Holotropic breathing according to Stanislav Grof. Stanislav Grof

The method was developed by the Czech-born American psychologist Stanislav Grof and his wife Kristina in the 1970s as a replacement for the banned LSD.

This technique is widely criticized among specialists for its danger to the brain (due to hypoxia, nerve cells) and also for her claims to be related to actual birth experiences. According to S. Stepanov, the leader of the holotropic breathing group himself imposes on practitioners associations with the experience of birth, because of which practitioners have experiences of this type.

The term "holotropic" is derived from other Greek. ὅλος "whole" and τρόπος direction, way.

Story

Stanislav Grof

Stanislav Grof, being a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, began to conduct research activities with LSD in the mid-1950s. Quite quickly he became convinced of the great psychotherapeutic effect of psychedelic sessions. Continuing his research, Grof was faced with the need to revise the Freudian model of the psyche in which he was brought up, and build a new cartography of consciousness to describe the effects that occur during psychedelic sessions. Having created such a model, he described it in his numerous works. When experiments with psychoactive substances (surfactants) were closed, Grof began to look for a technique similar in therapeutic effect. And in 1975, together with Christina Grof, he discovered and registered a breathing technique, which he called "holotropic breathing."

Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof

In 1973 Dr. Grof was invited to the Esalen Institute. Esalen Institute ) in Big Sur, California, where he lived until 1987, doing writing, giving lectures, seminars, including seminars to which he invited experts from various scientific and spiritual areas. While working at Esalen, Stanislav and Christina Grof developed the holotropic breathing technique. Against the background of the ban on the use of psychoactive substances for psychotherapeutic purposes, Stanislav and Christina Grof used intensive breathing in their work. The prototype of the breathing technique of S. and K. Grof was the breathing methods that existed in various spiritual practices, as well as breathing similar to that observed in patients during a psychedelic session in case the problem was not worked out to the end and the patients began to breathe spontaneously and intensively. Such breathing was necessary in order to continue to remain in an altered (expanded) state of consciousness and to refine (discharge) the psychological material that had risen from the unconscious and reacted in the form of symptoms.

Once, while working in Esalen, S. Grof pulled his back and could not conduct the process as usual. Then Stanislav came up with the idea to split the group into pairs and hold not one, but two breathing sessions and let the participants of the seminar help each other. During the first session, one person breathes (holonaut), and the second one helps him (sitter, nurse, assistant), during the second they change places.

Human impact

The theoretical substantiation of the method is Stanislav Grof's transpersonal psychology and cartography of the unconscious.

The method, which combines elements such as accelerated breathing, ethnic, ritual and trance music, as well as certain forms of body work, generates a whole range of experiences that were observed during other types of deep self-examination [ unknown term] .

Proponents of the method claim that the experiences evoked by holotropic breathing have a healing and transformative effect. They also state that many holotropic sessions have brought to the surface difficult emotions and unpleasant physical sensations of various types, and the full manifestation of these emotions and sensations makes it possible to free the person from their disturbing influence.

Physiological mechanism

The psychophysiological effect of holotropic breathing is based on the fact that prolonged hyperventilation leads to a decrease in the concentration of carbon dioxide, which leads to vasoconstriction. Hemoglobin begins to bind oxygen more strongly and red blood cells transfer it less efficiently to tissues - tissues begin to suffocate from a lack of oxygen. As a result, from lack of air, a paradoxical oxygen starvation, due to which inhibition of the cerebral cortex begins, the subcortex begins to work more intensively, releasing experiences previously repressed from consciousness, and the practitioner sees hallucinations

Contraindications for use

The method has a number of contraindications:

Heavy chronic diseases, primarily cardiovascular, in the phase of decompensation;
Psychotic conditions;
Epilepsy;
Glaucoma;
Pregnancy;
Osteoporosis;
Recent surgeries and fractures;
Acute infectious diseases;

experiences

The phenomenology of the experiences received during the breathing session S. Grof combines in 4 areas:

