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ARTICLE
EXPLAINED IN DEPTH
Inducing a Psychedelic state without Psychedelics:
Inside holotropic breathing
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Fast breathing - while remaining aware of the first two breathing tips, also be sure to be breathing more
quickly than normal, but not so quickly that the body feels strain or stress, as this too will throw off the
body’s natural rhythm.
Mouth or Nose - this is a matter of personal preference, some find that breathing through the mouth is
less distracting and easier to move the large volume of air in and out of the lungs more quickly, but there
are also those that find mouth breathing to be uncomfortable and feel that breathing through the nose is
easier and allows them to focus less on the breathing and more on the activity of the mind.
For anyone seeking more information on the history, inspiration, or the technique itself may be interested in reading Stanislav’s and Christina’s book Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration
and Therapy or may want to visit Grof’s Transpersonal Teaching website at http://www.holotropic.com/
Holotropic breathwork is a mysterious and powerful method of healing and self-exploration that
utilizes one’s environment and breathing technique to provide them with a profound and momentous experience of the mind. The development of holotropic breathwork was influenced by
modern consciousness research along with various psychologies, spiritual practices, and ancient
mystical traditions. The word holotropic literally
means “moving toward wholeness” and is derived
from the conjunction of the Greek words holos,
meaning “whole”, and trepein, meaning “to move
in the direction of something”.
By employing the use of holotropic breathing, an
individual or group of individuals can achieve an
altered or non-ordinary state of consciousness;
once reached, this state is said to bring health to
the psyche and provide the individual with the
opportunity to examine and evaluate one’s character and choices and bestow them with clarity
and guidance that may aid them in the arduous
journey towards complacency and self fulfillment.
This fascinating method of psychological healing
and exploration was first developed and utilized
in the mid 1970s by Dr. Stanislav Grof and his
wife Christina. For ten years, Christina had been
practicing various yoga disciplines such as Hatha,
Siddha, and Kundalini yoga and in 1974, she experienced what is known as a “Kundalini awakening” or a sudden increase of life-force energy
and a new state of consciousness. When seeking insight on her experience, Christina was then
referred to Dr. Grof due to his extensive understanding of transpersonal psychology (the study
of experiences from beyond the boundaries of
the body and personal identity).
Christina’s experience was of great interest to
Grof, as he had been trying to discover a method
for one to enter a state of consciousness similar
to the one brought on by LSD without the poten-
tial risks of consuming the substance. Christina
and Stanislav then began their collaboration and
approached the development of this technique
with both an intellectual and spiritual standpoint,
integrating findings from scientific research with
the power of the spiritual connection and surrender experienced in yoga. They realized that the
combination of the unique breathing techniques
used in yoga along with a comforting setting and
evocative music can propel the mind into a state
of transformation and reflection.
By 1987, Stanislav and Christina had developed
a structured lesson plan for the teaching of holotropic breathwork and thus, began to travel
around the world to teach their powerful method
of altering one’s consciousnes ̸)U