We are excited for you to experience breathwork online with our growing global community of people who are practicing breathwork to rewire old scripts embedded in our brain which keep us from becoming our best possible self. Stan grof up to that time see reading list and motivated by the desire to reproduce the mindexpanding experiences of the psychedelic era through safe. In the last twenty years, my wife christina and i have developed an approach to therapy and selfexploration that we call holotropic breathwork. Psychiatrist stanislav grof explains how he coined the term holotropic to describe nonordinary states of consciousness that are healing, transformative, and moving toward wholeness. Holotropic breathwork was developed by stanislav grof, m. In this long awaited book, stanislav grof and christina grof describe their groundbreaking new form of selfexploration and psychotherapy. Holotropic breathwork reveals how the grofs developed their revolutionary healing techniques, often told through fascinating stories of people being transformed by the breathwork process. Fully qualified holotropic breathwork practitioner with grof transpersonal training. Holotropic breathing technique is usually done in groups, using pair work where each person takes turns being the breather or the sitter. Holotropic breathwork is a therapeutic breathing practice that is intended to help with emotional healing and personal growth. Alternative medicine a technique developed in 1976 by czechamerican psychiatrist dr stanislav grof as a means of selfexploration, based on ancient spiritual practices and modern conscious research and combining breathing, evocative music and a specific form of bodywork. They are sometimes offered as the primary form of medical treatment or can also be offered as part of a treatment plan.
Holotropic breathwork is an experiential method of selfexploration and psychotherapy that my late wife christina and i developed at the esalen institute in big sur, california, in the mid 1970s. This deep form of selfexperience makes it possible to heal old wounds and rediscover the spiritual dimension of being. In may 2020 stan and brigitte grof launched their new training in working with holotropic states of consciousness the grof legacy training. Holotropic means moving toward wholeness, from the greek holos whole and trepein moving in the. They live together in germany and california and travel the inner and outer worlds in tandem, conducting seminars and holotropic breathwork workshops worldwide. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As with many forms of yoga, it is powered by simply breathing, at a rate controlled by the client.
Stanislav grof is one of the most important pioneers in the scientific understanding of consciousness. Developed by psychiatrists stanislav and christina grof in the 1970s, this type of breathwork exercise is used to achieve fullness or unity of the mind, body, and spirit. Holotropic breathing is a technique developed by dr. It induces very powerful holotropic states by a combination of very simple means accelerated breathing, evocative music, and a. Holotropic breathwork grof breathwork holotropic breathwork is a synthesis of ancient spiritual techniques and the findings of modern consciousness research. Transpersonal psychology it see to the study of the highest potencial of the human being as well as recognize and transpefsonal psicologia transpersonal stanislav grof comprehension of the status. When psychedelics were peremptorily banned in the 1960s, grof developed holotropic breathing as a means of simulating the psychedelic experience of lsd. Twelve things you should know about holotropic breathwork. Breathwork online was created to make the transformative power of breathwork accessible to everyone, everywhere. Holotropic breathwork in boulder and denver colorado.
Holotropic breathwork is considered by some to be a more intense form of meditativecontemplative practices. Acknowledging, accessing and supporting the inner healing intelligence and impulse in each individual is the essential cornerstone of this approach. Holotropic breathwork hb is a method of selfexploration developed by stanislav and christina grof in the mid1970s. What is holotropic breathwork the secret of breath. Stanislav stan grof born july 1, 1931 is a czech psychiatrist, one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology and a researcher into the use of nonordinary states of consciousness for purposes of exploring, healing, and obtaining growth and insights into the human psyche. An integrative technique for healing and personal change by gilles brouillette, 1997 gilles brouillette abstract. Holotropic breathwork is a powerful, transformational selfhealing breathwork modality developed by world renowned psychiatrist dr. Jawbone pain after tooth extraction holotropic breathwork.
The grofs are at the center of the current psychospiritual revolution in the west, and this book is a testament to their role in our collective healing. This approach induces deep holotropic states of consciousness by a. Holotropic breathwork is a powerful approach to selfexploration and personal empowerment that relies on our innate inner wisdom and its capacity to move us toward positive transformation and wholeness. Hb has some similarities to rebirthing breathwork, but was developed independtly. Holotropic breathwork is an experiential therapeutic technique developed by two psychiatrists, stanislav and christina grof, in southern california in the 1970s.
