Breathwork

What Is Breathwork??

Breathwork is a very old technique of mindful, focused breathing that has tons of different effects on your body, mind, and overall health! It helps you become more aware of your body, your emotions and can help with all kinds of health issues. However, it’s important to learn about different breathwork techniques before you practice them. The best thing you can do after doing your own research is to consult/practice with someone that is a licensed breathwork professional. If you’ve ever practiced yoga, chances are you’ve learned a little bit about the basics of breathwork. There are many different types, though! Below, we’re going to talk about the three main types of breathwork, and what they can be used for.

Holotropic Breathwork
In a holotropic breathwork experience, you can either choose a one-on-one session, or a group. Your instructor will play music that plays in stages from drumming, to “heart music,” and finally to meditative music. If you’re in a group, you’ll be paired off and assigned as a breather or sitter. If you’re a breather, you’ll be the one practicing the holotropic breathing technique. If you’re the sitter, you’ll be there to support your partner as they do this breathwork. You’ll both be guided by your instructor, and your experience will be different each time. 

Everyone has different responses to holotropic breathwork, and some people get scared off by this. However, it can help with lots of physical and emotional issues! Some of these include addiction, asthma, avoidance, chronic pain, depression, migraines, PMS, PTSD, stress, trauma management, and so much more! It also helps you to be more self-aware and can help with personal growth. At the end of each session, you’ll be asked to make a drawing that represents your experience. Then, everyone shares their drawings and discusses their feelings about the session. This type of breathwork can be intense because it depends on a controlled version of hyperventilation. However, with a trained professional, holotropic breathwork can be just the thing you need to gain a better understanding of yourself and work on healing your body through breathing. 

Pranayama Breathwork
Pranayama breathwork is something you’ve most likely heard talked about with yoga. Prana is Sanskrit for “life force," and Ayama is Sanskrit for “to extend; to draw out.” Together, these words make Pranayama, which basically means “breath control.” Pranayama has many different breathwork techniques that all work to give you control over your body and emotions. The different rhythms can benefit you in all sorts of ways, by helping with anxiety, blood pressure, depression, energy, focus, PTSD, stress, and your immune system. In a pranayama breathwork session, you can still choose between a one-on-one or group setting. You will be laying on your back on a mat, and guided through several different pranayama breathwork techniques depending on your instructor. Just like in holotropic breathwork, everyone’s response and experience are different. However, the effects are just about always positive, and people feel much more energetic, light, and balanced afterward. 

Rebirthing Breathwork
Rebirthing breathwork comes from the idea that we hold onto the trauma of birth throughout our life. In a rebirthing breathwork session, you start with a conversation with your instructor. This is usually a one-on-one breathwork practice. Then, you lay almost fully submerged in a pool of water, or lay down on a mat. Then, your instructor will guide you through what’s called “circular breathing.” This kind of breathwork is a quick, shallow inhale/exhale with no pause in between. Your instructor will guide you through this process, and make sure you’re doing it properly. This kind of breathwork turns your body into a conduit of flowing energy that clears out any emotional or energy blockages that are stuck in you. The higher vibration brought on through this can cause feelings of euphoria, bliss, and can also bring up memories from your life. 

You might feel out of touch with your body during a rebirthing session, so it’s important to have an experienced instructor with you. When your session is over, your instructor will help you “come back,” and resume a regular breathing pattern. Then, they’ll speak with you about your experience. Again, this experience is different for everyone, but the results are overwhelmingly positive. Rebirthing breathwork has most of its benefits in emotional and spiritual health. It helps to open up your heart and mind to positive energy and thoughts and helps to clear out any negativity that’s been stagnating inside you. 

I hope this little article covering the three main types of breathwork inspires you to give it a try! Breathing is something we do that keeps us alive every minute of the day without thinking, so just imagine what can happen if you add a little mindfulness to that! Please let me know in the comments if you have any experience with or questions about breathwork! I’d love to get a conversation flowing! :-)

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