Reclaiming Breath: Exploring its Healing Potential Beyond Materialistic Science and Western Medicine

I have many friends and colleagues that work in different capacities in the mental health and healing arts field. It's true that most of them have a connection with psychedelics of plant spirit medicines. Quite often they ask me why am I so devoted to GROF Breathwork (holotropic breathwork), when the substances and plant medicines seem to be the easiest way to work with expanded states. In other words: why am I so attracted to a technique that has the breath as one of the main components for achieving non-ordinary states of consciousness? Inspired by the incredible transformations I have seen over the years during training modules and workshops around the world, I would like to offer to you some information about how the breath has been used as an important sacred technology by so many different ancient spiritual traditions in the past, until materialistic science and western medicine transformed it's healing aspects into pathologies. And finally, how therapists in modern times are reclaiming it's healing potential, and how GROF Breathwork understands and approaches this topic.

Breath as Spirit, Ruach, Kanaka Maoli Lapaau and Aloha

In ancient Hebrew tradition, the same word, ruach, denoted both breath and creative spirit, seen as identical. In Latin, the same term was used for breath and spirit - spiritus. Similarly, in Slavic languages, spirit and breath share the same linguistic root. In Hawaiian tradition and medicine (kanaka maoli lapaau), the word ha means divine spirit, wind, air, and breath. This word is present in the formation of the popular Hawaiian greeting aloha, used in many different contexts, often translated as the presence (alo) of the Divine Breath (ha).

Ruach, breath and creative spirit in ancient Hebrew tradition

Consciousness can be influenced through techniques involving breathing The kahunas, "Guardians of Secret Knowledge," have used breathing exercises to generate spiritual energy (mana). The procedures used for this purpose by various ancient and pre-industrial cultures cover a wide range, from drastic interference with breathing to subtle and sophisticated exercises of various spiritual traditions. For example, the original form of baptism practiced by the Essenes involved the initiate's forced submersion in water for an extended period, resulting in a powerful experience of death and rebirth. Profound changes in consciousness can be induced by both extremes of respiratory frequency - hyperventilation and prolonged breath retention - as well as by alternating between the two forms. Highly advanced methods of this type can be found in the ancient Indian science of breath, or pranayama.

Specific techniques involving intense breathing or breath retention are also part of various exercises in Kundalini Yoga, Siddha Yoga, Tibetan Vajrayana, Sufi practice, Burmese Buddhism, and Taoist meditation, among many other spiritual systems.

When breath, rhythm and music manifests in ritual Indirectly, the depth and rhythm of breathing can be profoundly influenced by artistic manifestations in rituals, such as the Balinese monkey chant or Ketjak, the guttural chant of the Inuit, the multivocal Tibetan and Mongolian chant, and the chanting of kirtans, bhajans, or Sufi chants.

The Balinese monkey chant, also known as Ketjak Psychosomatic Reactions becoming pathological conditions With the development of materialistic science, breath lost its sacred meaning and was severed from its connection with psyche and spirit. Western medicine reduced it to an important physiological function. The physical and psychological manifestations accompanying various breathing practices were all considered pathological. The psychosomatic reaction to faster breathing, the so-called "hyperventilation syndrome," is considered a pathological condition, not what it actually is: a process with enormous healing potential. When hyperventilation occurs spontaneously, it is routinely suppressed by administering tranquilizers, intravenous injections of calcium, and applying a paper bag to the face to increase carbon dioxide concentration and counteract the alkalosis caused by faster breathing.

Rediscovering and developing techniques to use it In the second half of the 20th century, Western therapists rediscovered the healing potential of breathing and developed techniques to use it. Stan Grof, together with Cristina and various other visionaries have experimented with various approaches involving breathing in the context of their month-long seminars at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. There were breathing exercises from ancient spiritual traditions under the guidance of Indian and Tibetan masters, as well as techniques developed by Western therapists. Each of these approaches has a specific emphasis and uses breathing differently. Breathing faster and more effectively is the answer - The strategy of holotropic work In their search for an effective method, they have tried to simplify this process as much as possible. Then, they concluded that it is sufficient to breathe faster and more effectively than usual, with total concentration on the internal process. Instead of emphasizing a specific breathing technique, we follow the general strategy of holotropic work: trusting in the body's intrinsic wisdom and following internal cues. Increasing respiratory rate and loosening psychological defense In GROF Breathwork, we encourage participants to start the session with faster and deeper breathing, combining inhalation and exhalation in a continuous cycle of breathing. Once in this process, they find their own rhythm and way of breathing. We have confirmed Wilhelm Reich's observations several times that psychological resistances and defenses are associated with respiratory restriction (Reich, 1949, 1961). Breathing is an autonomous function, but it can also be influenced by volition. Deliberately increasing the respiratory rate often loosens psychological defenses and leads to the release and emergence of unconscious material. Unless one has witnessed or experienced this process personally, it is difficult to believe, based solely on theoretical information, in the power and efficacy of this technique. Have you experienced it already?