Breathwork; what to expect?
“What just happened to me?” or “how long did we breathe?” These are probably the most common questions from participants after their first Breathwork session.
Deep connected breathing or originally called holotropic Breathwork is an intense experience physically but also mentally. Every session is a very unique experience, even though with time you get used to the physical responses, new ones might always arise. Therefore, it is not really possible to predict what to expect. Plus every school and facilitator has their own way of guidance.
However this is a try to to describe the outlines of a conscious connected breathwork group session:
Safe space
The Breathwork facilitator chooses the location consciously and makes sure that the space offers enough privacy and has a welcoming atmosphere. There are most likely candles lit, smoothing smells and comfortable mats & blankets on place.
To start with the participants are often guided through some kind of meditation to arrive in the here and now. Sometimes there is some form of somatic movement integrated to enhance the journey out of the head into the heart.
Before the session
Just before the session the facilitator gives a short or longer introduction into the technique, depending on the group. There is normally enough time for questions and to practice togethers. Afterwards the participants lie down on their backs and make themselves comfortable with the help of blankets and pillows.
During the breathwork journey
Although the technique is basically always the same, each school as well as practitioner has its own method of guiding the breath. The difference might be for example the rhythm, if only mouth or nose & mouth breathing and the music.
The physical, emotional and energetic responses vary greatly from person to person and session to session. Breathwork works on a cellular level and is a technique to dissolve blocking experiences and beliefs on the subconscious level. It helps to find more clarity and inner peace.
A Breathwork session can vary from 20 minutes up to 3 hours. So make sure you check before with the facilitator.
After the session
After the active breathing part the participants enter the integration phase which starts with a long Savasana – the end relaxation. The facilitator guides them back into the present moment and asks them to slowly sit up. Often the session end with a gratitude practice.
Afterwards a sharing circle is opened where there is enough time to integrate, talk about the experience and ask questions. Depending on the school, the participants are asked to write their experience down or paint.
Want to have your own group experience of a conscious connected Breathwork session? Then check out the calendar under Events or contact me directly under info@breathatelier.com
