Exploring the Ancient Roots and Modern Practices of Breathwork for Enhanced Well-Being

The average person today accesses breathwork via yoga which is rooted in the ancient Indian practice of Pranayama. Pranayama is a Sanskrit word that when broken down translates to the practice of breath regulation. “Prana” means life energy and “Yama” means control. Ancient yogis developed and practiced Pranayama as a source of deep connection within themselves and the cosmos surrounding them. Within the historical Indian medicine system, Ayurveda, there are 49 unique conscious breathing practices each for different states of mind. Another accessible and ancient practice of breathing are the Taoist disciplines of qigong and tai chi. More evidence of ancient breathwork is found all over the world. Huna tradition in Hawaii is one of the oldest healing and spiritual developments and teaches what is called the Ha style of breathing which extends the out breath twice as long as the in breath. Australian Aboriginals use traditional circular breathing in the shamanic playing of the didgeridoo. Even the New Testament describes Jesus breathing onto his disciples to provide peace and the Holy Spirit. Understanding the ancient roots helps us better understand the influenced development of modern schools. 

A breathing practice called Holotropic Breathwork came about during the ‘self-awareness’ eras of the 1960s and 70s thanks to the investigation and experimentation of Christina and Stanislav Grof. Stan Grof is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who studied non-ordinary states of consciousness via LSD-assisted psychotherapy. During therapeutic experiments, many clients shared with Stan an organic urge to breathe rapidly in order to process intense sensations and visions. On the other side of these experiences, clients felt a sense of relief from physiological and physical ailments. When the time came that LSD was illegalized, Stan leveraged patient feedback from past experiments around the transformative and unintentional rapid breath brought about from their LSD-induced experience. Continuing his studies, Stan and his wife Christina quickly recognized the power of self-lead rapid breathing as a tool to access an altered state of consciousness and help people heal themselves. From there Holotropic breathwork was born. 

Breaking down the Greek origins of the word Holotropic, you find that it translates to “moving toward wholeness”. During a Holotropic breathwork experience, it is recommended to find a comfortable reclined position lying down in order to relax fully into the sensation of breathing deeper, fuller, and faster than normal breathing patterns. Those who practice breathwork are called breathers and breathers of the Holotropic method mainly self-lead the experience usually accompanied by sound vibrations to enhance the therapeutic benefits. However, there are plenty of Holotropic Breathwork offerings led by a trained facilitator which can be accessed online or in person. For anyone new to breathwork, it’s highly recommended to work with a trained guide who will lead you through a safe and supportive environment.

Another popular form of modern-day breathing practice technique is Rebirthing Breathwork which was discovered in the late 1960’s by a new-age spiritual guru named Leonard Orr. This came about from Orr’s experimentation of deep breathing while immersed in a hot bath. In this experience, Orr was surprised to find that he was able to relive his birth, and through deep breathing he accessed freedom from suppressed and traumatic emotions. Due to the intense impact of this experience, Orr was compelled to share this practice with others to help support people to do-over their entrance into life with the goal of improving their abilities of forming healthy relationships. The science here is conflicting with some saying there is no hard evidence that this intense form of breath practice can truly transform and heal like Orr describes while others swear by it. For those who do participate in this practice, it’s not necessary to be immersed in water. Some trained facilitators hold supported spaces that mimic the womb such as placing breathers in an enclosed environment surrounded by pillows and blankets while coaching you to break out of the cocoon.

In my research, I’ve found many parallels between Holotropic and Rebirthing Breathwork methods such as they are both forms of circular breathing meaning no pauses or holding in between breaths. Some say Holotropic is deeper breaths while Rebirthing is more shallow. They are both born from the blend of Eastern teachings with Western psychotherapeutic principles. My findings have also concluded contradictions on what is the “proper” form in each school of breath with some stating that one is more focused on mouth breath while the other is through the nose. Simply put, your autonomy as a breather is always the first priority to the practice so no matter what pattern or method you choose, you are on the right track. Trust in the healing process, stay open to the unfolding, and give yourself grace in your devotion to the practice!

Autonomy of oneself is the first priority of any breathwork practice. Understanding the risks and regulations allows breathers to feel safe and supported in their process. It is recommended to speak with a medical provider to ensure this form of healing therapy is right for your body chemistry. This is especially important for anyone who experiences cardiovascular issues, mental health conditions, are pregnant, and other health conditions. At the time of writing this blog post, there is no central certifying or governing body over breathwork certifications. The main source of information and regulations on breathwork training is the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance. Their website offers a landing page for their requirements on training, ethical standards, membership platform, and networking directory on schools and programs. Another source of information is the IBF, International Breathwork Foundation . The intention of IBF is to promote conscious breathing and breathwork.

MindFuel Method’s breathwork practices are paired with the therapeutics of contrast therapy to enhance health and wellness so you can feel as good as your body is designed to feel. We leverage biohack science providing you the space to explore your inner workings and connect with a community of like-minded high performing individuals. Begin your breathwork practice with MindFuel Method right now. Here is a link to a free micro-breathwork practice of conscious connected breathing.