Is Hyperventilating Good for You?
This morning I lay flat on my bed, taking exaggerated breaths in and out of my mouth to a prescribed rhythm from this meditation. Discomfort shifted to pleasantly intense tingles moving through my body. After, I found myself close to ecstatic… and very curious. What just happened biologically? What are the risks? Can I, in good faith, recommend this to people I coach or friends? A research rabbit hole ensued.
The short answer: I’m into it and going to continue to explore it, but I would not recommend doing it at home alone (oops). I also would proceed with extra caution if you are prone to panic attacks or have any underlying health stuff that might not respond well to unbalanced oxygen/carbon dioxide levels (ex. cardiovascular disease).
What is Breathwork?
Breathwork describes a variety of breathing techniques used for therapeutic purposes - spiritual, physical and mental. Its roots are ancient and span many cultures. Maybe you’re familiar with pranayama from yoga class, belly breathing to help you relax or strengthen your diaphragm, or Holotropic breathwork (if you follow LSD psych stuff). For a brief history and fascinating etymology, I enjoyed this post.
Why was I hyperventilating?
Holotropic Breathwork (and spin-offs) involve essentially hyperventilating on purpose to create altered states of consciousness. It was coined and popularized (commercialized? appropriated?) by Dr Stanislav Grof in the 60s + 70s, in part, as an alternative to LSD therapy. I am just learning about it/him and am still digging in to learn what traditions inform the method. It’s not lost on me that so many of the people known for their work on “getting back into your body,” breathwork, spirituality and healing are white men … part of the same lineage that violently broke the connection to our bodies, spirituality, and community, and made it hard for many to breathe in the first place.
What’s happening physiologically?
Rapid breathing (or “over breathing,” or hyperventilation) changes the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) in your bloodstream. When CO2 drops, your body’s PH level increases (more alkaline) and your veins contract. This leads to tingles, lightheadedness, and sometimes a “claw” hand or foot. (more here).
Is it safe?
My understanding is that many people bounce back fairly quickly from mild O2/CO2 imbalances. Mild to moderate side effects may include tingles, fatigue, dizziness, muscle contraction and confusion. More severe cases and side effects may include fainting, panic attacks and seizures (depending on your body, history, health, etc.). Disclaimer: I am NOT a doctor, healthcare professional or breathwork facilitator.
Is it good for you?
I didn’t find a ton of scientifically rigorous stuff on this front, and I’m not sure it matters. “Good for you” is very subjective, so my two-cents: if this piques your curiosity, maybe there’s something here for you! Anecdotally, I’ve heard many rave reviews from folks. Personally I really enjoyed the experience. It was a unique state to observe myself in, increased my awareness, and fed my imagination.
As always, looking forward to hearing your experiences and input!
xx
Leah
