breathwork
Our breathwork or our form of breathing work is mainly due to the three major currents des Holotropic breathing (Christina & Stanislav Grof),Rebirthing (Leonard Orr) and the experiential breath (Ilse Middendorf) inspired. Our direct teachers are Rosmarie & Ulrich Lipp, who in turn have a broad background of experience and training in the field of breathwork and body psychotherapy and have developed their own form of breathwork.
Specifically, it is about the connection between inhalation and exhalation as well asto intensify and deepen breathing. At the same time, breathing is about letting things happen and letting them flow – i.e. letting go of voluntary control and goal orientation. For us, the experience itself is in the foreground, carried by the trust that our body (system) knows best what it (it) needs and what should show and express itself. It is primarily about the mindful and loving perception and acceptance of what is.
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The experiences while breathing can be very different​. For some, visual impressions are in the foreground, for others, the experience is mainly characterized by emotions, feelings and physical sensations. Also can implicit Memories regain consciousness. In other words, memories that are no longer explicitly accessible to us – e.g. B. since they from the voral development phase. These are most of time is inextricably linked to the body's memory and can be directly accessed again through physical experiences.
Physiological level
On the physiological level, our metabolic system is influenced so that, among other things, more carbon dioxide is exhaled. This leads to a change in blood circulation in our brain: the older brain areas (including the limbic system and brain stem) are supplied with more blood in proportion. This is considered to be the reason why the emotional experience is intensified in relation to everyday perception.
Another reason for the changed self-awareness and ability to remember is seen in the fact that our breathing is inextricably linked to our emotional experience and expression. To put it more simply: Every emotion affects our breathing pattern and by changing our breathing we can in turn influence our well-being. In highly stressful situations that might have overwhelmed us, we sometimes react by slowing down or stopping to breathe. This is intended to reduce the emotional charge and intensity. If we now intensify our breath again or simply give it our full attention, these implicit memories with the stored emotions can resurface and be consciously experienced.
Recognition
As a cultural practice, breathing techniques are of course much older than the great breathwork currents mentioned and known in the West.
In yoga as well as in Tibetan and Buddhist traditions there are numerous breathing techniques and meditations that clearly make use of the mind-altering potential of different breathing techniques. Breathwork is generally not a western invention, but is based on traditional knowledge. In this field, as in yoga, this was and is usually not made clear, so that cultural appropriation plays a major role here too and the corresponding cultures and ethnic groups do not receive the recognition they deserve.