Holotropic Breathwork: A Pathway to Inner Healing and Expanded Awareness
In a world that rarely allows us to pause, many of us find ourselves disconnected—not only from our bodies, but from our emotions, purpose, and inner compass. Healing doesn’t always begin with words. Sometimes, it begins with the breath.
Holotropic Breathwork offers a powerful way to reconnect. Developed by Drs. Stanislav and Christina Grof in the 1970s, this practice is designed to support deep transformation through the breath. Using a specific breathing pattern combined with evocative music, this method helps wake up stored energy in the body, allowing it to move, shift, and release.
At my private practice, I hold space for this process with care, presence, and sensitivity. Holotropic Breathwork invites you to return to yourself—to feel, express, and remember who you are beyond conditioning and mental noise.
What Is Holotropic Breathwork?
The word holotropic comes from Greek—holos, meaning “whole,” and trepein, meaning “to move toward.” Holotropic Breathwork literally means “moving toward wholeness.”
Unlike calming breath practices designed for relaxation, this form of breathwork is energizing, activating, and at times intense. It uses continuous, deep breathing without pause between inhale and exhale, allowing the body to enter a non-ordinary state of consciousness.
This altered state helps bring up unresolved emotions, unconscious memories, symbolic imagery, and sometimes even ecstatic or visionary experiences. The purpose isn’t to escape the body—it’s to wake up what’s been held there, to bring movement to what has been stuck, and to allow the breath to do what it innately knows how to do: guide you back into presence and wholeness.
What to Expect in a Session
Each Holotropic Breathwork session with me is held in a supportive, private space where you are free to be fully yourself. I work one-on-one or in small groups, guiding each participant through a personalized experience that unfolds naturally.
Preparation & Intention Setting
We begin with a short conversation to ground and orient you. There’s no need to arrive with a specific goal—simply being open is enough. However, setting an intention can help your body and subconscious align with what’s ready to arise.
The Breathwork Journey
You’ll lie down comfortably with eyes closed. I’ll guide you into a pattern of deep, continuous breathing. As your breath deepens and energy awakens, you may begin to feel shifts in your body or awareness.
You might experience:
- Emotional release (tears, sound, laughter)
- Physical movement or sensations
- Memories, images, or insights from past experiences
- A sense of deep peace, stillness, or spaciousness
- Moments of joy, ecstasy, or expanded awareness
No two sessions are the same. Your breath leads the way, and you are always in control of how far you go.
Integration & Grounding
After the active session, we take time to rest, reflect, and process. Integration is an essential part of this work. I offer gentle support to help you make sense of what arose and provide space for conversation, journaling, or grounding exercises as needed.
How Holotropic Breathwork Supports Healing
Breathwork can touch every layer of our being—emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual. While every person’s experience is different, some of the most common outcomes include:
Healing Through Expression
By bypassing the analytical mind, breathwork allows buried emotions to surface safely. This can help ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness—not through force, but through gentle presence and release.
Clarity and Insight
As mental chatter quiets, many people gain powerful clarity around relationships, life choices, and unresolved questions. This clarity comes from within—not imposed, but revealed.
Trauma and Energy Release
The breath activates the body’s innate intelligence. Traumas, patterns, and emotions stored in the body begin to move—without needing to be verbally processed or relived. This release can be subtle or intense, but always personal and paced by your readiness.
Spiritual Connection
Some sessions lead to feelings of interconnectedness, expanded consciousness, or spiritual awareness. Others simply deepen your sense of self-trust and presence in your own body.
Is Holotropic Breathwork Right for You?
This work is ideal for anyone who feels called to explore healing beyond the mental level. It’s especially supportive if you:
- Feel emotionally stuck or disconnected
- Struggle with overthinking or anxiety
- Sense that old trauma or energy is still living in your body
- Are curious about non-ordinary states of consciousness
- Are seeking a body-led, somatic path of self-discovery
That said, this practice may not be suitable for everyone. If you have serious cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, or certain mental health diagnoses, please consult a medical professional. I will always review safety considerations with you before any session begins.
This isn’t just a wellness trend or a technique to master. Holotropic Breathwork is a sacred practice of remembrance—a return to your body, your breath, and your inner knowing.
In every session, I offer space where nothing needs to be fixed, and everything is welcome. Whether what arises is beauty or grief, stillness or movement, you’ll be supported with respect, compassion, and care.
There’s no agenda. Only your breath. And through it, a path back to yourself.
Ready to Begin?
If you feel drawn to explore Holotropic breathwork, I invite you to join me. I offer private sessions and small group journeys that may include sound baths and other integrative tools.
You don’t need to have experience. You just need your breath—and a willingness to listen.
Book your session or consultation at samashtiluz.com
My Studio is located in beautiful Marin County, just a heartbeat from the Golden Gate Bridge. Easy to reach from San Francisco and the North Bay, East Bay or Sonoma County.