How to Perform Breathwork Meditation

Breathwork meditation is the attempt to reach a heightened state of mind that allows the breather to deal with negative energy. Negative energy can be caused by complex factors such as traumatic life experiences that are being repressed, or by simple factors such as daily stress. Typically, to maximize the effects of the meditation, the breather works with a facilitator who offers breathing commands to help the breather reach that heightened state. Follow these steps to find out how to meditate with breathwork.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Breathwork facilitator

1. Read up on Holotropic Breathwork at the Grof Holotropic Breathwork Web site (see Resources below). This meditative technique was created by Stanislav and Christina Grof as a form of psychotherapy. They believed that adult experiences had connections with infant experiences, all the way back to the birthing process. They call this reconnection "rebirthing."
2. Rebirth yourself using the techniques and information on the Grof Holotropic Breathwork site. By doing so, proponents believe you can release your negative energy.
3. Find out more about breathwork meditation and how facilitators perform it at Web sites like the Transformational Breathwork Foundation (see Resources below).
4. Locate someone to perform your meditation. You can use online directories like the Transformational Breathwork Directory (see Resources below). Contact information and Web site links are provided.
5. Use the techniques you've studied and perform them as part of your daily routine, in a quiet place free of distractions.

Tips & Warnings

• Unless you're attempting to perform your own breathwork meditation, the prices for breathwork sessions can vary. Facilitators usually offer several different packages, including single, group, one-day and week-long sessions. Contact your local practitioner for current rates.
• If you're going to become a facilitator, the tuition cost will depend on the school you attend. Most certification programs only last a few days and cost roughly the same as it would to spend the same amount of time at a four-star hotel.
• Because so much depends on your ability to breathe deeply, you're not advised to perform breathwork meditation if you suffer from asthma or other breathing difficulties. Additionally, the images and thoughts that come forth during the meditation are too much for some breathers. Make sure you are mentally healthy before enrolling in sessions.
• If you feel dizzy or have difficulty breathing during the meditation, see a physician right away.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.