Because these workshops can promote strong physical and emotional release, it is not advised for persons with a history of cardiovascular disease, including angina or heart attack, high blood pressure, glaucoma, retinal detachment, osteoporosis, significant recent physical injuries or recent surgery. Stanislav grof states that in holotropic states, we can transcend the narrow boundaries of the body ego and reclaim our full identity. Holotropic means moving toward wholeness, from the greek holos whole and trepein moving in the direction of. Holotropic breathwork download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In this longawaited book, stanislav grof and christina grof describe their groundbreaking new form of selfexploration and psychotherapy. Holotropic definition of holotropic by medical dictionary. A new approach to selfexploration and therapy suny series in transpersonal and humanistic psychology kindle edition by grof, stanislav, christina grof, jack kornfield. Discussion groups take place on the same day after an extended break. About holotropic breathwork grof transpersonal training. A clinical report of holotropic breathwork in 11 000. It operates on the nonrational and nonlinear mind, providing deep insights about life, karmic conditioning, places of transition, life path, love and life, energy and intuition, and so much more. Grof holotropic work san diego medical information and informed consent form holotropic breathwork is intended as a personal growth experience and should not be looked upon as a substitute for psychotherapy. The definitive overview of this transformative breathwork.
Psychotherapy and counselling federation of australia pacfa accredited supervisor. Holotropic breathwork, our group facilitator told us, does not begin at a retreat, but is part of a process, a journey that is already underway. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading holotropic breathwork. With the drug crackdown in the 60s, grof developed a formalized breathwork discipline that he trademarked as holotropic breathwork. Holotropic breathwork a trademark is a practice that uses breathing and other elements to putatively allow access to nonordinary states of consciousness. Before developing hbw, stanislav grof was a freudian psychiatrist. Sessions may be assisted by certified practitioners who have completed the grof transpersonal training program. Many who have experienced a session find it to be an intense emotional process, and. How to do holotropic breathwork holotropic breathwork. Clinical member and accredited supervisor with pacfa.
Holotropic breathwork is as transformative an experience as one can have. You are requested to stay for the entire time, so please check in advance if you will be available on friday from 7. Thanks for your interest on participating in the holotropic breathwork experiential workshop. Although i have been deeply interested in all the categories of holotropic states mentioned above, i have done most of my work in the area of psychedelic therapy, holotropic breathwork, and spiritual emergency. Research has only just begun to investigate the effects of hb, while the possible. Stan grof to access the healing potential of nonordinary states of consciousness through breath and music. Now in his 80s, stanislav grof is still certifying practitioners of holotropic breathwork and leading seminars for individuals to try it out first hand. In addition, as per one of the underlying principles of interpersonal neurobiology, an important part of any process of this type. About holotropic breathwork hb hb is a form of breathwork developed by stanislav grof, md, and christina grof that claims, that it allows access to nonordinary states of consciousness.
The purpose of this research is to study the experience and effects of holotropic breathwork on personal transformation and healing as reported by participants in the grof transpersonal training. A clinical report of holotropic breathwork in 11,000 psychiatric inpatients in a community hospital setting james eyerman, md abstract context. Grof and his wife christina developed holotropic breathwork while in residence at the esalen institute during the 1970s. He was born in prague, czechoslovakia, where he also received his scientific training. Grof holotropic breathwork and related techniques are often offered under direct medical supervision or in a recognized treatment facility by licensed medical professionals. As a psychotherapist, grof was involved in earlier tests on the therapeutic potential of lsd. Workshops schedule health considerations registration. Hb has some similarities to rebirthingbreathwork, but was developed independtly. New perspectives in psychotherapy and selfexploration stanislav grof, m.
Holotropic breathwork can involve experiences accompanied by very strong emotional and physical release. It was based on the decades of consciousness research undertaken by dr. He and his wife, christina, have contributed both to its intellectual and experiential understanding through their work with holotropic breathwork. Grof named this process holotropic breathwork holotropic coming from the greek moving towards wholeness. Holotropic breathing technique used in holotropic breathwork workshops there is not a proper way to do holotropic breathing other than the instruction to breathe deeper and faster than normal so this is not a guided breathwork experience except in a very general sense. Holotropic breathwork is a powerful, spiritually oriented approach to selfexploration and healing that integrates insights from modern consciousness research.
During these sessions, the facilitator does not give interpretations of the material, based on a specific theoretical system, including that of holotropic breathwork. Pharmacology, toxicology, and abuse of psychotomimetics hallucinogens. A critique of stanislav grof and holotropic breathwork. Grof is an internationally renowned figure in the human potential movement, a founding member and chief theoretician of transpersonal psychology, and a pioneer in the field of consciousness studies with more than fifty years experience researching. Although holotropic breathwork has some of the similarities, in setting and intention, of grofs work with lsd, a holotropic breathwork session absolutely does not involve drugs. It was developed by stanislav grof as a successor to his lsdbased psychedelic therapy, following the suppression of legal lsd use in the late 1960s. Stanislav and christina grof at the esalen institute in california during the late 1970s, and especially following the training and certification of the first of many facilitator training groups in 1987, holotropic breathwork has been successfully experienced by tens of thousands of people in public weekend workshops, therapeutic settings, and weeklong. Their book on this new approach to selfexploration and therapy is a must read. Holotropic breathwork is an experiential method of selfexploration and psychotherapy that my wife christina and i developed at the esalen institute in big sur, california, in the mid 1970s. John buchanan and sidney cox pdf version of this document.