Transpersonal Breathwork Practices: Holotropic Breathwork®, Qigong, and Complementary Breathwork Katas

This workshop is open to all levels of experience, though our focus will be on intermediate and advanced practices. Please write directly to Ellen@Ellen-Watson.com with questions. 

Transpersonal breathwork practices, including Holotropic Breathwork® and time-honored global, multi-cultural breathwork practices, have been validated by Western scientific methods.

Holotropic Breathwork was developed at Esalen in the 1970s by Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, with the support of his then-wife, Christina. This practice was created as a powerful way to enter non-ordinary states of consciousness without psychedelic medicines. This workshop will include four Holotropic sessions during the week.

Our days will begin with an energizing and empowering kata, led by Mac Murphy, who trained in breathwork during a seven-month immersion at the Five Immortals Temple in Wudang, Hubei Province, China. Mac will guide us in early morning qigong practice and through his Tummo- and Wim Hof-inspired breathing practices. Those interested can also take a cold water plunge at Hot Springs Creek. There will be time afterward to share feedback.

Participants will explore breathing practices designed to calm the nervous system and elicit effects documented in The Relaxation Response and The Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson, MD, co-founder of the Harvard Mind-Body Clinic.

Our three-hour afternoon sessions will be entirely dedicated to the study of Holotropic Breathwork, which begins with both “sitter” and “breather” guided into full body relaxation. The sitter then assumes a comfortable position close to the breather’s upper body with access to the head and shoulders. Accelerated breathing is supported by evocative music specifically chosen to move upward through the chakra system. The last hour is for resolution, including possible bodywork and creative expressions of our experiences, such as drawing mandalas, writing poetry, and more.

To read more about Holotropic Breathwork, please read Stan Grof’s book The Holotropic Mind, or review these videos: Stanislav Grof – Holotropic Breathing (YouTube), Stanislav Grof: Holotropic Bodywork Workshop [Part 1] (YouTube), James Nestor Had a “Transformative” Experience in His Holotropic Breathing Class (YouTube)