The Origins of Breathwork
I sat amongst the ferns and trees of the forest the other day, where everything lingered with a scent, wet and green. The wind was playing with the leaves and spruce tips gently, the trees dancing and swaying along with it. I climbed a nearby spruce, pulling myself up with arm and step until I found two branches growing close together, reaching out at a favorable angle. I sat myself where they met the trunk, my legs thrown over and around each branch. It was like this that I began to dance with the trees and the wind.
I don't know how long I sat there for, but I sat and watched. I sat and listened. And eventually I sat and breathed: in with a sway forward, a slight pause, and out with a sway backwards, a slight pause. I don't know if this rhythm was perfectly in beat, and I don't know if it is a specific breath practice, but I'm sure that new ones are invented in all moments, every day, even unconsciously. All I know is that I sat there breathing and dancing my seated dance until I felt goose bumps rise on my arms. The sky was navy blue to my left, East, and pink and orange to the West. The thought that crossed my mind was not “I am cold.” It was “The temperature dropped.” Not “I am sleepy,” but ‘the sun is starting to set.” Choosing to head back through the forest, I detangled my legs from the branches and slid like water down the trunk and lower branches of the tree until my softly strapped feet touched the needle-blanketed earth again.
Why Do We All Revere The Wind?
Humans have a rich history of stories and fables, often shared around campfires, through songs, before bedtime, and in holy places. A story is the vessel for sharing important lessons and information, literally, but often figuratively. They are introduced to us as children as a warning of the dangers in life, as well as the divine experiences to be found in existence. Many of the stories shared today often represent internal navigation through the guise of an outer journey.
Almost all breathwork practices in humanity's known history were shared with future generations through sacred texts and oral traditions, and they have been shared this way all over the Earth. In Yoruba tradition, Ashe is the divine force that animates all life and can be channeled through ritual. Similarly, in Ancient Egypt, the Ka was considered a vital essence or spiritual material that sustained life.
A most commonly known term, Prana, is a Sanskrit term used in yoga that is intimately associated with the breath, meaning “primordial impulse”. It is thought of as the primary creative power of the cosmos. The yogic term Pranayama is the practice of intentional breathing. In practice, you are always giving and receiving. Used this way, a practitioner can both invigorate themselves and calm themselves.
In Chinese philosophy, Qi (or Chi) literally means "vapor" or "breath" and is the vital energy that flows through all entities. It is often represented by the dual union of Ying and Yang. You may recognize the term from popularized practices of Qigong or Tai Chi.
The ancient Greeks used the term Pneuma to describe a "universal breath" that pervades existence, a concept further developed by Stoic philosophers. The root was later used in the naming of a common illness that we have all heard about: pneumonia.
The Romans used Spiritus (and Anima) to refer to both physical breath and the animating principle of the soul.
In the Americas, there are many cultures that have their own unique stories. The word Orenda is a spiritual power or life force believed by the Iroquois to be present in all things, used to explain both the natural world and human accomplishments. In Andean traditions (such as the Quechua), Sami is a refined, light energy often associated with the cosmos and breath, which individuals must balance to maintain health and connection to the Earth. Funnily enough, this group used to record information using a complex system of knotted strings where each type of knot, position, color, and spacing meant something different, much like the beadwork of the early nomadic scholars of Atmos.
Questing out into the Pacific, the term Mana is a powerful spiritual energy that exists in people, objects, and the natural world across Polynesian cultures, often seen as a measure of spiritual authority and vital power.
Something all of these cultures have in common is that they associate the breath with Life. This is something modern science is starting to catch up to, despite current research focused on the effects of breathwork being underfunded.
Air, Water, Food
Most people grow up learning that humans need three things to live: air, water, and food. They are also required in this order. There is a difference, however, between breath and air. Often air, in this sense, refers to the oxygenation of the brain and other vital tissues. While breath is how we take in oxygen, our heart is what pumps those nutrients all over the body.
Think about it: when you hold your breath for a while, your heart keeps beating. The first, most urgent signal to breathe comes from CO2 buildup rather than oxygen depletion, increasing the acidity of the blood.
This is called carbon dioxide (CO2) tolerance. With low tolerance, you will find yourself breathing with rapid, shallow breaths at rest, experiencing anxiety, frequently yawning or sighing, and feeling air hungry (the sensation that you cannot get enough air). With increased tolerance, you may notice that you breathe calmly and fully, experience less anxiety, recover from exercise quickly, and have increased endurance. It allows you to respond to stress, both mental and physical, efficiently. Luckily, it’s trainable.
The relationship that exists between the pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body is what allows breathing to be automatic, allowing us to continue breathing while we are unconscious. On the other hand, it is an incredible ability for it to be under our conscious control as well. We can influence our heart rate and internal states with practice.
East Vs. West
The term “breathwork” first began to be used in the 1960s. It was used to reference modern Western practices, although it has been called many different names in many different cultures for thousands of years. This term was first used by Dr. Stanislav Grof around the time psychedelics were first criminalized in the United States. Looking for an alternative way to reach altered states of mind without drugs, he created holotropic breathwork. While ancient traditions have used breathing techniques for millennia, the term "breathwork" was specifically created to define the often therapeutic or consciousness-altering modern-day practices.
Other modern forms of breathwork include Wim Hof and Somatic breathwork. The former focuses on nervous system activation and increased energy, while the latter helps process emotions and release physical trauma. Early studies indicate that Wim Hof methods can reduce inflammation (important for autoimmune conditions such as asthma and eczema), increase immune resilience, and reduce stress and depressive symptoms. Somatic breathwork has been found to help facilitate somatic release, management of stress and anxiety through activating the parasympathetic nervous system, and increasing somatic awareness.
While ‘breathwork’ has become quite popular in the West, it has been an important part of cultures around the world for much longer. These cultures are often the basis of our current knowledge of how the breath works and how variations of breath patterns can be used in different ways. Because of this, it is important to acknowledge these origins and share in the joy and wonder that we humans have been intrigued by our breath for as long as we can account for, all over the world.
Somatic Awareness
You can try your own somatic awareness right now: wherever you sit right at this moment, check in with your body. Are you feeling any aches, pains, or tightness? Any pleasure? Where in your body are you feeling this? Take a few moments to breathe into this place in your body. If something is stiff, perhaps bring gentle movement to the area. Remember, you're not trying to change how your body feels. You are just checking in and bringing awareness to whatever might be there. Very good.
The seated dance in the spruce tree. Our exhale feeds those around us, as their exhale feeds us in return. The never-ending pump of lungs that stays in quiet conversation with every current of air that moves through the world. It was never separate from you. It has only been waiting for you to notice.