A lot of psychological trainings and esoteric techniques have been developed, the purpose of which is to take a person out of a state of stress and depression. Various techniques also help to find harmony with the Universe, nature, people around, or live in peace with oneself. Everyone chooses a suitable technique for himself, information about it usually appears in your field of vision exactly at the moment when you especially need it. Some read affirmations, others wake up at dawn to take intricate asanas, and I will tell you about Holotropic Breathwork.
What are the benefits of Holotropic Breathwork?
The Holotropic Breathwork technique allows you to deal with complexes, negative memories and helps to increase self-esteem. After several sessions, the character of a person changes significantly, those around them see how the quiet one begins to show his abilities and demonstrates leadership qualities. This technique leads to an improvement in physical condition, general strengthening of the body and helps to fight diseases of the respiratory system. However, the main result of the classes is significant personal growth.
Having got rid of the negativity, you reduce the number of your own complexes, open up the path to spiritual growth. After a few sessions of Holotropic Breathwork, family and friends will begin to notice positive changes in your behavior. Regular sessions will add to your self-confidence and promote career growth. With the help of holotropic breathing, people get rid of fears, longing, worries about their future, irritability and stress forever. Classes lead to a deeper awareness of your own I, allow you to resolve internal contradictions. In addition, you will learn to concentrate and find a way out of any problem situations.
There is no need to ask for outside help, not every specialist who promises to solve all problems can really do it. First, you should turn to yourself, delve into your inner experiences and find the right answers in them. Holotropic breathing classes are accompanied by appropriate music, and the alternation of rapid and deep breathing helps to realize the causes of your problems and get rid of them forever on your own.
The history of the origin of the technique of holotropic breathing
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Holotropic Breathwork is the most powerful of all breathing practices. This technique was developed in the 70s of the last century by a psychologist from the United States Stanislav Grof. Now Holotropic Breathwork continues to be used in psychotherapy.
Since the middle of the 20th century, psychotropic substances have been actively used in psychotherapy with the aim of expanding consciousness and immersion in their inner world. During such sessions, Grof noticed that patients who did not have time to deal with internal experiences and negative memories during their stay under the influence of drugs tried to prolong the effect of psychotropic compounds due to rapid breathing. This same method is used to prolong the deep meditation state.
When psychotropic drugs were outlawed, Stanislav Grof continued training with his group, applying the effect of intense breathing during sessions. One day a psychologist had the idea to split his patients into two halves. At the same time, the first group (holonauts) practiced breathing exercises, and the rest (sitters) watched the process. After that, the patients changed places; this is how the traditional practice of Holotropic Breathwork was born.
Methodology for changing consciousness through breathing exercises
The main component of Holotropic Breathwork classes is rhythmic frequent and deep breaths and exhalations. Music and body work helps to perform the exercises correctly. Sessions also include sculpting, dancing, drawing mandalas and discussing the results of the lessons with other group members. The holonaut, performing standard exercises, introduces his consciousness into an altered state. Feelings and results are unique for different people, experiences are individualized, so no one can say in advance how you will feel during the session.
In an altered state of consciousness, you must reveal your desires and correctly tune your body. As a result of the exercises, the holonaut may start laughing, singing, or crying. It is important to show a natural reaction outside and not to forget about the rhythm of breathing. Deep breaths make your experience more intense, and this allows you to quickly get rid of negative experiences.
In the process of practicing holotropic breathing, the sitter protects the holonaut. The breather's natural reaction can be physical activity (dancing, waving his arms, etc.). Sitter acts as a guardian angel, he must take care that the holonaut does not hit or bump into another patient. In this case, the accompanying person in no case can talk with the breather while he is in an altered state of consciousness.
Practitioners of Holotropic Breathwork are practically free of any requirements, and no special skills are needed to start classes. Already in the first few minutes, the novice holonaut adjusts to the general rhythm and begins to feel the inner experiences previously inaccessible to him. It is not difficult to get out of an altered state of consciousness, the effect disappears when your breathing is normalized and returns to a normal rhythm.
Prejudice and myths about Holotropic Breathwork
Some scientists adhere to a peculiar point of view regarding holotropic breathing - they believe that such exercises can be dangerous, because due to excess oxygen, in their opinion, nerve cells are destroyed. However, this theory remains nothing more than speculation. The technique of holotropic breathing is officially registered by the Ministry of Health of Russia as a form of psychotherapeutic treatment.
From the experience of a practicing holonaut
Before the first lesson, we discussed almost everything: history, theory, other people's experience and the possible result of the exercises. But I still had a vague sense of fear, the final confidence in the safety of the session helped me to find recommendations and explanations from the sitters. During the dialogue, I was told about the contraindications, the usual course of the process, everything was logical and understandable, and the fear of novelty gradually dissipated. After that, there was only the anticipation of an unusual experience, and together with the sitter I set off towards new impressions.
The basis of practice, as I already wrote, is frequent and deep breaths, but there are no specific recommendations for the depth and rhythm of breathing. In the process, you will orient yourself and choose the most suitable way, the main thing is to breathe in an unusual way, not the way you used to do it every day. Over the course of several sessions, I noticed that someone breathes with the intensity of a person climbing stairs, and someone breathes in like a marathon runner who has the last kilometer to overcome. Regardless of the breathing method, the results were approximately the same; the rhythm must be selected individually, guided by your sensations.
Holotropic breathing sessions cannot be imagined without rhythmic musical accompaniment. Traditional or ethnic music, drum beats or tambourine beats can be used to maintain the overall rhythm throughout the session. At the first stage, the task of music is to awaken your feelings and memories, sounds help to release negativity, and then they calm and relax, setting the participant up for meditation.
It makes no sense to describe what events in my life I had to go through again, because your experiences will be completely different. Usually, at first, the holonaut returns to the events of childhood, sometimes even recalls the moment of his birth. All sensations and events do not appear on the screen, as in a movie - you experience them repeatedly with your whole body. You may not hear what others were saying at this time, but you will remember the emotions that caused their words. In two or three sessions, children's experiences are fully processed, and you move on to the next stage of self-study. It is then that you can move on to understanding current problems and life circumstances.
It is important that during the session you have a spare time, usually a lesson requires two to three hours, but if necessary, it can be extended. With increased breathing, the brain is saturated with oxygen more than usual, this leads to temporary changes in physical condition. If the problem could not be resolved in one session, then before leaving the altered state of consciousness, the sitter should help you relieve tension.
