In this edition of Psychedelics Weekly, Joe and Kyle dedicate the entire episode to one of their biggest passions: breathwork and the power of breath in reaching non-ordinary states of consciousness.
What many listeners may not know is that Psychedelics Today was created because of the lack of attention being paid to breathwork, transpersonal psychology, and the work of Stanislav Grof, so this episode serves as a deep dive into all the facets of our fascinating ability to reach psychedelic states simply by breathing in specific ways.
They discuss the history of breathwork; the various methods (box breathing, alternate nostril breathing, rebirthing breathwork, the Wim Hof method, Holotropic and Transpersonal breathwork, etc.); early and most powerful experiences; why Joe recommends becoming familiar with breathwork before a first psychedelic experience; how a breathwork practice can help enhance psychedelic experiences; and one of the most amazing things about breathwork: that it can give people a sense of agency they may never have felt before – that they can produce these experiences and insights with nothing but their own bodies.
If you’ve been curious about breathwork, this episode is a great starting point to learn more. And if you’re in the Northeast and are ready to attend a breathwork retreat and experience four Transpersonal breathwork sessions (two as a breather, two as a sitter), there are spots available in our upcoming Vital retreat on July 28 in Pennsylvania. Click here for more details.
Links
A Vital Journey: Transpersonal Breathwork Retreat in PA, July 28
A Vital Journey: Transpersonal Breathwork Retreat in Portugal this October
A Vital Journey: Transpersonal Breathwork Retreat in Costa Rica: January, 2024
Psychedelics Today: What is Breathwork?
Michellemahrerfilms.com: “Dances of Ecstasy”
Yogajournal.com: What is Pranayama?
Webmd.com: What Is Box Breathing?
Wilhelm Reich Museum: Research and Publications
Psychedelics Today: PT316 – Lenny Gibson, Ph.D. – Vital Psychedelic Conversations
Psychedelics Today: Lenny Gibson – Whitehead and Holotropic Breathwork
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor
Medicalnewstoday.com: What to know about tummo breathing
Verywellmind.com: What Is Somatic Experiencing Therapy?
The Tim Ferriss Show: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond (#347)
LSD Psychotherapy: The Healing Potential of Psychedelic Medicine, by Stanislav Grof, M.D.
Healthline.com: What is the Vagus Nerve?
Psychedelics Today: PT286 – Joe Tafur, MD – Vital Psychedelic Conversations
Check out the Lumenate app, and download it through the App store here!