One of the most powerful and effective ways of psychotherapy, self-discovery and growth as a person is Holotropic Breathing, a technique which was invented long ago.
This technique was developed by Stanislav and Kristina Grof – transpersonal psychologists from America.
At the heart of this method are unusual states of consciousness, which are known to people from ancient times. This technique combines old world knowledge with the latest discoveries of modern psychotherapy and psychology. Accordingly, cold-tropic breathing is a technique of self-discovery.
The emotions that one experiences when practicing such breathing can heal as well as transform the negative into the positive. Such holotropic breathing sessions bring out unpleasant experiences of a physical and emotional nature that help one to know oneself. If such feelings are fully manifested, it is sure to allow the person to free themselves from the negative influence of their experiences and gain some freedom.
Holotropic therapy has shown that not only people with supernatural abilities can experience and control such feelings – it is available to all of us. Transpersonal psychology has revealed to the world that in order to overcome the path to harmony, self-knowledge, freedom and, therefore, a better life, everyone needs to undergo these experiences.
Furthermore, holotropic practice has proven that the theory presented by the various schools of psychology and psychotherapy, as well as common sense, will not help to heal on their own. Usually such a healing process resembles madness and is far from always understandable or explainable.
This is why coldtropic treatment aims to accept and facilitate any processes that arise in problem awareness, rather than defining the problem in advance and looking for ways and means to solve it. Participants in such trainings do not determine the subjects and problems but trust the holotropic consciousness and the flow of the processes themselves.
At the core of any effective and successful psychotherapy is knowing oneself and understanding the subconscious mind in a coldtropic state of consciousness. We communicate not only with people around us and with the world, we are in dialogue with ourselves, with our consciousness, and this communication is continuous.
Communication is consciousness, which is created by communication and connected by it. Accordingly, there is communication and immediate awareness between the different parts of consciousness, and there are no barriers between them, which means that the possibility of communication is not limited.
Objectives of the technique
Holotropic breathing has the goal of activating the unconscious, releasing the energy that is contained in psychosomatic and emotional manifestations and turning these manifestations into a flow of experience. The task of the healer in such therapy is to believe in the power of healing such a process without changing or redirecting it. The patient’s mind alone guides this process.
Most important is the therapist’s maintenance of the experiential disclosure process. Experiences may be incoherent and contain a build-up of tension and emotion, as well as transitions to relaxation.
An epiphany does not always come immediately; it may come in subsequent sessions or later. Sometimes the solution comes at the level of biography, sometimes it is related to perinatal material or transpersonal components. Because of this, healing experiences are not always clear.
In the process of holotropic breathing, our mind seeks to blend into life, to follow its flow, to experience a state of well-being and freedom that brings
satisfaction. Such an opportunity is nature’s gift to man. If we submit to our consciousness, follow it, we reach the limit of freedom, energy, and naturalness. If we don’t let that flow out, we have difficulties.
Because of prejudices and stereotypes, we cannot fully reveal ourselves and go beyond the limits we set. A vivid example of such inhibition, of the inability to flow and to set certain boundaries is the midlife crisis.
In order to achieve freedom, it is sometimes necessary to go through some serious difficult situation, illness, and sometimes even death. For death is also a liberation, a transcendence (more about death meditation). What leads to loss of health and disappointment in life is precisely that we do not feel the signals of the mind and subconscious and do not try to become part of life.
But our inner nature itself is always trying to point us to ways to solve our problems. And we can go after our inner natural voice and experience a real mystery of self-recognition in holotropic sessions.
I invite everyone to an amazing journey to the center of their existence at my workshops, where it is possible to live a real mystery and get closer to their wholeness. At the practical workshops “The Sacrament of Life” and “Spontaneous Painting” you will be able to live your transpersonal experience through techniques of conscious breathing.
