Transformational Breathwork and Altered States of Consciousness

Transformational Breathwork, not to be confused with Transformational Breath® (a trademarked Breathwork modality), is a general denomination for specific, therapeutic breathing techniques that aim at creating altered or non-ordinary states of consciousness and inducing emotional release in order to stimulate healing on the physical, emotional, mental, and/or spiritual level.

As such, Transformational Breathwork — also called Transformative Breathwork — may refer to various types of Breathwork like, for instance, Rebirthing Breathwork, Radiance Breathwork, Reichian Breathwork, and Holotropic Breathwork, among other types of comparable Breathwork modalities.

The terms transformation, transformative, and transformational indicate that the particular Breathwork modality is capable of altering the practitioner’s perceptions, behavior, and attitudes with respect to themselves and their lives, and may additionally change them on the physiological i.e. physical level.

Altered states of consciousness, which are thought to be responsible for the profound personal changes of the practitioner, may be perceived as alterations in thinking patterns, a disturbed sense of time, loss of control, alterations in emotional expression, a change of body-image, distortions and changes in the meaning of perceptions, an intense sense of reality and unity, and feelings of bliss and rejuvenation.

Mind that altered or non-ordinary states of consciousness are also associated with the psychedelic effects of certain traditional plant medicines such as Ayahuasca, Peyote, and the San Pedro Cactus. It’s the reason why Transformational Breathwork is also called Psychedelic Breathwork.

In any case, the various types of Transformational Breathwork share some common characteristics. For instance, they typically aim at inducing altered states of consciousness, use suggestive music and Hyperventilation techniques (mostly through Conscious Connected Breathing), stimulate emotional release i.e. Catharsis, and are usually guided by a Breathwork facilitator.

---