Double Holotropic® Breathwork at
YOGA in the STARS
LONDON / 18-21 / Jan 2024
A potent experiential technique for activating self-discovery and self-exploration toward wholeness
devised by legendary pioneering psychiatrist, Stanislav Grof MD. Ph.D., together
with his late wife, Christina Grof at the Esalen Institute in California.
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Yoga in the Stars is hosting a double Holotropic Breathwork session with Sonia Telle, Somatic Psychotherapist licensed by the state of California.
All enquiries: [email protected] / Whatsapp +1 510 3953824
WHAT IS HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK?
MOVING TOWARD WHOLENESS
through non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Holotropic® Breathwork is known for its deeply transformational insights as it takes you into expanded states of consciousness, induced only by breath and music.
Holotropic Breathwork is a highly experiential work developed by pioneering psychiatrist, Stanislav Grof MD. Ph.D., together with his late wife, Christina Grof at the Esalen Institute in California.
Yoga in the Stars is delighted to announce a special one-off, double Holotropic® Breathwork with Sonia Telle of California, Stan's long-standing student. The deeply immersive experience will allow you to participate as a breather twice across the weekend, with integration and preparation to navigate your journey and reflect and integrate your journey towards profound clarity.
Holotropic® Breathwork is recommended for those interested in personal and spiritual growth through deep inner exploration. Stan Grof’s concept is that the wisdom of our 'inner healer' will direct us and bring to our consciousness what is best and most healing for us, at any given moment.
The workshop consists of Holotropic® Breathwork sessions where the participants are lying on a mat with eyes closed, using the power of their own breath and evocative music to enter an expanded state of consciousness (NOSC).
Such states activate our innate inner wisdom, bringing healing, release and/or insight.
For this, we honour the 3 guidelines of any work with holotropic states: The Preparation. The Experience. And the Integration, of the experience.
THE METHOD
The facilitation consists of Holotropic Breathwork sessions where the participants lay on a mat with eyes closed, using the power of their own breath and evocative music to enter an expanded state of consciousness (NOSC).
Such states are shown to activate our innate inner wisdom, bringing healing, release and/or insight.
We honor the 3 guidelines of any work with holotropic states: The Preparation. The Experience. And the Integration, of the experience.
YOUR FACILITATOR
Sonia Telle is a Somatic Psychotherapist licensed by the state of California. She works in her private practice with individuals and couples. She has a passion for Holotropic Breathwork and offers workshops in Northern California and Europe. She has worked closely with Stan Grof since 2000 and with GTT (Grof Transpersonal Training) and has trained with MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) to work with MDMA-Assisted psychotherapy.
She offers integration sessions to help those who want to integrate their experiences with Non Ordinary States of Consciousness (NOSC) and has provided consultation for those training in Holotropic Breathwork or who work with NOSC.
Psychotherapy offices: In Oakland, 3800 Park Blvd / In San Francisco, Noe Valley, Castro/24th street.
Visiting London: Yoga in the Stars, 344, Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, London.
For more info [email protected] / whatsap +1 5103953824
Supported by:
Yoga In the Stars co-creator & curator; Basia Zieniewicz.
HOW TO BOOK?
WHEN: 18th-21st January 2024
WHERE: Yoga in the Stars / London / E114EA
INVESTMENT: £470 (Does not include lodging - lodgings may be arranged through Yoga in the Stars)
HOW TO BOOK
All booking enquiries are done direct with your facilitator, Sonia Telle. All interested participants must contact Sonia before booking your place.
[email protected] / whatsap +1 5103953824
WHAT TO EXPECT?
The process itself combines accelerated breathing with evocative music which helps to amplify the experience and release unconscious material. With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, each person uses their own breath and the music in the room to enter a non-ordinary, or holotropic, state of consciousness. Additional elements of the process include focused energy release body-work and integration practices such as mandala drawing.
Expect an eight hour day, more or less, for one breathing session.
The sessions are done in pairs. Each participant will experience being a breather and a sitter. Once the breathwork session is complete, the breather is invited to draw a mandala of their experience. This does not require drawing skills.
The sessions are then followed by a sharing circle where people can share their experience + a talk or practice of integration, to support the content of the breathwork session.
KNOW MORE
Breathwork is a new-age term that refers to rejuvenating breathing techniques aimed at awakening the body’s life force. In many cultures, breathwork is a key modality utilized to inspire peacefulness, healing, and the embodiment of the divine. Stan Grof, MD, Ph.D., a clinical psychiatrist and one the founding forefathers of research in transpersonal psychology for non-ordinary states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of LSD, has turned breathwork into a psychedelic, theraputic experience, and the benefits are profound.
This method of breathwork, recently renamed as Grof® Breathwork, devised by Stan and Christina to circumvent the prohibition of LSD in the 60's, thereby seizing the therapeutic applications that Stan was researching. This modality relies on our innate inner wisdom and its capacity to move us toward desired transformation and closer to wholeness. With reverence to our psyche's innate wisdom, the participant accesses the inner healing intelligence, being the essential cornerstone of this approach. The Grof's theoretical framework integrates insights from psychedelic research, anthropology, various depth psychologies, transpersonal psychology, Eastern spiritual practices, and mystical traditions of the world.
THE PROCESS
PREPARATION
In advance of the gathering, you will complete an application form where we will screen to be sure this modality is suitable for you.
Prior to gathering, the group will meet in circle to learn about the process in greater depth, connect, and finalise preperations.
SITTERS & BREATHERS
Expect a three hour breathing session in a context marked by unconditional acceptance and emotional support. The group is divided into pairs - "sitters" & "breathers" and the session divided into two, three-hour breathing sessions, alternating in the roles.
The sitter’s role is simply to be present and available to assist the breather—not to interfere, interrupt, or try to guide the process. The same is true for trained facilitators, who are available as helpers if necessary.
THE SETTING
This setting is a key part of this work and it allows the breather to open up to its experience with greater sense of confidence. This state activates the natural "inner radar" process of the individual’s psyche, onsetting the breather a particular set of internal experiences. With the inner healing intelligence guiding the process, the quality and content that emerges is unique to each person. While recurring themes are common, every session is different.
INTEGRATION
An integration is carried out to weave and anchor the process into creative expression and verbal language.
You will complete a mandala and also be guided through a creative embodiment practice in the form of movement.
A sharing circle will showcase your mandala, your own essence of your insights of your own experience in a sharing circle between you and the group.
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MORE JOUNRIES & EXPERIENCES
Yoga in the Stars is a not-for-profit yoga club, with a focus on esoteric health and connection, embracing all practices that can help us navigate life in the 21st Century. For more information on the visiting facilitators, both local and from around the globe get in touch here.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
The goal of Grof® Breathwork is to essentially use accelerated breathing to increase awareness of the self as well as cope with traumatic memories. This technique allows you to access parts of your psyche that can’t be reached under normal conditions, and it helps us to relieve mental health conditions and different symptoms, including:
Depression | Substance use disorder | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). | Anxiety | Negative thinking | Grieving | Chronic stress | Tension | Avoidance behaviours
WHO IS THIS NOT FOR?