Breathwork: Origins, History and Modern Day Application

Breathwork's history is deeply rooted in ancient cultures. Various techniques have been used for centuries to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Through the conscious manipulation (or control) of breath regulation, the breath can quieten the mind and access an inner state of calmness and a higher state of consciousness.

Breathwork has shifted and transformed from its ancient inception to now supporting the contemporary lives of our modern-day society. When practised in harmony with its origins, its power and ability remain the same—to influence a healthier and connected way of being. 

"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as a means to take control of your mind again". - Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathworks Ancient Roots

Life begins with and ends with the breath. Therefore, there is a simple wisdom held within the breath. If we do not breathe, we are dead - simply put. 

"The fact is when we focus on the breath, we are focusing on the life force. Life begins with our first breath and will end after our last. To contemplate breathing is to contemplate life itself." - Larry Rosenberg, Breath by Breath

It is the most necessary part of our survival. We can go three weeks without food, three days without water, and three minutes without (air) oxygen. But the breath's power goes far beyond just keeping us alive - it can hold a key or create mystery to our meaning and perception of life. It's an autonomic behaviour, meaning something we are born with.

Upon entry into this world out of the mother's womb, we know to breathe. Yet, do we consciously tap into our breath and its rhythmic patterns? And do we examine what each inhale and exhale can represent? Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), a spiritual teacher, taught that with every inhale, we breathe in the essence of the source, and with every exhale we breathe out a part of our essence back to the universe.  

Being fascinated with the breath isn't a new phase; for thousands of years, cultures and ancient civilisations have explored its healing and connecting abilities of mind, body, and spirit, and its gateway to deeper consciousness and meaning, whether religious, spiritual or other beliefs.

Indian

One of the earliest forms of Breathwork, Pranayama (Sanskrit word), can be traced back to its use in Yogic and Ayurvedic practices in ancient India. Prana means life force energy and breath, Yama means control, and Ayama means expand or lengthen, which translates to the regulation and expansion of life energy through the control of the breath — Pranayama. 

Through Pranayama, eight types of breathing techniques were developed within the Yogic culture, each with a specific purpose for leading to greater emotional, physical and spiritual well-being and consciousness.

"For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth." -Sanskrit Proverb

Pranayama techniques include Yogic Breathing (the power of the breath), Kapalbhati (the purifying breath), and Nadi Shodhana (the awareness breath).  In today's world, Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian guru and philanthropist, suggests performing the simplest Pranayama technique, holding your breath for less than 10 seconds, to balance the mind and body. 

Although Pranayama dates back thousands of years, other ancient civilisations harnessed the power of the breath through breathwork practices, including but not limited to Egyptian and Chinese cultures. Each developed their own beliefs around the breath, but each potentially had the same underlying philosophy. We'll start with the ancient Egyptian civilisations.

Egyptian

The ancient Egyptians deeply understood the profound impacts of the breath and how to use its control to regulate, connect, and align the mind, body, and spirit. Although the Egyptians practised in this context six thousand years ago, breathwork was also used to connect with their religious beliefs and perform ceremonial processes to create a deeper connection with the gods and spirituality. They believed that by focusing on the breath and practising conscious breathing techniques, they could also connect with the energy of the life force, known as Ka. 

Practices developed by ancient Egyptian breathwork include Heka (magic), Sekhem (power) and Thoth (control). Each practice used within Egyptian culture was based on the foundation of promoting greater health and well-being, and a connection beyond their physical form. 

Chinese

Like the Yogis and Egyptians of the past, the Chinese have used breath as a tool to connect with natural balance. They believed the breath was connected to the body, mind, and energy systems, improving overall health and well-being. Around two and a half thousand years ago, Chinese medical practitioners investigated self-healing and life force energy (Qi). They believed that breath was closely linked with the body's vital energy systems and that through breathing, you could regulate, balance and restore the body's energy and life force. 

Through the breath, Qi was taken into the body to circulate, bringing in life-force energy before being exhaled and made available for others. Beyond the influences towards mind and body health, it was also believed that through these practices, the mind could be awoken for spiritual practices.

