4 ms·

Would that be a strong effect on an uncontrolled basis? (I.e., fast irregular shallow and/or interrupted breaths tending to reinforce anxiety etc.?)

ada1981 9y ago
I'm not entire sure I understand your question. Maybe I can clarify what I said and that will help. Holotropic Breathwork was created by Dr. Stan Groff as an alternative to LSD Therapy after prohibition. His thesis was that symptoms were just a half expressed cure. Meaning, if you have anxiety, the trick is to actually "make it bigger" - in this case using breath work, to release whatever trauma was at the core of it. Holotropic Breathwork is usually "faster and deeper" breath. After 20 minutes or so (combined with Rythmic music) you end up in a space very similar to classic psychedelics. However this space is much more controllable in that if it gets too intense you can always slow your breath down. Much in the same way people find relief from PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc. with the classic psychedelics, they have similar results with Holotropic Breathwork. Once these sessions are over, often whatever it was that was the issue is resolved for good or at least dramatically diminished. I've found HB to be very useful in conjunction with more classic Psychedelic therapies. Does that help? If not, please rephrase for me and I'll try to answer.
- 09bjb 9y ago
  Where did you learn? There seems to be a large divide between the training, time, and money required to become certified, and the one-off Saturday event. I'd like to use it but I'd also like to understand how it works. Grof's book doesn't contain a how-to and the knowledge seems a bit cloistered...too much so given that it's hard to hurt yourself in this method. I'm already "sold" on the healing potential of these modalities: psychedelics, float tanks, Lucid Lights, etc...HB would be good to add to the list, mostly because it's probably a great gateway for others to direct spiritual practice and more healing. Thank you!
  - ada1981 9y ago
    Are you based in NYC? I'm actually going to a day long session this Saturday - it's about $150 for the day including lunch and dinner. You get an intro session for an hour with someone who trained with Grof; then you either breathe or sit with someone for 3 hours; lunch; switch and sit/breathe; dinner & integration. I love it and have been going every few months. email me if you like and we can chat more. A@175g.com Ps, while it's simple enough to put on a Breathwork playlist and turn up the volume and to breathe faster and deeper for a few hours, having a trained sitter to hold the space is useful for getting at and working with material you may not allow yourself to confront on your own. Also, can be a little risky if, say, your deep abandonment terror comes up and you are all alone.
    - 09bjb 9y ago
      Thank you! I'm not in NYC but these are great guidelines. Something I'll be scheduling for myself in the near future.
      - ada1981 9y ago
        Check out rebecoming.org for some more info and I'm happy to talk anytime.

ada1981 9y ago

I'm not entire sure I understand your question. Maybe I can clarify what I said and that will help. Holotropic Breathwork was created by Dr. Stan Groff as an alternative to LSD Therapy after prohibition. His thesis was that symptoms were just a half expressed cure. Meaning, if you have anxiety, the trick is to actually "make it bigger" - in this case using breath work, to release whatever trauma was at the core of it. Holotropic Breathwork is usually "faster and deeper" breath. After 20 minutes or so (combined with Rythmic music) you end up in a space very similar to classic psychedelics. However this space is much more controllable in that if it gets too intense you can always slow your breath down. Much in the same way people find relief from PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc. with the classic psychedelics, they have similar results with Holotropic Breathwork. Once these sessions are over, often whatever it was that was the issue is resolved for good or at least dramatically diminished. I've found HB to be very useful in conjunction with more classic Psychedelic therapies. Does that help? If not, please rephrase for me and I'll try to answer.

09bjb 9y ago
Where did you learn? There seems to be a large divide between the training, time, and money required to become certified, and the one-off Saturday event. I'd like to use it but I'd also like to understand how it works. Grof's book doesn't contain a how-to and the knowledge seems a bit cloistered...too much so given that it's hard to hurt yourself in this method. I'm already "sold" on the healing potential of these modalities: psychedelics, float tanks, Lucid Lights, etc...HB would be good to add to the list, mostly because it's probably a great gateway for others to direct spiritual practice and more healing. Thank you!
- ada1981 9y ago
  Are you based in NYC? I'm actually going to a day long session this Saturday - it's about $150 for the day including lunch and dinner. You get an intro session for an hour with someone who trained with Grof; then you either breathe or sit with someone for 3 hours; lunch; switch and sit/breathe; dinner & integration. I love it and have been going every few months. email me if you like and we can chat more. A@175g.com Ps, while it's simple enough to put on a Breathwork playlist and turn up the volume and to breathe faster and deeper for a few hours, having a trained sitter to hold the space is useful for getting at and working with material you may not allow yourself to confront on your own. Also, can be a little risky if, say, your deep abandonment terror comes up and you are all alone.
  - 09bjb 9y ago
    Thank you! I'm not in NYC but these are great guidelines. Something I'll be scheduling for myself in the near future.
    - ada1981 9y ago
      Check out rebecoming.org for some more info and I'm happy to talk anytime.