#Breathwork

Holotropic breathwork is the ceremonial art of exploring the abyss of the soul using nothing but inhalation and exhalation. Behind the simple act of breathing lies an endless labyrinth of self-discovery. Practitioners feel their sense of self sway like a leaf in the wind the deeper their breaths become. In the end, however, they are invariably left with a fatigued diaphragm and a near-catatonic headache. Yet still, those who fantasize about spiritual leaps cling to their mats in pursuit of the ultimate breathwork secret.

Pranayama is the art of turning the most mundane act—breathing—into a sacred ritual. With every exaggerated inhalation, practitioners convince themselves they are communing with the cosmos, and with each exhalation, they believe they are purging worldly distractions. Ultimately, it is a collective self-hypnosis that dresses up ordinary respiration in mystical garb, ensuring everyone feels a little wiser without actually changing their day-to-day existence.