Breathwork is a broad concept that can be applied to a wide range of disciplines that cover everything from yoga to sound healing. On the other hand, trauma-informed breathwork is a specific type of breathwork appreciated by both facilitators and participants for its therapeutic benefits.
Simply put, trauma-informed breathwork is a therapeutic discipline that harnesses the power of intentional breathing to help a person process and release trauma stored in the body. It is rooted in an understanding of how trauma impacts the nervous system, one’s physical health, and emotional and mental responses. It works best when practiced in a safe and supportive environment.
Different Types of Trauma
Trauma-informed breathwork is subject to a variety of misconceptions due to modern definitions of trauma. The first thing to note is that trauma is not just a physical experience. There are emotional and mental traumas as well. A therapeutic form of breathwork can help release negative energy from all sorts of traumas.
1. Physical Trauma
Physical trauma is related to accidents and injuries. One of the results of physical trauma can be tension in the body. Releasing that tension can make a person feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. Trauma-informed breathwork is designed to do just that.
2. Emotional Trauma
Emotional trauma is often the result of troubling experiences. Think of personal loss, betrayal, or even emotional abuse. It creates intense emotions that negatively impact how a person thinks and feels. The idea of addressing emotional trauma through breathwork is to release negative energy while simultaneously regulating the more intense emotions a person is feeling.
3. Mental Trauma
The psychological stress experienced during traumatic events can leave behind mental trauma that manifests itself as stress. Trauma-informed breathwork encourages relaxation, thus releasing stress and calming the mind.
Some breathwork facilitators also refer to complex and developmental traumas. Complex trauma is trauma resulting from exposure to prolonged events that create complex layers of stress. Developmental trauma is trauma resulting from childhood experiences that impact personality development.
Goals for Releasing Trauma
Given that trauma-informed breathwork is considered a therapeutic discipline, facilitators tend to establish goals for their sessions. These goals are designed to promote the release of one or more traumas among participants.
A primary goal is safety. Participants make a point of creating physically and emotionally safe spaces that encourage participants to engage without having to worry. One way to establish a sense of safety and security is to start with grounding exercises.
As a facilitator works through a breathwork session, several goals emerge:
- Regulation – Trauma-informed breathwork activates the parasympathetic nervous system to support emotional regulation. The resulting relaxation helps a participant set aside a negative state, like the fight or flight state. The person can then concentrate on rhythmic, calming breathing.
- Empowerment – Participants are invited to modify their breathing techniques and patterns as needed to reach their goals. This provides a sense of empowerment and autonomy that can further promote trauma release.
- Processing and Release – Processing and releasing trauma are obvious goals during every session. Relaxed, rhythmic breathing brings stress, tension, and suppressed emotions to the surface, where they can be released through a variety of physical or emotional means.
- Exploration – Exploration is another common goal that emphasizes collaboration between facilitator and participant. The two work together to explore the participant’s traumas so they are better understood.
If past traumas are giving you trouble, you might want to look into trauma-informed breathwork. You might benefit from its therapeutic effects. If it works for you, trauma-informed breathwork can help you release all those traumas that are holding you back on a daily basis.
