Frequently Asked Questions:
What are trauma kinetics?
Trauma kinetics refers to a state of being shaped by significant or repeated trauma. It involves a pervasive energetic imprint that influences the body, mind, and soul, often affecting nearly every aspect of a person’s life—whether they’re aware of it or not.
How is this different from traditional psychotherapy?
Holotropic Breathwork (HB) is a personal development practice, not a form of mental health treatment—even though it can support healing and insight. Unlike traditional psychotherapy, where a trained clinician guides the process as the expert, HB places the individual at the center of their own experience.
Facilitators do not diagnose or treat; they hold space and ensure safety. The guidance in HB comes from within—often described as the Inner Healing Intelligence or Inner Healer—rather than from an external authority.
In essence, HB empowers participants to navigate their own inner landscape, trusting their innate capacity for growth and transformation.
Is Holotropic Breathwork safe?
Generally, yes—Holotropic Breathwork (HB) is considered safe for most people. It does not involve taking any substances, medications, or plants. Sessions are facilitated by trained practitioners, and participants work in pairs so that one person remains fully attentive to the breather at all times.
However, there are important health contraindications. HB is not recommended for individuals with recent surgeries, recent psychiatric hospitalization, a history of psychosis, seizure disorders, significant cardiac conditions (such as a recent heart attack or heart failure), pulmonary disease, or a personal or family history of brain or abdominal aneurysms. Facilitators review your medical history through a health questionnaire to help determine whether HB is appropriate for you.
A helpful rule of thumb: if your physician has placed restrictions on your physical activity, it’s best to avoid participating in HB. It is also not recommended for anyone who is unable to suspend using addictive drugs such as opiates, cocaine etc.
Can HB help people suffering from PTSD?
Yes. HB can support people with PTSD in several meaningful ways. The group setting itself counters the isolation that often deepens when trauma goes untreated. HB also allows individuals to access and work through the roots of trauma‑related symptoms, helping to release and integrate what has been held in the body and psyche. Many participants experience emotional, physical, and spiritual catharsis through the process.
A related field—psychedelic‑assisted psychotherapy—has shown promising results in reducing or even potentially resolving PTSD symptoms for many participants, although it is not yet widely available in the United States.
While HB is not a replacement for all professional treatment, it can be a powerful complementary approach for those seeking healing and deeper self‑understanding.
Do I need to believe in spirituality in order to benefit from HB?
No. Many participants don’t have spiritual or “sacred” experiences at all. People often gain stress relief, emotional release, rejuvenation, and personal insight without any sense of the divine. Spiritual belief is not required, and spirituality is not taught as part of the HB process.
That said, some individuals do experience a spiritual dimension or awakening during HB. Those who approach these moments with openness—without judgment or dismissing what arises—often find their experiences deeper and more meaningful.
HB meets you where you are. Whether you’re spiritually curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, the process can still support healing and personal growth.
How do I get started?
People come to HB from many different paths. Some begin after psychedelic experiences—whether recreational, therapeutic, or ceremonial. Others arrive through spontaneous mystical or out‑of‑body experiences. Many participants have backgrounds in meditation, while others have explored practices like shamanic journeying, sweat lodges, or Indigenous rituals that evoke non‑ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC).
Of course, you can also start by simply signing up for an HB workshop. See resource page –
If there’s one offered in your area—or if you’re able to travel—attending a weekend session is a direct way to experience the work. Preparing through self‑education, using books, videos, and other online resources, can also help you feel grounded and ready for the journey.
Each starting point is valid. What matters most is your curiosity and willingness to explore.
Do I have to wear eyeshades when I participate in HB?
No but most folks do. It is an aide in helping to keep the process internal. In is generally easier for most people to achieve a nonordinary state of consciousness with their eyes closed and eyeshades on.
What if I can’t do breathwork—are there other approaches?
Absolutely. Many healing traditions use non‑ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC) in different ways. Practices such as chanting, drumming, shamanic journeying, trance dancing, didgeridoo playing, and various Indigenous ceremonies or rites of passage can all open the door to expanded awareness. Some people also explore entheogenic substances like psilocybin or ayahuasca, or engage in mystical traditions such as Kabbalah or Sufism. Dedicated prayer, mantra repetition, and religious ritual can serve a similar purpose for others.
These examples highlight the spiritual and connective potential that Holotropic Breathwork can facilitate. There are also other approaches that can shift consciousness or energy, such as Reiki, guided meditation, past‑life regression, rebirthing, hypnosis, yoga, Tai Chi, and sound therapy or sound bathing.
Each of these modalities offers its own pathway for healing, self‑development, and deepening spiritual awareness. The key is finding the approach that resonates with you and supports your growth.