How Breathwork for Trauma Recovery Can Facilitate Healing
Trauma can happen to anyone. It is a burden that everyone bears at some point in their lives. Some trauma is physical and some is emotional. Some is obvious, while some is hidden away. No matter what the case may be, there is one thing that is consistent – trauma has a profound impact on the victim and his or her loved ones.
If you have experienced trauma in your life, you should know that you don’t have to allow this situation to define you. There are ways that you can heal and move on. In this post, we discuss the reality of trauma and its impact. We also explore how breathwork for trauma recovery can facilitate healing. Imagine that healing and recovery could be just a breath away.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not exclusive to a particular group of people. It affects all races, cultures, age groups, and socio-economic groups.
Consider that five out of 10 women, and six out of every 10 men experience some type of trauma at least once in their lives. Even more alarming, 7-8% of our population will experience post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, at some point in their life. These statistics illustrate just how common traumatic events occur.
Traumatic events that plague our society include events outside of individual control and events perpetrated by someone against someone else. Traumatic experiences outside of our control may include events like a car accident, natural disaster, or medical diagnosis. Trauma inflicted by others include abuse, sexual assault, discrimination, harassment, violence, and the list goes on.
No matter what the source of your trauma may be, there are things you can do to facilitate healing – for the mind, body, and soul. Breathwork for trauma recovery is one of the most promising methods of increasing self-awareness and achieving capacity for self-healing.
Breathwork, or breathwork therapy, is a holistic approach to healing with roots in yoga and tai chi. There are many different types of breathwork therapy, each with its own flair and unique approach to health and mental wellness. It can be helpful to explore different techniques and consider different instructors before deciding which breathwork technique is right for you.
Some of the more commonly-used techniques include:
Holotropic Breathwork
Holotropic breathwork seeks to achieve a wholeness between body, mind, and spirit. This type of breathwork is facilitated by a certified instructor. Sometimes music, movement, or other elements are integrated into the practice. While lying down, you will follow a series of breathing exercises. The goal is to enter an altered state of consciousness.
Holotropic breathwork therapy generally involves group sessions, which allow participants to support each other. After the session, you may be instructed to create a mandala related to your experience. Often, the session is closed with a discussion and sharing time.
Clarity Breathwork
Clarity breathwork is designed to address any type of trauma or issues in your life that prevent a healthy flow of breath and energy. Clarity breathwork practitioners help you learn how to breathe to full capacity. Breathing at full capacity may help you release negative or toxic energy that is holding you back.
During clarity breathwork therapy, you will attend an in-depth interview with a practitioner. You will discuss past and present experiences and trauma. Next, you will begin counseling, somatic exploration, and finally, the breathwork. Sessions usually include a one-hour circular connected breathing experience.
Rebirthing Breathwork
Rebirthing breathwork, or Conscious Energy Breathing, is a technique that is based on the idea that each person carries with them the trauma of their birth. Rebirthing is a process of releasing energy blocks stored in the mind and body. During this type of breathwork therapy, you will lie on your back. You will then be guided through a process of conscious connected circular breathing exercises. This helps illuminate trauma. Then, a deeply relaxed state will help ease the tension and promote brain activity to release subconscious issues.
Biodynamic Breathwork
Biodynamic breathwork, also known as BioDynamic Breath and Trauma Release System, is a breathwork technique that integrates six different elements:
Breath
Movement
Touch
Sound
Emotion
Meditation
This technique realizes that trauma manifests in both physical and psychological ways. Therefore, therapies must include both aspects of the patient. Recognizing that trauma may cause imbalances in emotional patterns and chronic stress, biodynamic breathwork seeks to restore balance and release blocked energy. During biodynamic breathwork, you may participate in deep breathing exercises, sound healing, music, or even dance/movement therapy. The goal is to promote self-transformation and healing.
What are the Benefits of Breathwork?
Breathwork for trauma recovery can have many benefits for the body and mind. Each person is different, so what works for you may not work for someone close to you. The most important thing is to find the techniques that work best for you and facilitate healing.
If breathwork is right for you, you may experience the following benefits:
Provides an outlet for the pain to be released outside the body
Breathwork speeds the healing or grief processes
Breathwork facilitates physical, emotional, and spiritual release
A regular meditation and breathwork practice can reduce stress and anxiety
Some types of breathwork can ease physical symptoms related to trauma
Breathwork restores the body’s balance
Aside from these individual benefits, consider that the practice of breathwork therapy is aimed at healing the entire person. It is a practice that can be used by anyone. There are no restrictions or requirements for practicing breathwork. All you need is an open heart and mind.
Sign up and attend a breathwork class at Nalaverse today.
