By now, you may have heard about various forms of breathwork and breathing techniques that enhance mental clarity and overall well-being. Well-known breath-work practitioners, like Wim Hof, have popularized the benefits achieved when one harnesses the breath to optimize stress tolerance and support bodily functions such as improved immune response and disease reduction.
Holotropic Breathwork was developed in the 1970’s by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof and his wife, Christina Grof, when seeking an alternative to LSD that could provide similar therapeutic altered states of consciousness. The word “holotropic” comes from the Greek “holos” meaning whole, and “trepein” meaning to move toward. The rhythmic style of Holotropic Breathwork supports one’s “moving towards wholeness” by inducing altered states of consciousness where the subconscious mind is able to process memories and traumas. Tapping into other levels of consciousness, guided Holotropic Breathwork allows the breather to embark on a natural psychedelic journey by harnessing the healing power of the breath.