Emotional Freedom—Breathwork to Clear Emotional Blocks
The Emotional Freedom Breathwork Technique involves rapid breathing that can help you access altered states of consciousness. The process activates the natural inner healing of deep-rooted emotions. Familiarize yourself with the steps of this extraordinary journey through your subconscious.
This therapeutic breathwork technique involves rapid breathing that can help you access altered states of consciousness. The process activates the natural inner healing of deep-rooted emotions. It helps you identify, face, and let go of stuck negative or painful past experiences and emotions that are holding you back.
Elements of the Process
The process of this breathwork technique consists of:
Accelerated breathing
Soft music
The Experiential Journey
Guider (person, video, audio)
Practitioner
Accelerated breathing contains the following components:
Stage 1: Start taking slow and deep breaths in such a way that the air fills the entire chest, and the shoulders raise (complete chest breathing)
Stage 2: After a few minutes, increase the speed of breathing; breathe in so that the abdomen raises, and then breathe out completely (diaphragmatic breathing)
Stage 3: Slowly accelerate the breath, until you start breathing rapidly (as fast as you can), for 15 minutes.
Stage 4: With each breath, release the emotional blocks rooted deep in your subconscious memory.
Stage 5: Return to your normal deep abdominal breathing.
Soft music specifications:
Soft music is played during the breathwork practice, to support the healing process. Select different music pieces to support each stage of the breathwork experience:
At stages 1 and 2, light music such as relaxation music is played, to calm you down and to get your body and mind into a relaxed state.
In stage 3, we play trance music with a strong rhythm that helps establish a breathing rhythm that takes you into a trance state.
In Stage 4, melodic instrumental music is played, to help deepen the journey, and then gently get back to normal breathing and close the session.
The Experiential Journey:
The practitioner travels to the deep-rooted subconscious emotions and incidents from the past, re-experiencing them to be able to let go.
Guider:
Guider or facilitator can be either a person, a video, or an audio, who guides the practitioner by giving instructions throughout the journey.
Practitioner:
The practitioner has just one task— to simply be present and conscious during the entire process. The practitioner needs to experience all the emotions that surface during the exercise, and consciously release them, rather than holding them back.
Tools of the Process
Full chest breathing (stage 1)
Diaphragmatic breathing (stage 2)
Circular breathing (stage 3)
Chakra meditation
Tunneling or vacuum, to go to the incident(s) from the past
Light therapy, empowers you and guides you back to the present
The Process Explained Step-By-Step
Lie down on a mat, eyes closed, and observe the natural breath.
Take your time to fully relax and observe your body sensations.
Begin to observe all the thoughts coming into your mind.
As the music begins, start breathing deeper, to fill with air the chest and ribs. During this full chest breathing, the shoulders should rise.
Start increasing the speed of breathing; to breathe deeper, filling with air the lungs, all the way to the abdomen. The breathing takes place through the root chakra.
As the music intensifies, breathe more deeply and rapidly, without breaks (abdominal breathing). Here, the breathing happens through the Manipura chakra. The speed and rhythm of the breathing increase (to release anger).
Simply feel the feelings and allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling in that moment. Although different emotions may surface, such as laughter, dizziness, tingling, or crying, don’t be afraid—you should just breathe into those emotions.
Gradually slow down the breath and start breathing through the chakras.
Take a slow deep breath in, and feel the sensations of the breath at the Manipuraka chakra; hold it for 3 sec, and then release it. Repeat this five times.
Take a slow deep breath in, and feel the sensations of the breath at the Swadhistana chakra; hold it for 3 sec, and then release it. Repeat this five times.
Take a slow deep breath in, and feel the sensations of the breath at the Muladhara chakra (root chakra); hold it for 3 sec, and then release it. Repeat this five times.
This process leads you to a trans-like state and creates a space to travel backward in time, to the most stressful or painful incident which is deeply rooted in your subconscious memory.
Focus on the issue that you want to feel better about, and try to experience it completely.
As you continue the process, your layers start peeling off. Your heart may feel heavy, and you may feel more stressed.
For a few more minutes allow yourself to feel the emotions. Acknowledge all the emotions that surface.
Do not restrict yourself; try to fully re-live the situation.
Tighten your feast, and feel the emotion fully.
You can express your feelings completely—the way you want to—by shouting, screaming, crying, beating the pillow, or tearing off the papers.
Express the words you want to speak in the situation (“I am angry,” “I didn’t like this way,” “Don’t talk to me in that tone," or “Behave properly.”)
Now, start breathing deeply again. With each breath, breathe out the anger you are experiencing.
Continue this process till you feel relaxed.
With each breath, repeat the following affirmations: “It's okay.” “Relax.” “Everything is going to be fine.” “I am going to take care of me.” “I love myself.”
Once you feel relaxed, imagine a light flowing into you from the top of your head to the tip of your toe, filling each cell of your body.
Now imagine yourself immersing in light completely; a big circle of aura is formed around you, full of love and compassion.
When you are ready, slowly open your eyes and relax.
Note:
This process is more effective when practiced under guidance.