Holotropic Breathwork

The therapeutic benefits of Holotropic Breathwork are remarkable. The healing of illness, anxiety, depression and conflict, the release and healing of trauma and abuse, the reintegration with family and community, the opening of compassion and forgiveness, courage and love, the reclaiming of purpose, the finding of our lost soul and the highest insights of spiritual understanding all come spontaneously from the unfolding of this powerful process.

Jack Kornfield

Vipassana meditation teacher

Spirit Rock

California

Holotropic Breathwork®, developed by Stanislav and Christina Grof, is a powerful approach to self-exploration and personal empowerment that relies on our innate inner wisdom and its capacity to move us toward positive transformation and wholeness. Acknowledging, accessing and supporting the inner healing intelligence and impulse in each individual is the essential cornerstone of this approach.

The theoretical framework integrates insights from modern consciousness research, anthropology, various depth psychologies, transpersonal psychology, Eastern spiritual practices, and mystical traditions of the world

.Benefits of Holotropic Breathwork

- boosting personal empowerment
- increasing self-awareness
- stimulating deep self-exploration
- expanding consciousness and further exploring a spiritual path
- reinforcing a more positive outlook on life
- reducing chronic stress
- enhancing addiction recovery
- supporting the cathartic release of physical and emotional trauma
- relieving mild mental health symptoms of
  - depression
  - PTSD
  - Anxiety
  - Tension
  - Negative thinking

The Process

The process itself uses very simple means: it combines accelerated breathing with evocative music in a special set and setting. With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, a participant uses his or her own breath, and the music in the room, to enter a non-ordinary state of consciousness. This state activates the natural inner healing process of the individual’s psyche, bringing the seeker into a realm of inner experiences. Stan Grof posited what he called an "inner healer", an intelligence guiding the process; the quality and content brought forth is unique to each person and for that particular time and place. Contents could include memories, or sometimes archetypal events that may carry a feeling relating to some old imprint needing release. The imprints of events in the past can be softened and released, with or without clues as to the origin. While recurring themes are common, no two sessions are ever alike.

“Sitters” and “Breathers”

Holotropic Breathwork® is usually done in groups, although individual sessions are also possible. Within the groups, people work in pairs and alternate in the roles of “breather” and “sitter.” The sitter’s role is simply to be present and available to assist the breather—not to interfere, interrupt, or try to guide the process. The same is true for trained facilitators, who are available as helpers if necessary. Integration practices such as symbolic drawing are part of each breathwork session. Additional elements of the process may include focused energy release work.

The Experience

With the help of the breath, evocative music, a safe atmosphere, relaxation, and a willingness to embrace the experiences, breathers are guided by their own inner healing function to whatever experience will bring them healing and transformation.

The music continues for two and half to three hours. Sitters watch over their breather, providing a sense of shelter and support. During the breathwork process, the breather can have quite a wide range of possible experiences. What is visible from the outside varies. Some people are very still while others rock, cry out, or move to the music. Experiences can include a variety of physical sensations, deep feelings of joy or serenity, “yogic sleep,” meditative states, or re-experiencing and releasing imprints from old trauma including trauma of the birth process. Some people report encounters with mythic or archetypal storylines, past-life experiences, or direct spiritual or religious awakenings. Many see emotionally charged visual images, feel energy moving through their bodies, receive intuitive insights, and clarify troublesome issues in their lives.

Often participants report that they release accumulated stress, release deeply held imprints from old traumas, gain an increased trust in themselves and their bodies, and feel that they have understood and can now transcend old patterns of behavior that have brought unwanted results.

Contraindications

Since Holotropic Breathwork is experience-oriented. It can involve experiences accompanied by very strong emotional and physical release. For this reason, participation is not suitable for pregnant women; untreated high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, glaucoma and epilepsy are also contraindications. Breathwork is usually not suitable for people with a significant psychiatric medical history due to the possibility that the facilitators may not be able to provide appropriate care. In case of doubt, the group leaders can be consulted.

There are other situations for which we ask you to obtain a written release from your doctor. These situations include recent surgery/fractures, epilepsy, glaucoma and retinal detachment. If this applies to you we will let you know what you can share with your doctor regarding the nature of this work so that your doctor can give you an informed consent. We have found that doctors are generally willing to do this.

Holotropic Breathwork Workshops

Jeffrey and Cielle offer full-day group breathwork events in Fairfield, Iowa, as well as in other locations upon invitation.

$175 per person for groups of 6 or more in Fairfield, Iowa

$200-$250 per person for group events outside of Fairfield, Iowa.

email JeffreyandCielle@gmail.com for details

Private one-on-one Breathwork sessions

Cielle and Jeffrey also offer private Breathwork sessions in Fairfield, Iowa. These sessions last 4 to 6 hours including preparation, experience and integration.

$50 per hour paid the day of your session at the end of it.

Preparation before the session includes watching a video we've made to familiarize you with the process.

email JeffreyandCielle@gmail.com for details on workshops and private breathwork sessions.

