BY: STANISLAV GROF & CHRISTINA GROF
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Nick’s Disclaimer
I am not a Holotropic Breathwork® coach or practitioner. Thus, I read the book from a pure breath-enthusiast perspective. I usually only discuss things I practice myself, but I loved this book and wanted to share it.
General Disclaimer
Anyone interested in Holotropic Breathwork® should do it in a workshop offered by a trained facilitator.This Book 411 provides general information on the method but is not a substitute for a trained professional.To learn more, the authors say the “necessary information can be found on our websites holotropic.com or stanislavgrof.com.”
4 THOUGHTS
1. What Are Holotropic States and Why Are they Therapeutic?
“When we recognized the unique nature of this category of non-ordinary states of consciousness, we found it difficult to believe that contemporary psychiatry does not have a specific category and term for these theoretically and practically important experiences. Because we felt strongly that they deserve to be distinguished from altered states of consciousness and not be seen as manifestations of serious mental diseases, we started referring to them as holotropic (Grof 1992). This composite word means literally ‘oriented toward wholeness’ or ‘moving toward wholeness’ (from the Greek holos = whole and trepein = moving toward or in the direction of something).”
A holotropic state is a special category of non-ordinary states of consciousness. As the authors tell us, these states provide “access to biographical, perinatal, and transpersonal domains of the unconscious and thus to deep psychospiritual roots of emotional and psychosomatic disorders.”
And because of this, the therapeutic benefits of holotropic breathing are wide-ranging, and the healing will look different for each person. In general, it may help with emotional and physical problems, life outlook, and healing of cultural wounds. See the book for more details and lots of personal healing stories.
In any case, the simplified big-picture idea is that by entering a holotropic state (see next thought), we gain unique access to the unconscious, providing an enormous healing opportunity.
It’s powerful stuff. So let’s look at how we access it.
***
P.S. I’m avoiding the word psychedelic here because (unfortunately) I have never had a psychedelic experience (lol), nor have I experienced a proper holotropic breathing session. But my interpretation is that psychedelics put us into a holotropic state. So, the two are related, but for healing, it’s the holotropic state we’re ultimately after, regardless of how we get there.
2. The Components and Safety Concerns of Holotropic Breathing
“Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful method of self-exploration and therapy that uses a combination of seemingly simple means—accelerated breathing, evocative music, and a type of bodywork that helps to release residual bioenergetic and emotional blocks. The sessions are usually conducted in groups; participants work in pairs and alternate in the roles of breathers and “sitters.” The process is supervised by trained facilitators, who assist participants whenever special intervention is necessary. Following the breathing sessions, participants express their experiences by painting mandalas and share accounts of their inner journeys in small groups.”
Holotropic breathing sessions are about 2-3+ hours of (1) faster breathing, (2) evocative music, and (3) bodywork, followed by self-expression and sharing.
(Although seemingly simple, the specific details are intricate. We can’t just turn on loud music and hyperventilate. These holotropic states are powerful, so working with a trained facilitator who can get the details right is imperative.)
For our purposes, an interesting question is: how fast do people breathe during the sessions? In general, they say people begin breathing with the music and let their bodies decide what works best for them: “The quality of attention and the attitude toward the experience seems to be more important than the speed and intensity of the breathing.” So, there’s no set or ideal breathing rate.
But since it does involve hyperventilation and profound inner experiences, it’s critical to examine any safety considerations with the method. The authors have a very detailed medical screening process. The main concern is cardiovascular disorders, which may disqualify a person depending on their severity.
Seizures, pregnancy, and some psychiatric and emotional disorders also require special attention (but are not immediate disqualifiers).
Thus, if you’re considering a holotropic breathing session, prioritize safety and use a certified instructor who will keep the entire process safe.
3. Is Hyperventilation Syndrome Obsolete (or maybe not applicable here)?
“In summary, the experiences and observations from Holotropic Breathwork show that the traditional concept of the hyperventilation syndrome is obsolete and has to be revised.”
That’s a bold statement, and it’s a major theme throughout the book.
As they say, “We have now conducted over thirty-five thousand holotropic breathing sessions and have found the current medical understanding of the effects of faster breathing to be incorrect.” <— How’s that for controversy : )
What is the current understanding? Here’s a super quick summary: “According to medical handbooks of respiratory physiology, faster breathing tends to result in the ‘hyperventilation syndrome’ characterized by tetany of hands and feet (carpopedal spasms), anxiety, and various forms of physical discomfort.”
What’s their take? Their 35,000 sessions provide evidence that “the reaction to faster breathing reflects the psychosomatic history of the breather and covers a very wide spectrum of manifestations—including occasional complete absence of physical symptoms—rather than being a rigid stereotype.” Some people even experience progressive relaxation the more they hyperventilate (🤯).
Thus, their observations suggest that the classical definition of hyperventilation syndrome might need revision or may not apply when hyperventilation is done consciously over several hours. Pretty interesting stuff.
