Hawa Breathwork
The Breath that Brings you home
Hawa Breathwork is a one-day breathwork workshop facilitated by Anita Dempsey who will provide a safe space for participants to explore altered states of consciousness.
Hawa Breathwork has been developed by Andrea Anstiss, a transpersonal psychotherapist, who draws heavily on the practice of rebirthing and holotropic breath work, developed by Stan and Christine Grof in the 1970s.
These practices were developed on the back of extensive research that revealed that people have the ability to heal when they’re in a non-ordinary or expanded state of consciousness. Most cultures have devised ways of inducing expanded states of consciousness, including plant medicine, fasting and trance dance. The beauty of breathwork is that it gives us much more control over the experience. At any point in time we can stop breathing, open our eyes and connect back into the present.
What happens in states of expanded consciousness?
During altered states of consciousness our normal mental filters and barriers are lowered, allowing us to connect with our subconscious and access deeper levels of insight and understanding.
This can help us to identify and address the root causes or emotional imbalances within ourselves, and can also help us to tap into our own innate healing abilities.
We may be able to access memories or emotions that we have been repressed or buried, and by bringing these to the surface and processing them, we may be able to release them and heal from their effects.
During certain altered states we may also be able to experience a heightened sense of interconnectedness with the world around us, which can lead to profound insights and healing.
What is the Inner Healer?
Stan Grof, a pioneer of psychedelic assisted therapy, developed the concept of the inner healer. He saw the inner healer as a universal force that permeates all levels of consciousness. This force operates in a non-linear and non-rational way, and is not bound by the limitations of time and space. It’s able to access and work with all aspects of the psyche, and can guide the individual towards greater awareness, insight and growth.
The concept of the inner healer is incredibly powerful. It suggests that no human being needs to be “fixed”, but instead supported to access the natural healing process that is already taking place inside them. Hawa Breathwork is a powerful modality that creates a safe and supportive environment to allow you to access and work with your inner healer in a way that is meaningful and transformative. We are able to tap into a deep wellspring of wisdom and guidance that can help us navigate the challenges and opportunities of life with greater clarity, purpose and resilience.
What is the structure of a Hawa Breathwork experience?
At the workshop, participants choose a partner and decide who will breathe first. One member of the pair serves as the Sitter while the other is the Breather. The Sitter ensures that the Breather is physically safe, and provides assistance when the Breather requests it. The Sitter’s role is to bear witness and to be present with the breather. This can be very healing for people who suffer from feelings of being neglected.
The Breather lies down on a mattress and uses a simple breathing technique while listening to emotive music. The combination allows the Breather to access non-ordinary states of consciousness and open up to allowing their inner healer to work for them. The music lasts for 2.5-3hrs and if they feel like doing so, breathers can move, stand, sit or dance.
After the first 3-hour session, the Breather does a drawing to express what he/she has experienced. The Sitter gives the Breather time and space to describe their experience in as much detail as the Breather wishes. This is very healing for people who suffer from a sense of not being heard, being silenced or not receiving enough sufficient attention.
Then there’s a break for a light lunch, and the pair swap roles for the second breathing session.
After dinner, the participants and facilitators gather in a circle and the participants share the highlights of their experiences. We talk about integrating the experience and about follow up support.
What might you experience as a breather?
Experiences emerge from one or more of the following realms:
Sensory - The Breather may feel energy moving through different parts of his/her body, or become aware of areas that are numb or painful. The Inner Healer will direct the Breather to move/act to resolve these issues.
Biographical domain - We may relive past events that happened any time between our births and the present moment.
Perinatal - This includes anything that happened during conception, time in the womb and birth.
Transpersonal - This is the realm where we experience being more than just our ‘skin-encapsulated egos’. In other words more than just our personal stories and our bodies. This may include experiences of talking to angels or deities, reliving past lives/ancestral memories, feeling ‘at one’ with nature or entire groups of people, or identifying with being a specific animal.
Who would benefit from Hawa Breathwork?
Those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional or psychological issues.
Those who are seeking spiritual growth, deeper insights into the nature of reality, or a greater sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Those who are interested in exploring altered states of consciousness, including mystical or transcendent experiences.
Those who are seeking to heal physical ailments, chronic pain, or other health issues.
Those who are interested in personal growth and self-discovery, and want to explore their inner selves more deeply.
PRIVATE SESSIONS
Private breathwork sessions are also available from anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours.