Holotropic Breathwork® ~ The Holotropic Shift and The Power Within

About Holotropic Breathwork®

Holotropic Breathwork is a facilitated practice that enables participants, in a safe, highly supportive environment, to access intense psychological states without the use of substances.

Holotropic means moving towards wholeness. Originated by Stanislav Grof, Holotropic Breathwork® provides a safe and caring container for deep exploration in expanded states of consciousness. Participants use their breath to access these expanded states and, in doing so, allow the process to unfold at its own pace. This healing becomes a collaboration of mind, body, and spirit

What a Holotropic Breathwork® session looks like:

You lie on a mat and – after a guided relaxation – begin breathing in a specified way. You can stop or slow down as you wish.
Music supports the process over several hours.
You may experience strong emotions, memories, or physical sensations.
Facilitators are present throughout, and you can ask for support at any time.
The session is followed by integration in the form of discussion, art, reflection.
Further integration after the session is available by appointment.

This powerful modality is greatly recommended if you:

seek meaning and context to support you in your life
want or need to process unresolved emotional experiences
want to access and expand your creativity
would like to gain insight into patterns in your life or feel a sense of release or clarity
seek a direct experience of the spiritual
are looking for a non-substance way to access states similar to those reported in psychedelic experiences.

Throughout human history, humans have discovered or invented ways to access a deeper level of consciousness – through meditation, the use of plant medicines, chemical hallucinogens, breathing, dancing, fasting, etc. Experiencing this ‘non-ordinary’ or ‘expanded’ or ‘Holotropic’ state enables us to know (in many different ways) that which is usually unknown or mysterious. Long time participants report great positive changes in their lives and, often, a sense of deep fulfillment.

“In over ten years as director of programs at Esalen, I saw virtually every conceivable form of therapy and personal transformation, great and small…In terms of therapeutic effectiveness, Grof’s Holotropic Breathwork® was by far the most powerful; there was no comparison.” ~Richard Tarnas, author of The Passion of the Western Mind

Holotropic Breathwork® is contraindicated for pregnant women or anyone with epilepsy, severe cardiovascular problems or severe schizophrenia.

The format of this workshop offers participants extra time for preparation and integration, including Q&A on Sunday, which many report gives them a clearer understanding and even more appreciation of this work.

There are two sessions of Holotropic Breathwork®. Each person has one session as a “breather” and one as a “sitter.” Friday evening is preparation and Sunday offers integration plus Q&A.

This event is led by Sharanya Naik, who has conducted Holotropic Breathwork® workshops for 25 years and is a member of the Institute for Holotropics training staff. She will be joined by a team of experienced HB facilitators.