What’s the difference between Holotropic Breathwork and the Intentionality Breath?

In the realm of breathwork, I’m often asked if my technique is a type of Holotropic Breathwork. The short answer is no; the style I’ve based the Intentionality Breath on is more similar to that of Tummo Breathing. These two breathing techniques differ significantly, with Holotropic Breathwork emphasizing rhythmic patterns and Tummo-style breathing incorporating breath retention and visualization to generate inner heat.

There are many nuances for the multitude of breathwork styles out there. Some breathwork guides get trained in a particular breathwork method like Holotropic, the Wim Hof Method, SOMA breath, etc. Others, like myself, have created their own protocols, the commonality is that all of these modern day iterations are based on ancient techniques passed down through the ages. In this article I’ll focus on the differences between two popular types of breathwork (Holotropic and Tummo) and provide a brief description of the Intentionality Breath.

Holotropic breathwork was developed by Dr. Stanislav Grof in the 1970s and was born from his Western psychological and spiritual explorations. Dr. Grof and his wife Christina crafted this practice to unlock non-ordinary states of consciousness through intentional, rhythmic breathing. Holotropic Breathwork aims to access the subconscious mind, providing a therapeutic space for individuals to confront and heal past traumas, explore the depths of their psyche, and foster personal transformation.

Practitioners engage in a specific deep and rhythmic breathing pattern, complemented by evocative music and, at times, bodywork. This continuous, intense breathing helps induce altered states of consciousness, enabling a profound journey inward. This type of breathwork is unique in that it is typically conducted in group settings facilitated by trained practitioners, who often integrate breathing sessions with expressive artwork and group sharing.

Tummo-style breathing is rooted in ancient Tibetan Buddhist traditions dating back to the 8th century. Derived from the inner heat (Tummo) meditation, this practice has been cultivated by Tibetan monks for centuries as a means of generating intense internal energy.

Tummo-style breathing aims to awaken inner energy, achieve heightened states of consciousness, and ultimately lead practitioners toward enlightenment. In this technique, practitioners focus on generating heat within the body through a specific breathing technique that involves breath retention, visualization, and specific body postures. The goal is to awaken subtle energy channels and centers.

For the Intentionality Breath, I have based it on Tummo style breathing and an ancient Two-Stage Pranayama technique that originated with the Yogis of the Himalayas. In this method, you breathe forcefully through the mouth with the first inhale directed to the belly, the second inhale directed to the chest, and the exhale releasing it all with an exaggerated out-breath. We combine this rhythm with breath holds to change the CO2 balance in your body, increasing oxygen saturation levels.

In addition to the breathing and breath hold patterns, I also combine meditation and visualization techniques to help recode the subconscious mind while you are in the altered state created by the intensity of the breathing rhythm.

I have learned through experience there are two key components to a breath journey. One part is the breath protocol itself; the second is the energetic field that the guide creates for the breathwork participants. Someone else could guide you through the exact same breath technique and it would be a very different experience given their delivery.   

In the realm of breathwork, what matters less is what’s on your resume and more on your ability to manage this energetic field. It’s a huge responsibility and one that I do not take lightly. You must be fully present and confident in your ability to manage the many different energies that are released in these intense practices. My breathwork sessions have often been compared to those of a psychedelic trip (see my articles in LA weekly and Celebmix), and it’s similar in that we are diving deep into the subconscious to release what is no longer needed. 

I’m so passionate about breathwork because it is a powerful practice available to anyone and at any time and offers a gateway to transformation and self-discovery beyond what you can reach with the conscious mind. And while all the lingo and delineations between the different types of breathwork might be overwhelming, remember that this is your superpower that you were born with, and all it takes is one inhale in, and one exhale out to get started!