Setting the Stage for Breathwork

Integrating yogic wisdom with the science of biomechanics, biochemistry, and psychology of breathing, this chapter applies the foundational ancient and modern understandings to the clinical practice and teaching of therapeutic breathwork from an integrated holistic paradigm. It explores intentionality, beneficence, and accessibility, honoring human complexity and unique biopsychosociocultural contexts. It presents a conceptual paradigm for person-centered breathwork that is carefully tailored to each individual client. The chapter outlines a conceptual framework for therapeutic breathwork that begins with deeply understanding clients’ presenting concerns or reasons for seeking assistance, in the context of their unique biopsychosociocultural background. Based on diagnostic and etiological understandings, the process elucidates goals and intentions that lead to a specific and individually tailored plan for intervention and healing. This entirely collaborative process between clinician and client (or student and teacher) creates shared understanding, intention, and planning to lay the foundation for therapeutic breathwork to follow. Finally, the chapter offers a coherent paradigm for sequencing and tailoring interventions within and across sessions, based on the comprehensive and individualized understanding of the client and general principles for wholesome approaches to therapeutic breathwork.