Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration and Therapy by Stanislav Grof

Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration and Therapy Reviews

• 
  Rose

  I loved this book. Very insightful and understandable for the layperson in terms of psychological theory and the practical applications of this practice.
  
  This book does just enough explaining of the psychological theory for the reader to have a basic understanding of how and why Holotropic Breathwork works and what it can do for individuals who are looking to embark on a spiritual journey or to find inner peace and healing.
  
  I would recommend this book for anyone interested in exploring altered and expanded states of consciousness and their potential for helping people to become more whole and complete.
• 
  Suhrob

  I've read in the past few months several of Grof's book (and I'm not putting them up on Goodreads :)), one thing is clear: I don't remember a more vivid example of the difference between an academic and a scientist.
  
  Grof is definitely academic, unfortunately operating for decades in the fringes, he has forgotten what science really means... that is actually a pity - here we have something with quite significant physiological effects, therapeutic potential, but unfortunately no serious scientific research on it.
  
  There is a tiny bit of physiology, a bit of psychology, and whole dollops of fringe-psychology and new-agey stuff. Grof is more interested in case studies, running workshops and in the (somewhat stereotypical) academic new-ageism. That is OK-ish (assuming he doesn't hurt anybody - and I actually trust he doesn't).
  
  I just hope somebody picks up this topic with a serious careful methodology.
• 
  Nicholas Bolger

  This book was disappointing. I like the author and much of the work that he’s produced. But this book didn’t give you enough information about the breath work to do it yourself. It felt more like an ad to take one of the in person trainings.
• 
  Marco

  A good overview on the assumptions of the transpersonal psychology school. Couldn't help but to remember Ken Wilber's very valid distinction between the pre from the post rational, and how some people seem to think our answers lie in the former, not even differencing it from the latter.
  
  Still 4 stars for clarity and the smooth broadening of my knowledge on schools of psychotherapy.
• 
  Andy Anaya

  This breathwork genuinely has something intense behind it, so Grof is discussing at length how to harness it for psychological healing. Summary: "This method of breathing produces altered states, so here's how to employ that as a psychoanalyst." Materialists will probably be turned off by the author's frequent dipping into the woo-woo pot. The author does not give virtually any information as to the details of the actual breathwork, probably because he would feel uncomfortable instructing people on how to get to these altered states outside the context of mental health practice, especially someone who might have a medical condition and for whom the breathwork could be hazardous.
• 
  Theresa Jump

  Describes holotropic breathwork as designed by the Grofs clearly and succinctly. And I love hearing Stan's real-life stories.
• 
  David Vileta

  Focuses on healing via re-experiencing peri-natal, transpersonal, and (surprisingly to a lesser degree) biographical traumas. The discussion of the therapeutic mechanism behind holotropic breathwork is relatively brief and buried. Essentially, their idea is that the quickened breathing induces a psychosomatic state which is similar to the state one was subjected to while being traumatized. This helps those experiences re-surface for processing in a controlled environment, under one's own terms.
  
  For someone who is prospective (and reasonably skeptical), these things are not self-evident, and deserved more elaboration.
  
  Lots of compelling stories. Utility as a field manual is limited; to that end, read it through and take notes as needed from the relevant sections.
• 
  John Pienta

  This book is very much a history of the practice and development of holotropic breathwork. It's excellent and a great primer to the entire holotropic framework which Stan Grof lays out.
  
  I very much appreciate how he extends this framework to a broader spiritual perspective and doesn't do what some of the other big psychonauts do; they seem to insist the drug experience is the thing of interest. Grof suggests, they merely point to the thing of interest and so, in keeping with Alan Watts on the topic: "Once you've gotten the message [via psychedelics] hang up the phone".
  
