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WHAT IS CONSCIOUS CONNECTED BREATHWORK?

Conscious Connected Breathing is a breathing technique in which the breather intentionally connects the inhale with the exhale without any pauses.

Evolution of Conscious Connected Breathing

Many techniques have evolved from Rebirthing – a Conscious Connected Breathing practice originally described by Leonard Orr in the 1970s.

  • Conscious Connected Breathwork uses a core practice of conscious connected breathing.
  • This causes shifts in our physiology and allows us to explore altered states of consciousness.
  • Conscious Connected Breathing allows deep awareness of self and our connection with self, others and nature to develop, providing the groundwork for profound personal development.
  • A variety of Conscious Connected Breathwork schools have evolved from Rebirthing, each combining a unique set of additional healing modalities with the core breathing practice.
  • The addition of modalities including; sound, bodywork, water, affirmations and coaching has developed these practices into a powerful psychotherapeutic approach.
  • Techniques include: Rebirthing, Holotropic Breathwork, Integrative Breathwork, Shamanic Breathwork, Transformational Breath®, Clarity Breathwork and many more.

Universal Components

While many conscious connected breathing techniques have unique features and spiritual frameworks, the majority include four primary components:

  1. Conscious connected breathing: no pauses between the inhale and the exhale.
  2. Diaphragmatic breathing: active inhale into the belly with relaxed expansion of the chest.
  3. Relaxed exhale: breathing out is a passive movement (let go).
  4. Breathing channel: breathe in and out through the same channel.

Additional Components:

In addition most practices acknowledge that both the breather and the breath have an innate healing capacity and use positive intention to focus the energy of a session.

Conscious Connected Breathwork

Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) is an experiential field of study and practice that uses conscious connected breathing and body-mind techniques to support the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of being.

Some schools of CCB are psychotherapeutic. There are various schools of CCB including, but not limited to Rebirthing, Holotropic Breathwork, Integrative Breathwork, Shamanic Breathwork and Transformational Breath®. The emphasis placed on different components of the session, as well as different theoretical and spiritual frameworks, determines the distinctions among the various schools.

Compiled by Dr Pippa Wheble & Dr Ela Manga, IBF Science & Research Group

IBF International Breathwork Foundation
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