A Past Participant's Experience

Monday, February 19, 2001

A few months ago I was initiated into the world of holotropic breathwork. It's kind of like a therapeutic LSD trip, without the drugs. Through only accelerated breathing and music, it enables access to nonordinary states of consciousness -- the state in which deep inner healing can occur, or gods can speak to mortals, or the veil of reality can be pierced.

Don't ask me how it works. I don't know. But, for some reason, it works.

Breathwork is usually run in all-day workshops, by at least two trained facilitators. Each breathing session runs for three hours. There are two breathing sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Breathers go in pairs, one breathing at a time, so they take turns. The person who isn't currently breathing is the "sitter," whose role is to help the breather in whatever way they might need support during the session -- by handing him tissues or helping him to the bathroom, or reminding him to breathe or whatever is needed.

The breather ... All the breather does is breathe. And then experience.

It begins with a short, guided relaxation, with the breather lying on a mat, under blankets. Then they start the music -- which runs the gamut, from classical guitar to techno to orchestral music to Gaelic and New Age music. For three hours. It builds up and then gradually softens and quiets to nothing. The volume is loud.

My first time was interesting, to say the least. I had no idea what to expect. Holotropic breathwork experiences also run the gamut, from serene to profoundly emotional. One can have physical sensations or strong emotions or visions, or a variety of things. One could also experience nothing at all. I was somewhat skeptical, and so I was nervous that I wouldn't experience anything at all.

Ha.

To spare you the excruciating detail: Something happened. It was mostly physical sensations, and it began within moments after I began accelerating my breathing. Numbness spread throughout my body and down my arms; and my arms began to swing rhythmically, to the beat of the music. A variety of other movements and sensations accompanied this at various points in the session: head-shaking, a pulsing of energy along my numbed torso and head, a wavelike motion in my body. I felt very calm and lighthearted throughout, and even saw a few fleeting visions.

What does it all mean? I don't know. My first time was back in December, and since then I've tried it a couple of other times, with similar results. The last time I let myself go a little more, and saw a few odd visual effects.

What's more amazing is the kind of things I've seen other people experience. Some re-experience their births -- actually coming out of their birth canal, or struggling to do so. Some have visions: One woman was swimming with dolphins and having all sorts of adventures. Another woman saw the image of an Indian god (the many-armed one, I forget his name). Another felt that she actually died, and then was reborn.

Some people don't get visions, but have physical sensations of energy, like I did. I recall watching people while it was my turn to be a sitter, and I was amazed by one woman who just started getting up and dancing beautifully -- for three hours. She told us later that it was the second time she had ever danced, and that all she was doing was following the flow of energy.

Others have profound feelings of despair or hatred, or just blissful calm. I have been gifted with some of the latter.  The basic premise of Holotropic Breathing is that the "inner healer" guides your experiences and gives you exactly what you need.

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Holotropic Breathwork Worskhops / Seminars in Seattle
Led by Stan Grof trained facilitators

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