember these words from Stanislav Grof: “We are not just highly evolved animals with biological computers embedded inside our skulls; we are also fields of consciousness without limits, transcending time, space, matter, and linear causality.”