BREATHWORK

There are multiple approaches to improving mental health, with breathwork definitely being one of these methods. Whilst it doesn’t have a cerebral aspect to its workings, this actually means it’s much easier to practice. Simply do the breathing and though it may not resolve your problems, it will help a little. 

 
For this reason I often use breathwork in tandem with other therapeutic methods. In particular I recommend: Wim Hof Breathing, Box Breathing and Holotropic Breathing. 

Wim Hof Breathing Technique

If such a thing exists, Wim Hof’s breathing technique is by all means a ‘body hack’. This form of breathwork has been popularised by extreme athlete Wim Hof. Wim currently holds 26 world records including

  • Longest time submerged in an ice bath (1 hour 52 minutes).
  • Completion of marathon in the arctic circle in nothing but swim shorts.
  • Completion of marathon in Namib desert without any water.  

You can read all about Wim at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof.

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about Wim is he considers himself a regular guy and believes anyone can learn how to do these amazing feats. Whilst I’m not sure if us mere mortals can ever do such things there is certainly a variety of benefits to doing Wim’s breathing process.

After the breathing process you notice improvement in lung capacity, calmness and posititvity

There is even a reduced chance to catch minor illness. Such a claim was proven in Cox et al.’s paper (see http://www.pnas.org/content/111/20/7379.long). In the paper Wim and 12 other participants practiced the technique for 10 weeks before being infected with a virus that is guaranteed to produce a brief flu in the infected. Shockingly every single participant that undertook the method displayed no symptoms whatsoever whilst all members of the control group did experience the flu like symptoms.

Wim’s technique allows the participant to take control of their endocrine systemm raise the PH levels of their blood and take control of their body in ways hardly even imaginable:

With the breathing you can expect to see:

  • Reduction in Anxiety.
  • Increase in energy.
  • Huge increase in lung capacity.
  • Increased strength and reduced recovery time.
  • Increased ability to tolerate the elements.
  • Reduction in inflammation to joints.

The breathing is very easy to practice and takes less than 10 minutes a day. It has worked for every single client I have practiced it with and I consider it a core part of my therapeutic technique.

Holotropic Breathwork

The other breathing technique I teach is holotropic breathing. Created by the  Czech psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, holotropic breathwork can be used to create a mild psychedelic state within clients. This treatment is very effective for clients who in particular are either struggling with a forgotten internal trauma (though forgotten, the trauma continues to influence their current mood and behaviour) or are having difficulty in finding personal purpose.

Holotropic breathing works by flooding the brain with naturally produced DMT (the chemical which causes you to dream at night). Given that only breathwork is involved with no substances needing to be ingested, holotropic breathwork produces some of the benefits of psychedelics without drawback, these include:

  • Improved personal understanding.
  • Discovery of suppressed memories. 
  • Reduced anxiety.
  • Heighten introspective awarness

If you are interesting to knowing more about either Wim Hof’s method or holotropic breathing and there application towards psychological therapy please contact me at: ryanmcounselling@gmail.com