Modern Breathwork Practices

The breathwork we see today in modern society mainly originated in the 1950s - 1970s when techniques focused on states of consciousness and psychedelic effects, self-awareness and inner peace. A few notable pioneers from this period who have contributed to 21st-century breathwork include Dr Leonard Orr, who created the framework of Rebirthing Breathwork, and Stanislav and Christina Grof, who created Holotropic breathing. 

Rebirthing

Rebirthing breathwork began in the late '60s and into the '70s, and the framework was invented, believing it could heal past traumas. Dr Leonard Orr claims his inspiration came from experimenting with different breathing patterns when in warm water, and through his breath, he was able to connect with the state of the warm water. Orr developed the concept of using the breath or Rebirthing Breathwork as a self-healing method aiming to release old trauma and blockages through consciously connected breathing patterns that provided the body with an opportunity to release, resulting in improved overall health and well-being. Orr's claims suggest that this technique was influenced by his time in an Ashram in the Himalayas under the supervision of Mahavatar Babaji, a Himalayan Yogi. 

Holotropic Breathing

Holotropic breathing arose in the 1970s by psychotherapists Stanislav and Christina Grof. The word Holotropic is derived from the meaning of 'moving towards wholeness'. Holotropic breathing uses deep and rapid breathing techniques using abdominal muscles with a forceful inhalation and exhalation, generally for periods of 1-2 hours, to achieve non-ordinary states accessing the unconscious mind. The Grofs believed by accessing this state, one could release repressed emotions, trauma and blockages that were impeding personal growth and healing.

Nasal Breathing

In the 1950s, Konstantin Buteyko, a Ukrainian Doctor, studied nasal breathing. He initially practised on himself as he suffered from severe hypertension and a heart condition. He found that his condition improved when breathing slowly through his nose; these self-administered tests and his studies created what we know today as the Buteyko method. The Buteyko method focuses on breathing less and more slowly, reducing the amount of air inhaled and exhaled and increasing oxygenation and carbon dioxide tolerance in the body. In his studies, he found that this method supports patients in curing asthma. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Buteyko method gained popularity, resulting in others studying it and its effectiveness for asthma, sleeping disorders, snoring, allergies, anxiety, and more. 

21st Century Breathwork

Leading into the 21st Century, another breath enthusiast, Patrick McKeown of Oxygen Advantage, explored the benefits similar to Buteyko's nasal breathing and developed a framework called Functional Breathing, which focuses on the biochemistry (slow), biomechanics (deep diaphragmatic) and cadence (duration of inhale and exhale) nasal breathing. This method has also been said to improve athletic performance, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall health and well-being. 

Today, there are dozens of branches of breathwork, as it has become quite diverse. Each technique or session has its unique focus and purpose, often using different stimuli (music or sound bowls, for example). The underlying component of each is how to consciously alter our breathing pattern to affect mind, body, and spirit for greater health and well-being. 

As we have explored through the different techniques, past and present, breathwork practices across different cultures represent a lot more than just breathing. They are believed to provide a connection to a more profound way of being, an opportunity for longevity, and a range of benefits for our overall well-being: including a more relaxed mind and body; reduced stress and anxiety; and improved focus and concentration.

We'll leave you with a quote written by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and peace activist,

"Inhale, exhale, repeat. Breathing is so simple, and yet its effects are miraculous. The ultimate sign of life, the foundation of meditation, breath is the means by which we can truly focus on the present moment."

We can continue to honour and respect the origins of breathwork and offer a moment of gratitude to our ancestors, who began exploring these wonderful techniques and the power within the breath, which science and modern-day society are now exploring and confirming.

Curious about Breathwork?

If you're curious about breathwork and how these ancient methods have transformed into modern-day, at Expansive Breath we offer a comprehensive 1:1 8-week Coaching Program filled with a range of practices that support your goals.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, we're here to guide you on your breathwork journey.