Is Breathwork safe? And is Breathwork just hyperventilating?

Nov 10

The answer to the first question is Yes, to the second one No😊.
Overall, breathwork is perfectly safe for most people to practice. However, Breathwork is an umbrella term with different styles and techniques. Some are more intense than others and more or less suitable depending on your current state.

Breathwork is becoming an increasingly-popular mindfulness activity because its many scientifically proven benefits for the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. When the number of practitioners increases the question if “it is safe” increases. In general, breathwork is a safe and and offer many benefits that anyone can do with limited risk. If you have any medical conditions, or if you are pregnant, maybe have suffered from burnout or panic attacks - reach out to your breathwork guide or facilitator and ask if Breathwork is for you. Most breathing techniques can be modified.

“Is breathwork hyperventilating?”

NO. Breathwork is not hyperventilation! This is a common question, that hyperventilation is the reason for what you might experience during a session. We are not looking for lowering the carbon dioxide below normal, or increasing the oxygen level to a too high degree. We are actually striving for balance. With the breathing technique I personally most often do in groups, we address the sympathetic nervous system, to then switch for the parasympathetic system resulting in a very deep relaxation. And when working in the sympathetic nervous system consciously we can actually train the body over time to an increased level of stress. Breathwork, when practiced properly, is safe and will actually help your breathing, your body, your organs.

I usually recommend that when you start with Breathwork, give it a couple of times, that will enable you to ease into it. The purpose is to land in your body, let go of control, and let the breath lead the way in and beyond.

Statements of Breathwork explained:

1. I got dizzy during breathwork

Not everyone get dizzy or lightheaded, but some do and the potential lightheaded feeling, usually occurs within the first minutes until you find your rhythm and pace. The dizziness refers to unbalance between the oxygen and carbon dioxide. But, it is also a signal from the brain, alerting us of danger, keeping to the known side of things. Sometimes however, we need to do something different to create change and even though our brain does not always likes repetition - out nervous system does and this is actually where we are going.

During my 6 years of practicing and guiding a highly intense type of Breathwork, no one has fainted. If you are anxious about this however - let me know.

2. My finger, toes, face are tingling during Breath work

You might feel a tingling sensation in your arms, hands, feet, legs, belly. Usually this happens when you push the exhale, i.e you get less oxygen in your body, which affects your blood’s circulation.

‍3. “OMG! My hands cramp up during Breathwork!”

If you experience cramping, or stiffness in your hands or around your mouth during active breathwork, this is known as tetany or "lobster claw hands" and this can occur in all other muscles, jaws, thighs, belly, fingers, feet. This is a common occurrence in styles of breathwork such as 2-part breathwork, holotropic, rebirthing, transformational, Wim Hof Method, Vivation. The causes of tetany can be related to holding onto emotional or mental tension, as well as an imbalance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. During breathwork, hyperventilation or forceful breathing can eliminate more CO2 than the body can produce, causing involuntary muscle contractions. If you have underlying mineral imbalances, you may be more prone to tetany.

But it might also have a different perspective looking from a meridian, or more eastern way of looking at it. Everything is connected in our body. Like a system of lakes and rivers where the lakes are our organs and the rivers our meridians. It may show where you have things stored or stuck.

To release the tension, it is recommended to slow down your breathing, move lightly, tap your body, or breathe softly through your nose. The final integration phase of breathwork can also help to release any remaining tension

4. Racing heartbeat during Breathwork?

When breathing like this we consciously put the body in a stressful state. And stress makes us all react differently as individuals. Heartbeat quickens, higher pulse, freeze, shake, hide… We might feel we are losing control, thoughts are spinning, our attention is in our head - then the connection, scientifically speaking, with the rest of the body weakens.

Breathwork can train, or prepare, the body for towards stress. So when these moments happen, we can make sure we interrupt them and instead calm our nervous system. However, this can take time. If we have had past experiences of stress - the brain and body remembers it. So we need to re-learn. If you have had a period of high anxiety due to stress - reach out prior to the guide, let them know! That action alone might calm you down.

Changes to heart rate, including palpitations, could also be a sign that you’re experiencing breathwork-related hyperventilation. So of course, if you have had heart issues, previously experienced these sorts of irregular heart rates, a good suggestion is to avoid the most intense styles of Breathwork to start with. What's your intention and purpose?

5. My ears are ringing during Breathwork!

More advanced breathwork techniques can have a side effect of you feeling that your ears are ringing, especially if you have tinnitus. Most common during techniques where you by purpose limit the oxygen intake through for example breath holds, or change body temperature. If you experience this during breathwork, slow down and stop holding your breath and switch to regular deep breathing through your nose.

Personally, I have had one person whose tinnitus completely disappeared after Breathwork but I have tried to find a scientific backing of this but I have not. Maybe it was just good luck, or maybe the reiki working its power. I simply don’t know.

6. I feel chest pain during Breathwork

Chest pain, I have learned from training although never experienced during my years within the field, can result in changes how the respiratory and circulatory systems function. If you would experience this - slow down, or stop and try to relax. It will likely subside with proper breathing and relaxation.

7. I got low, in distress, after Breathwork

Stress + rest = success
Stress + stress= distress
Never ever skip the integration phase, or down-regulation, after Breathwork.

The breathwork I personally hold in Stockholm and Online, can with great benefit be used for therapeutic purposes. It may take you beyond your conscious rooms which may also give space for trauma or old emotions to occur. The majority of people find this helpful, and highly therapeutic, and phrases like “Breathwork is like 15 years of therapy in 1 hour” is often used. Sometimes we need to go through the darker moments, in order to grow, to come to the next level of life.

If you have specific things that you would like support for ? If so I recommend you reaching out for a 1:1 session.

If the experience is of a high degree of intensity you might need a longer time for down regulation. If you feel distress, reach out to your Breathwork facilitator for tips on how to continue integrate, reflect or maybe use a calming breathing technique afterwards.

8. Blurred vision from Breathwork

In theory, advanced breathwork apparently can also cause a temporary blurred vision, and has to do with too little oxygen in the body. Personally I have never experienced this myself or in class. Should you notice this - return to slow, deep breathing to allow more oxygen into your body.

9. Can Breathwork cause seizures?

Slow and deep belly breathing can help manage seizures. However, if you have seizures on a regular basis, or are epileptic, please reach out to your facilitator in forehand. This is for your safety. Changes to oxygen levels can trigger a seizure in some cases, so it is importance to be mindful of what specific exercises and techniques entail.

10. Nothing happened during breathwork!

Maybe this is not an experience to be mindful of, however this is one that is not well-liked when experienced ;) Truth is. Breathwork is different every time you do it. Sometimes it is highly physical, sometimes emotional, sometimes spiritual and sometimes you are just stuck in mind. My only suggestion is that you practice more. Over time you will learn how to surrender even more to your own breath and your breath and the wisdom of your body will lead you exactly where you need to go, not always correlating to where you would like to be though ;)

Want to try Breathwork?

Theer are many guided Breath works online, or if you would like to do a 10 days of Breath work and meditation - try this one where you will try different breathing techniques together with a variety of guided meditations. Some breathing technique are intense, some not.