Breathwork Knowledge Hub
In-depth articles exploring breathwork, the nervous system, breathwork techniques, and ethical practice.
Search the Breathwork Knowledge Hub
Looking for something specific?
Search by topic, technique, experience, or question, such as anxiety, the nervous system, vagus nerve, safety, or breathwork training, to explore relevant articles across the library.
Explore by Category
Start here if you’re new to breathwork or want to build a grounded understanding of the basics.
Practical breathing guides you can use for regulation, focus, rest, and everyday support.
Clear, accessible explanations of how breathwork affects the nervous system, brain, and body.
Guidance on safety, consent, pacing, and nervous system awareness in breathwork practice.
Support for those who want to train, or who already have, including pathways, ethics, scope, and integration.
Read Our Most Recent Breathwork Articles
The Science of Breathwork & Radical Acceptance
Listen to someone breathing. That's the sound of a human being doing something extraordinary. Not scaling a mountain or composing a symphony, but simply breathing. It's a primal act, one we perform thousands of times a day without even thinking about it.
And yet, science is beginning to reveal that this seemingly mundane act holds profound implications for our physical and mental well-being. Researchers are uncovering a fascinating connection between our breath, our brains, and our ability to navigate the complex landscape of human emotions.
The latest findings actually suggest that the key to unlocking the full potential of breathwork might not lie in striving for some idealized state of zen. It might, in fact, reside in something far more radical: the simple act of accepting ourselves, flaws and all, right here, right now.
It sounds counterintuitive. In a world that bombards us with messages about self-improvement and constant striving, the idea of accepting ourselves as we are can feel like giving up.
The Art of Acceptance in Breathwork
I remember the first time I tried breathwork. It was at a retreat center in Ubud, Bali. You know the type – lush jungle, the distant sound of gamelan music, and more yoga mats than you can shake a stick of incense at. The facilitator, a serene man in white linen clothes and long white beard and hair. "Just breathe," he said, his voice as smooth as the rice paddies outside, "and let whatever comes up, come up."
So there I was, lying on a mat, surrounded by blissed-out strangers, all of us breathing like we were running a marathon while perfectly still. And let me tell you, what came up was... rage. Blinding, white-hot rage.
For an hour, while everyone around me seemed to be floating on clouds of ecstasy, I was a volcano of anger. I was mad at the mosquito buzzing near my ear, furious at the sweat trickling down my back, someone was touching me, and why was that guy making so much noise when he was breathing?! I had visions of getting up, kicking someone in the head and storming out. But of course, I’m too polite to ever make a scene.
Why Do People Do Breathwork?
Breathwork has become a bit of a buzzword in the wellness world these days, and for good reason. It seems like everyone, from your yoga teacher to your therapist, is talking about the power of intentional or conscious breathing. But why exactly do people do breathwork? What's all the fuss about?
The answer is surprisingly simple: breathwork is incredibly versatile. It can do so much more than just help you relax after a long day (although it definitely does that too!). While it's often linked to healing trauma and reducing stress, breathwork's potential goes way beyond those areas.
5 Easy Breathwork Practices to Tackle Anxiety
Life can get pretty hectic, and sometimes anxiety sneaks up on us. But there's a simple tool that can help: breathwork. It's all about using different breathing techniques to calm down your mind. Let's dive into five easy breathwork exercises that you can start doing today to help keep those anxious feelings at bay.
Metacognition in Breathwork
In the realm of breathwork, we often focus on the mechanics of breathing – the inhale, the exhale, the rhythm and pace. Yet, a subtle but powerful force lies beneath the surface, waiting to be harnessed for deeper healing and transformation. This force is metacognition, the art of thinking about our own thinking.
Imagine having a wise inner observer who can gently witness your thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations as they arise during your breathwork practice. This observer doesn't judge or criticize; it simply acknowledges and allows, creating a space for profound self-awareness and understanding.
By cultivating metacognition, we can unlock a new dimension of breathwork. We can begin to see the connection between our breath and our inner world, noticing how our emotions shift as we inhale and exhale, how our thoughts influence our physical sensations, and how our bodies respond to different breathing patterns.
Abreactions in Breathwork
What exactly is abreaction? Simply put, it's the release of repressed emotions. These emotions, often linked to past experiences, can be buried deep within us, impacting our well-being on both a psychological and physiological level. Abreaction is a way to bring those emotions to the surface, allowing them to be processed and ultimately, released. Breathwork is a key tool for accessing these hidden emotions. Through conscious and intentional breathing, we can influence our nervous system, shifting it out of stress responses and into a state of calm. This creates a safe space for abreaction to occur, allowing us to explore and process emotions that may have been locked away.
In this essay, we will examine the science behind abreaction, exploring how emotions are stored in the body and how the breath can trigger their release. We will discuss different types of breathwork techniques and their potential benefits, always keeping in mind a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes safety and respect for individual experiences.
Navigating Sensations in Conscious Connected Breathwork
Conscious connected breathwork (CCB) is a powerful tool for healing and transformation. It involves breathing in a specific, connected pattern that can unlock deep emotions, release physical tension, and lead to profound insights. The experience can be intense, but also incredibly rewarding. And like any journey, it's helpful to know what you might encounter along the way.
In this article, we’ll explore the common sensations you might feel – both physical and emotional – and explain why they happen. We'll also discuss different ways to practice breathwork safely and comfortably, offering tips on how to adjust your practice if you encounter any discomfort.
What is Breath Training?
But what exactly is breath training, and how does it work? What are the different types of breath training techniques, and how can they be applied to achieve specific goals? In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the science behind breath training, explore various techniques and practices, and discover how you can integrate this transformative tool into your daily life to unlock your full potential.