What is Breathwork?

Our whole body - our stomach, lungs, muscles, glandular and hormonal systems, along with our brain, form our consciousness.

Breath is an active part of that system, and changes in our state of consciousness affect our breathing. This also acts in reverse - changes in our breathing also affect our consciousness.

There are many forms of breathwork, all of which utilise this mechanism of breath affecting consciousness.

This form of breathwork doesn't focus on a specific technique, but on the understanding that when provided with the right environment, we can create our own perfectly tuned altered states of consciousness, driven by our own spontaneously generated breathing patterns.

These 'bespoke' altered states of consciousness take us on a deep, personal inner journey that can include many different types of experience, but can involve an exploration of the way trauma becomes locked in the body, as well as enormously positive expansive experiences.

It is only by connecting with trauma that we can truly understand it and become free, fundamentally expanding who we are and opening to a wider experience of reality. In this way the space offered by Breathwork is sacred -a place to connect deeply with our soul's power to heal and grow.

A Breathwork session lasts between one and three hours, with music being played to support the experience. Participants lie down with eyes closed, initially being led with a guided meditation, then tuning into their body and allowing the breath to take over. Breathwork sessions are usually held in a group setting, with one or more Breathwork Facilitators overseeing.

Holotropic Breathwork London

Kundalini

Kundalini is an Indian term describing a potent spiritual energy originating at the base of the spine. This flow of energy, from Earth to Spirit, can be described as the essence of consciousness. When this flow is increased, spiritual development occurs. A full Kundalini activation involves an accelerated spiritual awakening, and can result in a wide variety of emotional and energetic states, eventually leading to spiritual liberation.

Holotropic Breathwork London

Jon

Growing up in Wales as part of a Quaker family, Jon was aware of the spiritual world from an early age. He spent several years on a shamanic path, discovering Holotropic Breathwork in his early twenties. He has continued to practice Breathwork regularly since then, alongside Vipassana and other Non-Dualistic meditation, energetic healing and free movement (a combination of Chi-Kung and improvised dance). He has travelled several times to India, spending much of his time with Sai Baba, and has also spent time at Guru Subraminium's Skanda Vale in West Wales. A spiritual journey is also a psychological one, and Jon has also spent considerable time working with psychotherapeutic and personal development modalities. Jon's journey has now led him to a place where he feels ready to offer Breathwork, along with his wider experience, to others.

History

Almost everyone who participates in Breathwork feels its powerful connection to the ancient and the mystical. But in terms of modern, Western understanding, it was discovered and developed by Stanislav Grof in the 1970s. Trained as a psychiatrist, he initially spent time studying the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, before shifting his focus to the effect of breath and music on consciousness, developing Holotropic ('towards wholeness') Breathwork - the basis of all Breathwork practices today.

Stan Grof London

What is Breathwork like?

The approach of Breath Journey Breathwork is based on Jon's experience and training, but is most closely associated with Holotropic Breathwork. Here are some video testimonials from around the world describing people's experience of Holotropic Breathwork.