I am doing breathwork already since 30 years, starting with classical holotropic breathing. Later I came into contact with shamanic drumming and singing, I started adding these in sessions. SInce than I discovered that the most beautiful sessions are those you let happen in full surrender, without any structure or plan. Here I share some of my insights with you

Stanislav Grof’s Holotropic Breathwork

In the last century, breathwork practices surged into the spiritual and therapeutic mainstream, largely through Stanislav Grof’s Holotropic Breathwork. Back then, everyone was engaging in these deep breathing sessions—hyperventilating into expanded states of consciousness, reaching catharsis through rhythmic breath, evocative music, and bodywork. However, through my own experience, I found that introducing a pulsation phase before fully diving in allowed for a more intuitive and embodied breath journey. By inviting the breath to become deeper and more intense, without adhering to a strict pattern, we allow the body’s innate intelligence to guide the session, intensifying either depth, frequency, or both.

A Shamanic Approach to Breathwork: Trusting the Wisdom of the Body

My shamanic breathwork differs from structured breath techniques in that it is not rigidly guided—it flows with the needs of the moment. Unlike Holotropic Breathwork, which follows a continuous deep breathing pattern, this approach may begin with a phase of pulsation—gently tuning into the natural rhythm of the breath and amplifying it gradually. This prepares the nervous system for deeper engagement, allowing breathers to trust their bodies without force.

Once the breath deepens naturally, the session shifts into a guided trance-like state, where I introduce the drum and shamanic singing, attuning to the person’s energetic and emotional needs. This phase encourages the breather to let sound emerge organically—voicing on the outbreath to intensify the release.

The Body as an Instrument: Movement and Sound as Catalysts

Breathwork is never just about the breath—it is about unlocking the body’s intelligence. As the session builds, I invite the breather to feel movements in the pelvis—a core energy center where emotional blockages often reside. By intensifying these micro-movements, breathers awaken stored tensions and emotions, allowing them to wave through the body as a lying shake meditation.

The body, when given permission, will self-regulate through spontaneous movement. Some people experience wave-like undulations, others feel spasms or vibrations, while some find themselves rocking or stretching instinctively. These movements facilitate deep emotional and energetic release, bypassing the intellect and accessing the subconscious layers of experience.

Building Toward Intensity, Then Returning to Stillness

As the energy escalates, the breath becomes wilder, more uninhibited—the drumbeat intensifies, the voice rises, and the body moves in deeper surrender. This is the crescendo, the peak moment of full expression and release. Catharsis emerges naturally—whether through shaking, crying, screaming, or deep internal realizations.

After enough release through sound and movement, I slow the drumbeat, soften the singing, and invite the person back into silence. The transition from intensity to stillness is crucial—it allows the nervous system to reintegrate and assimilate the experience.

The final phase is deep emptiness—no sound, no guidance, just presence. In this space, true integration happens.

Closing the Journey: Hands-On Integration & Energy Work

Once the breather has settled into this silent space of completion, I place my hands on their body, feeling what is needed. Sometimes soft humming emerges, sometimes gentle movements, and sometimes nothing but deep stillness. At the headside, I lightly touch the head or place a single finger on the third eye, gently sliding towards the acupoint Empty Mind.

This final touch completes the cycle, grounding the person back into their body with a new awareness of their energetic field.

The Titration of Shamanic Breathwork: A Unique Journey for Each Individual

Unlike standardized breathwork techniques, shamanic breathwork requires individual titration—adapting intensity, pacing, and sound to the person’s state. Some may require longer pulsation before deep breathing, while others may need a slower descent after catharsis. The key is to attune to the moment, allowing the session to unfold intuitively rather than mechanically.

This shamanic approach to breathwork is an invitation to return to the wisdom of the body, to move beyond technique, and to engage in a breath-centered ritual of transformation. Through breath, sound, and movement, we dissolve limitations, open the energetic field, and step into a more embodied, awakened presence. Shunyam Adhibhu