Jeffrey and Cielle Backstrom were certified as Holotropic Breathwork facilitators in July 2017

Read: Twelve things you should know about Holotropic Breathwork

The best and most complete description we've seen!

Video resources

Appreciation for Breathwork

We didn’t know quite what we were getting into!

We had joined a weekend gathering with a group of people, largely involving indigenous, inner-journeying practices. The retreat was offered by a Jungian psychologist who was also familiar with shamanic practices. And we learned we would be having a “breathwork” session; that sounded pretty interesting. We were way more right than we expected!

What we soon found out is that this breathing, this particular form of breathing, is powerful stuff indeed. Holotropic Breathwork, developed by Stanislav Grof (one of the founders of Transpersonal Psychology) is a potent catalyzing technology, using breath in a specific way, together with music and supportive help as needed, which does indeed move us “toward wholeness” - that is to say: “holo-tropic.” So what do we mean by moving toward wholeness, and what are the characteristics and effects of such a journey? Here’s a working definition: A process is “holotropic” when it enhances the natural movement of all parts of the self - body, mind, emotions, spirit, soul - toward maturity, fullness, and harmony - toward wholeness. The body is supporting our day-to-day needs as well as our ongoing drive to fulfill our potential. We’re able to think clearly; emotionally we’re increasingly free from the sabotage of old psychic wounds or trauma. As a result we’re increasingly free to enjoy interactions with others. And free to respond without encumbrance, to the stirrings which our deepest self calls forth. Czech-born psychiatrist Stanislav Grof began his work with the deep psyche in the 1950’s. He found that incorporating methodologies to bring conscious access to very deep material could allow subjects to complete old processes which have been stuck - held in the deep psyche - and thence to resolve them. He learned that such “uncompleted processes” may include not only the traumatic events of early life, but also those from birth, pre-natal, and even past-life or ancestral material. Holotropic Breathwork is the methodology Grof developed to allow access to such material, and to further facilitate the completion and/or release of such material.

A high point of 2017 for us was being certified as Holotropic Breathwork facilitators, the culmination of a 3-year training process. We now offer workshops and private sessions in Holotropic Breathwork.

Here we are pictured in July 2017 at the completion of our Holotropic Breathwork facilitor training course with Tav Sparks. Tav is the late Director of Grof Transpersonal Training. He was the primary faculty member since the training began in 1989. Starting in 1985, Tav led numerous workshops internationally in Holotropic Breathwork and in transpersonal approaches to wellness and recovery.

What is Holotropic Breathwork?

Holotropic Breathwork combines use of controlled breathing, music, and body work with an intention to heal. The process involves working in pairs where one person is in the role of “breather” and the other takes the role of "sitter". The "breathing" part of a session last for two and a half to three hours. The sitter's role is simply to be available to assist the breather, not to interfere or interrupt the process. The same is true for trained facilitators, who are available as helpers if necessary.

Breathers lie down on mats on the floor while the sitter sits nearby. Participants are advised that it is better not to have a goal or specific agenda when beginning a breathwork, but rather to trust that whatever happens is the best outcome for healing. The facilitators lead a guided relaxation to help the breather relax the body in preparation for the breathing. The Holotropic Breathwork experience is, for the most part, internal and largely nonverbal, without interventions. Although facilitators suggest to breathers, at the beginning of the session, that they increase the pace and depth of the breath, breathers are also encouraged to find their own pace and rhythm. Thus, after the breathwork session begins, breathers are not "coached" in any particular way of breathing. The facilitators play evocative or rhythmic music as the breathing deepens.

With the help of the breath, evocative music, a safe atmosphere, relaxation, and a willingness to embrace the experiences, breathers are guided by their own inner healing function to whatever experience will bring them healing and transformation.

The music continues for two and half to three hours. Sitters watch over their breather, providing a sense of shelter and support. During the breathwork process, the breather can have quite a wide range of possible experiences. What is visible from the outside varies. Some people are very still while others rock, cry out, or move to the music. Experiences can include a variety of physical sensations, deep feelings of joy or serenity, “yogic sleep,” meditative states, or re-experiencing and releasing imprints from old trauma including trauma of the birth process. Some people report encounters with mythic or archetypal storylines, past-life experiences, or direct spiritual or religious awakenings. Many see emotionally charged visual images, feel energy moving through their bodies, receive intuitive insights, and clarify troublesome issues in their lives.

Often participants report that they release accumulated stress, release deeply held imprints from old traumas, gain an increased trust in themselves and their bodies, and feel that they have understood and can now transcend old patterns of behavior that have brought unwanted results.

The experiences vary from individual to individual and from session to session. The same individual will often have different experiences each time he or she does Breathwork.

At the end of the session, the facilitator checks in with the breather. If the breathwork has not resolved all of the emotional and physical tensions activated during the session, the facilitator may offer focused work to facilitate any continuing release.

After the "breathing" part of a Holotropic Breathwork session, participants are encouraged to start the integration process via symbolic expression and sharing of their experience in a safe, supportive environment.