Sexual anxiety – whether rooted in trauma, performance-related shame, or dysregulated arousal – impedes intimacy, pleasure, and connection. Breathwork, a foundational somatic practice, offers an accessible means to regulate the ANS, reduce anxiety, and anchor present-moment awareness, core to healthy sexual engagement. Within psychosexual therapy, structured breathing promotes embodiment,...
Stress is inevitable in life. With increasing complexities, aspirations and uncertainties associated with socio-economic, political and cultural upheavals, stress is more likely to increase. College students today feel pressure and stress coming at them from all different levels. They have stress from their own feelings and internal barometer on how they are fitting in socially and...
Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder frequently associated with sleep disturbances, which can worsen seizure activity and reduce overall quality of life. Non-pharmacological approaches such as Yogasana and Bhramari Pranayama have gained attention for their potential to improve sleep through relaxation, autonomic regulation, and mental stability. Objective: The present study...
BACKGROUND: The scientific development of yoga during the twentieth century was shaped by several pioneering researchers who successfully integrated traditional yogic knowledge with modern medical science. Among the most influential was Dr. Mukund Vinayak Bhole (1935–2021), physician, physiologist, yoga researcher, and former Research Director of Kaivalyadhama, the world's first yoga research...
Abstract Vayu is a mobile breathwork system comprising an iOS companion app and Apple Watch application that delivers slow, resonant breathing using screen-free haptic cues , HRV-adaptive pacing, and reflective journaling grounded in Patanjali’s five states of mind. The watchOS component provides tactile phase guidance and real-time biometric sensing (heart rate, HRV), while the iOS interface...
Pranayama, or yoga breathing, is a vital part of Indo-Tibetan traditions and offers both physical and spiritual benefits. It promotes spiritual enlightenment, increased awareness, physical well-being, and meditation. Pranayama calms the mind, eases tension, and enhances meditation techniques. Studies indicate that it is effective in treating mental health issues, reducing stress, and enhancing...
Background Breathwork that increases ventilatory rate or depth represents an accessible non-pharmacological modality for potentially inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). Despite gaining traction as a potential therapeutic tool, empirical controlled research on breathwork and ASCs remains limited. Methods We examined the effects of a single session of high ventilation breathwork,...
The rapid growth of the elderly population has created a significant demand for preventive and holistic healthcare strategies that support healthy and independent living in later life. Aging is generally associated with gradual decline in physical efficiency, psychological resilience, respiratory function, cognitive performance, and social participation. In recent years, Yoga and Pranayama have...
This study theoretically explores the psychotherapeutic mechanisms of Holotropic Breathwork, an experiential technique developed by Stanislav and Christina Grof, by employing Charles T. Tart's model of altered states of consciousness as a theoretical framework. Through literature review and conceptual analysis, Tart's three conditions of state transition (set, setting, and trigger) and his...
This project investigates the safety profile of high ventilation breathwork (HVB). HVB has been shown to reliably induce altered states of consciousness (ASCs) comparable to psychedelics and has demonstrated multiple positive effects on mental health in clinical and non-clinical populations. Although HVB is regarded as generally safe when considering contraindications, intense somatic,...