But if hyperventilation syndrome doesn’t apply, is there a better description of what might be going on physiologically? That’s what we’ll cover next.
4. The Physiological Response to Holotropic Breathing
“As we have seen, the physiological mechanisms activated by faster breathing are quite complex ... However, if we take all the aforementioned physiological mechanisms into consideration, the situation of people during Holotropic Breathwork very likely resembles that of being in high mountains, where there is less oxygen and the CO2 level is decreased by compensatory faster breathing. … This situation would thus cause inhibition of the cortical functions and intensified activity in the archaic parts of the brain, making the unconscious processes more available.” (my bold)
Would you have guessed that breathing more air for several hours would mimic being at altitude? Well, maybe if you’re into respiratory physiology : )
In any case, they did an excellent job describing the physiological processes that might occur during a holotropic breathing session. They don’t make any “super oxygenation” claims you might see online. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
They say it leads to less oxygen delivery to the cells, vasoconstriction, and less brain blood flow, all due to hypocapnia (low CO2 levels in the blood). Together, they hypothesize that this situation somewhat mimics being at altitude.
However, it’s not like living at altitude. It’s the acuteness that makes it powerful:
“While short-term exposure to high altitude might be comparable to Holotropic Breathwork, an extended stay in high elevations triggers physiological adaptations, such as increased production of red blood cells. The acute situation during Holotropic Breathwork might, therefore, not be directly comparable to an extended stay in high mountains.”
So, holotropic breathing might be like a quick trip to the mountains. That’s a pretty neat way to look at the physiological effects of prolonged hyperventilation.
1 LIFE-CHANGING IDEA
We Should Support (not suppress) Hyperventilation Symptoms
“Research of holotropic states of consciousness has revealed an important alternative. It has shown that symptoms are more than just a major inconvenience in the patient’s life. They represent the manifestation of a self-healing impulse of the organism that is trying to free itself from traumatic memories and other disturbing material from the biographical, perinatal, and transpersonal domains of the unconscious. Once we realize that, it becomes clear that symptoms should be encouraged to emerge and brought to full expression rather than suppressed.” (my bold)
A central theme of the book is that symptoms should be supported, not suppressed.
They hypothesize (based on tons of theory, research, and observations) that when we hyperventilate, and harmful symptoms emerge, we’re actually seeing an attempt of our body to heal itself.
I think this is life-changing in the context of symptoms in general, not just hyperventilation. (It’s probably not true in all cases, but still a paradigm shift.)
But sticking to hyperventilation, they argue that, in some cases, supporting the symptoms will allow them to intensify and then resolve.
They go as far as to say: “In the light of the observations from Holotropic Breathwork, spontaneous episodes of hyperventilation occurring in psychiatric patients and the normal population are attempts of the organism to heal itself and should be supported rather than suppressed.”
I often think the opposite—that hyperventilation is the problem. They argue it might be the solution in some instances.
In any case, almost all mind-body practices share this sentiment of supporting the self-healing process rather than suppressing it.The difference here is that the healing modality (hyperventilation) causes or exacerbates the symptoms.Maybe they’re onto something; maybe they’re crazy.I’ll let you decide : )
1 STACK OF MEMORABLE QUOTES
“In time, I believe their contributions will be seen as a major gift to the field of psychology and to the healing of the world.” - Jack Kornfield
“The name holotropic suggests something that might come as a surprise to an average Westerner—that in our everyday state of consciousness we identify with only a small fraction of who we really are and do not experience the full extent of our being.”
“However, the unique feature of Holotropic Breathwork is that it utilizes the intrinsic healing potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness.”
“The ideal attitude of the breather to the experience is to focus his or her full attention on the process as it unfolds from one moment to another, rather than on any specific goal or outcome.”
“Our primary interest in this book is to explore the healing, transformative, and evolutionary potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness and their great value as a source of new revolutionary data about consciousness, the human psyche, and the nature of reality.”
“The importance of non-ordinary states of consciousness for ancient and aboriginal cultures is reflected in the amount of time and energy that the members of these human groups dedicated to the development of technologies of the sacred, various procedures capable of inducing them for ritual and spiritual purposes.”
“Since earliest history, virtually every major psychospiritual system seeking to comprehend human nature has viewed breath as a crucial link between the material world, the human body, the psyche, and the spirit.”
“In materialistic science, breathing lost its sacred meaning and was stripped of its connection to the psyche and spirit. Western medicine reduced it to an important physiological function. The physical and psychological manifestations that accompany various respiratory maneuvers have all been pathologized.”
“The psychosomatic response to faster breathing, the so-called hyperventilation syndrome, is considered a pathological condition, rather than what it really is, a process that has an enormous healing potential.”
“A surprising but consistent observation from Holotropic Breathwork is that the symptoms induced by hyperventilation initially increase in intensity, but continued breathing brings about their resolution and permanent disappearance. This fact is in direct conflict with the assumption that the psychosomatic symptoms are a mandatory physiochemical response to hyperventilation.”