  Recommended if you're in the space of psychedelics or spirituality or you're thinking about doing a holotropic breathwork session or workshop.
• 
  Arturius escalante

  Amazing book stumbled across this gem, in my examination of the late John Mack PHd. This was something he was looking into before he past in a freak accident. This book explores the new science of Holotropic breathing. For thousands of years people have used breathing to enter alter states of mind some call mindfulness: this new technique brings into question everything we thought we knew of what it means to be human. It will change psychology it will re-write medical literature it explores spiritual states it is a healing technique at its core- it absolutely transforms consciousness just a few things of what it touches- just as at starting point. The profound implications are staggering.
• 
  Tom Hill

  I was lost in the first three chapters of this book as the author discussed the progression of the psychological approach to mental health. The best part of the book is the description of how the Holotropic Breathwork sessions are conducted and some of the problems that were encountered. It may have been in the book but I still have little understanding on why it works. Although I am fascinated about the possibilities that this experience has for all of us, I may have picked a book a little above my level of understanding.
• 
  Sara

  While this is geared more towards therapists, I found this a good introduction to holotropic breathwork, how it is facilitated, and what to expect from a workshop I intend to take in a few weeks. I would suggest it to anyone interested in the history of transpersonal psychology, consciousness, or breathwork in general.
• 
  Mircea

  it’s a somewhat okay introduction to what holotrophic breathing is but it’s very light on the details (and since you cannot do this on your own I think it’s targeted more at facilitators or complete noobs).
• 
  Reema

  I went into this expecting a how-to book but this isn’t it. But it was very interesting. He talks about how the application of holotropic breath work, rather than talk therapy, has helped people significantly process trauma and heal.
• 
  Isham Cook

  Grof is one of the big names in LSD research, and this book is his attempt to help people try to recreate some of the psychedelic experience through deep breathing who don't have access to the drug itself.
• 
  Kevin

  Very long, and yet doesn't cover how to actually do the technique. For that, you have to pay a lot and go to their meetings. Also, this was started many decades ago and is full of Freudian junk-psychology references.
• 
  K. K

  Very good book by the open minded approach to the ancient science. Valuable read in nowadays indoctrinated and soulless society. Even where i live in northern Europe they have Reincarnation stories in the school programs too.
• 
  Sien

  Not what I was expecting.
• 
  Samantha Skelly

  Massively powerful, deeply intelligent.
• 
  Abid עבד

  It gave me new perspective about the things, I think our body have everything that we try to gain from outside world. The simple fact of life is that search always starts within you
• 
  Max Michael

  I’m down with it. I want to try it. If it goes well I might have a career change. Who knows.
• 
  Oana-Maria Uliu

  Again, not enough science behind it, but it's making the process clearer than The Holotropic Mind.
• 
  Branislav Rokošný

  No praxis, but still motivating
• 
  Kumail Akbar

  I read about Stanislav’s experiments with Holotropic breathwork in Micheal Pollan’s book, got fascinated by the idea and started exploring his ideas – which led me to practices like the Wim Hof Method which frankly have significantly transformed my life for the better. So, it only made sense if I rounded up the year by reading what Grof has to say about Holotropic breathwork itself, and if possible, discover at least an indicative guide directing me towards such experiences. Unfortunately, none such could be found in this text. Instead, this volume presents an interesting primer on the history of psychological theory and its foundations and then proceeds to show its ‘limitations’ and then in turns makes a case for using altered states of consciousness to broaden our understanding of the human mind and condition.
  
  While these ideas (as well as practices) are interesting in of themselves (especially when they present opportunities for an individual to experience self-realization and explore the intersection of their own history and health in alternate modes of consciousness induced by simply breathing differently) they go far off the deep end when tying together narratives of ‘holistic health’ and sneaking in arguments for homeopathy, etc. Not sure what to make of that so leaving it with a 3 star review. Hopefully Grof’s works on actual psychedelics would be much better than this one.
  
  Rating 3/5
  
• 
  Aelia

  Read through this book, it's practical, discusses how holotropic sessions are organized, what tools there are for facilitators. Insightful if you are into breathwork.
• 
  Anne

  Excellent book! Grof writes so clearly and so engaging on concepts that are so complex. I would like to try a session of the holotropic breath work at some point. Very intriguing. The concept of interconnected nests is one I have believed for a long time, and Grof's work confirms it for me!