Posted 8/12/2020 11:11 AM (GMT -5)
Greetings, folks! I did a breathwork workshop last weekend that was interesting, so I thought I'd post about it in case anyone is curious and comes here looking for input. I've enjoyed breathing exercises in meditation and yoga, and I am interested in doing Wim Hof's online course one day, so when a friend sent me information about an online 2-hour workshop, I went for it. I plan to do more breathwork in the future, with different practitioners or possibly on my own.
Here's the description of the event I attended: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lions-gate-portal-2020-breathwork-detoxtm-adventure-w-man-from-the-stars-tickets-114824418928?aff=RaffaYoga#
First, the negatives: hokey host, laden with cliches and pop music, and obviously the goofy claims like "20 years of therapy in one night."
The positives: simple concept, basically hyperventilating for an hour led to some interesting information about physical and emotional blocks, as well as just the strange sensations the practice produces, felt lighter afterward, and also proud of myself for pushing through something that felt so unsettling.
The host did a nice job at the beginning setting expectations for all the ways a person might feel strange, and if he hadn't done that, then I definitely would have stopped a few minutes into the practice. I would get very cold and then break out into a sweat, alternately. My muscles cramped, and my arms, legs, and face felt numb and/or tingly. I felt emotional a few times. When I felt unsettled by the physical sensations, I reminded myself that I was in control and could stop at any time and expect the sensations to dissipate. I was dizzy for a while afterward (maybe 20 minutes, just when I moved), and the muscles that had cramped were sore. I felt like things inside had been stirred up, so I drank extra water to resolve a mild lingering headache. Overall I felt energized and lighter, but a little fragile emotionally, like I had been through something intense. I would recommend not having much to do for a couple of hours after doing a breathwork practice. In the few days since doing the workshop, I have felt more energetic and more present.
People discuss oxygenation here a lot, and while I have no idea how this compares to oxygen supplementation or HBOT, humans have practiced breathwork for thousands of years, so I surmise there is some benefit. I'd be interested to hear others' experiences with breath-related practices, if anyone would care to share!