Breathwork with Phases of the Breath

Building on breath attunement and subtle breathing, this chapter guides clinicians toward shaping therapeutic breathwork adaptations and variations via three specific foci. First, movement variations explore breath in various physical postures, shapes, flows, or exercise applications. Second, polyvagal state variations adapt practices to be calming, energizing, or balancing depending on client needs. Third, generalization into daily life covers strategies for incorporating breath into home life, relationships, work, and more. The chapter details four-part-breathing-oriented practices, such as equalizing breath phases, differentially lengthening one phase over another, emphasizing pauses for calming, creating breath holds, and more. It sequences breath-phase-based practices from most accessible to most challenging. However, each client is different; what may typically be manageable for most may be difficult for a particular individual. Vigilance, compassion, and observation are therefore highlighted as therapeutic breathwork moves toward incorporating strategies for breath control. The chapter reemphasizes that breathwork is not defined by breath control; it is defined by helping clients cultivate resilient, coherent, natural breathing rhythms that result in adaptive and optimally functional breathing in all circumstances.