Holotropic Breathwork to promote Mind-body-spirit Mental Health

When someone asks me to explain what Holotropic Breathwork is I try to keep it simple but I also realize that it is difficult to explain in just a few words. Many people today are familiar with the term breathwork, however, not many are familiar with Holotropic Breathwork. Generally, Holotropic Breathwork promotes holisitic healing and boosts mind-body-spirit mental health.

Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful way of deeply opening to innate healing wisdom in our mind, body, and spirit. Drawing on ancient healing and spiritual practices, Holotropic Breathwork uses the breath and music to enter into a non-ordinary state of consciousness in a safe setting. It permits deep self-exploration, healing, and spiritual opening of the Self. This process can bring about awareness and transformation at all levels. Events that occur in our personal history, in the circumstances of our birth, or in transpersonal realms can create constrictions that impede the flow of our creative energy. These constrictions may keep us from attaining the personal wholeness, community feeling, and intelligence of spirit that brings fullness and satisfaction to life. Consequently, we may experience difficulty with our interpersonal relationships and lack a sense of life’s purpose. We may also feel stress, anxiety, or physical discomforts that conventional medicine cannot relieve. Holotropic Breathwork offers a powerful way to resolve these problems. It motivates us to achieve our full potential by helping us overcome feelings that we are stuck, trapped, blocked, or burdened. “Holotropic ” means “turning toward wholeness,” that inner capacity for self-healing at the heart of our being that makes healing possible.

In the early 1980’s Stan Grof discovered this technique after he did extensive research with LSD. The government prohibited the use of LSD for psychoanalysts and Stan Grof and his wife Christina started working with people in groups using deep and fast breathing with music. They realized that people were having the same or similar experiences as people who had undergone psychedelic therapy. The safe setting and support allowed people to let go into a holotropic state. Stan and Christina incorporated material from disciplines such as Yoga, indigenous shamanic practices, and intense experiential psychotherapies. The Grofs have conducted workshops for Holotropic Breathwork as well as training modules around the world for decades. 

I discovered Holotropic Breathwork in 1999 when I attended a workshop in Yucca Valley, California. My intent was to learn more about bodywork for my massage therapy practice. What I learned was more profound than helping people clear pain from their bodies. I had an experience that left me motivated to learn more about my spiritual self. After attending several more workshops, I signed up for the facilitator training. I have now been hosting my own workshops for 16 years. I believe this work has powerful healing benefits for the mind, body, and spirit and for us to feel fulfilled individually but also collectively.   Also, this practice is motivational for searching inside of ourselves to heal wounds that may not always be apparent. These wounds could stem from any trauma, including a traumatic birth, a painful childhood or even a past life. These wounds could stay psychologically entrenched in our psyche until we provide a tool or safe environment to release them. 

Holotropic Breathwork isn’t only for problems or imbalances we unconsciously carry around, it is also for spiritual seekers and people who are interested in learning more about their unique imprint and identity. This work could be used for seeking the truth in order to attain a stronger connection to the Divine. There are many reasons for doing Holotropic Breathwork. The most common reasons are stress related symptoms, patterns of addiction, depression, anxiety, repressed trauma, grief, blocked creativity, spiritual awakening, critical life transitions and seekers of meaning, purpose and truth.

Are you motivated to explore a new perspective and make positive changes in your life? If so, perhaps this style of breathwork is exactly what you have been looking for. Andrew Cohen recently wrote an article in the magazine What is Enlightenment? In his opinion, he feels as long as we are seeking peace above all else, “our motive shouldn’t be so we can abide in a state of peace and freedom beyond the process. Our motive should be to become passionate and egoless vehicles for an ongoing evolution.”  Each one of us has the opportunity to take responsibility and wholeheartedly participate in a life process that is deeper and more authentic than we could ever imagine.

Sign-up today to participate in a group experience or tap into your own inner consciousness with a 1:1 private session that allows for a healing process completely organic to you!