Dangers of Breathwork
Summary
An overview of Breathwork/pranayama benefits and precautions
As we have learned before, there are 2 categories of breathing practices.
Strong, deep, breathing techniques will activate the Sympathetic nervous system and activate the mind and nervous system.
This is good for activating, resetting and unblocking of mind, nervous system and emotional system. This has to be followed by a calm breathing and meditation session.
Precautions for these types of breathing techniques are the following, not for those, or only do it gently that suffer from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent surgery on the torso
Recent brain surgery
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant for longer than 3 months
Out of precaution advise that if people have any serious health conditions, they should always consult a medical professional before doing a session.
When doing strong breathing techniques there should be done at least a 1,5-hour gap after one’s last meal. The best is to have a 2 – 3 hour gap after the last meal. When one really wants to go deeper with yogic practices, pranayama should be done on an empty stomach.
Slow, calm & gentle breathing techniques will activate the Parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest).
This is great for deep relaxation, healing, and meditation. These slow gentle techniques will harmonize mind, body and soul and are good for everyone.
Precautions:
None
Breath-holding precautions:
Don’t do breath-holding when you suffer from:
Heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Suffer from HBP
When pregnant
After a round of strong breathing practices, never hold the breath in after full inhalation. This can cause fainting or even serious brain damage (brain stroke)!
Breathing technique benefits and precautions
Gentle Yogic breathing | 3 step breathing
Benefits
Gain control over breathing system
Open up and strengthen the breathing system
Oxygenating the body
Great preparation for meditation
Training the mind to become focused
Precautions
When doing it for more than 7 deep breaths: Standard precautions for strong breathing apply.
Strong Yogic breathing | full, deep breathing
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Increase blood flow
Open up and strengthen the breathing system
Stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Develop commitment and will power
Unblock and reset the mind and emotional system
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant for longer than 4 months
ChidShakti pranayama | energy & consciousness awakening breathing
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
increase blood flow
Detoxification of body and energy system
stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Set your intention and realize it in the coming weeks
Develop commitment and will power
Trains the mind to become focused
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently that suffer from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
A recent operation in the torso
Had recent brain surgery
When pregnant for longer than 5 months
Anulom Vilom pranayama | alternate nostril breathing
Benefits
Balances & harmonizes the nervous system snd energy system
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Centers and focuses the awareness
Clears the mind
Precautions
None
Nadi Shodhana pranayama | energy channel purification breath
Benefits
Balances & harmonizes the nervous system snd energy system
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Centers and focuses the awareness
Clears the mind
Precautions
None
Kapalbhati pranayama | skull cleansing breath
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Clears respiratory system
Increase blood flow around the internal organs
Stimulate lower energy systems to rise to higher energy systems
Stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Burns excess fat and toxins from the body
Brings clarity to the mind
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant
Bhastrika pranayama | breath of fire
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Clears respiratory system
Increase blood flow around the internal organs
Stimulate lower energy systems to rise to higher energy systems
Stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Burns excess fat and toxins from the body
Brings clarity to the mind
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant
Ujjayi pranayama | victorious breath
Benefits
Helps to become more aware of the breath
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
More O2 absorption in the blood
Induces a state of meditation
Clears and centers the mind
Precautions
None
Kaki Mudra pranayama | crow’s beak breath
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Clears respiratory system
Increase Self-awareness
Aids self-healing
Induces a state of deep relaxation
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Pranava pranayama | universal energy breathing
Benefits
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Induces a state of meditation
Clears and centers the mind
Opens 3rd eye
Aids to the realization of one “True Self”
Precautions
None
Bahya pranayama | expelling breath
Benefits
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Induces a state of meditation
Clears and centers the mind
Opens 3rd eye
Aids to the realization of one “True Self”
Precautions
None
Bhramari pranayama | bees breath
Benefits
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Induces a state of meditation
Clears and centers the mind
Opens 3rd eye
Aids to the realization of one “True Self”
Precautions
Can be scary if people suffer from anxiety. However, for some people, it has proven to be helpful.
Udgeeth pranayama | chanting of Ohm
Benefits
Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Induces a state of meditation
Clears and centers the mind
Opens 3rd eye
Aids to the realization of one “True Self”
Precautions
None
Vritti Pranayama | Ratio bounded breathing
Vritti Pranayama is a type of breathing technique in which you breathe in certain ratios. The ratios are usually shown like this: In:Hold:Out:Hold.
For example ratio of 4:2:6:1 would be: 4 seconds breathing In: 2 seconds Holding the breath: 6 seconds breathing Out: 1 second Holding the breath.
Or 2:1:3 can be 6 seconds In: 3 seconds Holding the breath: 9 seconds breathing out: No breath retention on the exhale.
There are 2 types of Vritti Pranayama: SamaVritti Pranayama and VisamaVritti Pranayama. Sama means same or equal. Visama means irregular or unequal.
Sama Vritti Pranayama (equal ratio) like 1:1:1 or 1:1:1:1
Benefits
When done gently it
Harmonizes and calms all systems in the body and mind
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant for longer than 4 months
Visama Vritti Pranayama (irregular ratio) like 2:1:3 or 1:4:2:1 (there can be numerous different ratios made)
The kind of benefits will depend on what kind of ratio one uses. Generally speaking, one can say:
Breathing out longer than breathing in is calming and soothing (when breathing calm of course)
Breathing in longer than breathing out is energizing and activating (which in a lot of cases, not a good thing because you make the mind more active)
Other breathwork practices:
Box Breathing/Square breathing (breathing ratio of 1:1:1:1) and Triangular breathing (breathing ratio of 1:1:1) is another name for Sama Vritti Pranayama.
Wim Hof Breathing/ Strong Yogic breathing | full, deep yogic breathing
This is basically Strong Yogic Breathing with strong inhalation through the nose and relaxed exhalation through mouth combined with breath-holding (Kumbhaka)
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Increase blood flow
Stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Develop commitment and will power
Unblock and reset the mind and emotional system
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant for longer than 4 months
Holotropic Breathing | controlled breathing patterns for a longer period
Developed by psychiatrists Stanislav and Christina Grof in the 1970s to achieve altered states of consciousness (without using drugs) as a potential therapeutic tool. Holotropic breathwork involves controlling and quickening breathing patterns to influence your mental, emotional, and physical states.
Benefits
Open up the energy system and consciousness
Emotional and trauma release
Increase blood flow
Stimulates all systems in the body (metabolism, cardio vesicular system, nervous system, etc)
Develop commitment and will power
Unblock and reset the mind and emotional system
Precautions
Not for those, or only do it gently, when suffering from:
Serious heart problems
Epileptic attacks
Serious HBP
Recent brain surgery
A recent operation in the torso
Suffering from psychosis or recent trauma
When pregnant
Rebirthing-breathwork | controlled breathing patterns for longer period of time
Controlled deep breathing practices to go into a state of trance to go back to the memory of the moment you were conceived.