Sensory barrier (aesthetic level). Various visual, auditory images that do not have a specific content (asterisks, lights). bodily sensations (cold-warmth, tension-relaxation).
The level of the individual unconscious (memories from one's biographical past).
perinatal level. Consists of 4 so-called basic perinatal matrices (BPM), in accordance with the period of childbirth, which they describe. BPM-1 before the onset of labor. Absolutely comfortable existence. Description of Paradise. BPM-2 The beginning of labor while the uterus is not yet open. Strong squeezing, hopelessness. BPM-3 Continuation of compression, but the uterus is already open, so a goal appears, upon reaching which everything becomes safe. Death-Rebirth Struggle. BPM-4 birth in a new capacity.
Transpersonal level (transpersonal).

Experiences of the transpersonal level are diverse and have their own classification: Going beyond spatial boundaries:

Going beyond linear time:

Physical introversion and constriction of consciousness: Empirical transcendence of conventional reality and space-time:

Psychoid transpersonal experiences: Synchronic connections between consciousness and matter. Spontaneous psychoid phenomena:

supernormal physical abilities;
Spiritual Phenomena and Physical Mediumship;
repetitive spontaneous psychokinesis (poltergeist);
unidentified flying objects (UFO phenomena).

Intentional psychokinesis:

ritual magic;
healing and witchcraft;
laboratory psychokinesis.

The integration of the material of the practice sessions begins in the process itself, continues through body-oriented therapy, mandala drawing and discussion. individual processes in a group . Further integration is completed in dreams and in ordinary life. The integration of the material can take up to six months.

Technique

Holotropic breathing is more frequent and deeper than normal breathing; as a rule, no other specific instructions are given before or during the session, such as the speed, mode, or nature of breathing, for example. The experience is entirely internal and mostly non-verbal with minimal interference during active breathing. Exceptions are throat spasms, problems of loss of self-control, strong pain or fear preventing the continuation of the session, as well as a direct request of the breather for help.

Music (or other forms of acoustic stimulation - drumming, tambourines, natural sounds, etc.) is an integral part of the holotropic process. As a rule, the choice of music supports the characteristic stages that reflect the most general features of the unfolding of the holotropic experience: at the beginning it is stimulating and stimulating, then it becomes more and more dramatic and dynamic, and then it expresses a breakthrough. After the climax, the music gradually becomes more and more calm and at the end - peaceful, fluid, meditative.

The process takes place in pairs "sitter-holonaut". Usually 2 breathing sessions are performed in one day. In one session, the participant acts as a breather, in the other as a sitter.

The duration of the process depends on the qualifications of the leader, warm-up, qualitative and quantitative composition of the group.

On average, the process ends naturally within one and a half to two hours. If there are signs of incompleteness of the process, additional focused work with the body is carried out. The session ends with drawing mandalas and group conversation (sharing).

Criticism

Holotropic Breathwork has come under considerable criticism. In particular, some researchers question the holotropic breathing technique as such. Without denying the presence of unusual (mostly hallucinogenic) images and states that arise under the influence of hyperventilation, the presence of any connection with the real situation of birth is called into question. According to this point of view, the leader of the holotropic breathwork group (and the technique is taught only in group forms) influences the participants, as a result of which their states do not arise by themselves, but are modeled from the outside.

According to this point of view, holotropic breathing does not lead to development, but, on the contrary, to a deterioration in the functioning of the brain. In fairness, it should be noted that the Buteyko technique leads to radically opposite results - a decrease in the level and an increase in the level of CO 2 in the blood, which also leads to negative consequences. .

At the same time, it is noted that the loss of carbon dioxide during a session of holotropic breathing is 2-3 liters, which, according to currently accepted views, is considered an extremely severe degree of hypocapnia, fraught with cerebral edema and death.

Some of S. Grof's clients have Negative consequences holotropic breathing, some "sit down" on it, the technique is widely practiced by people who have not mastered it well and are simply charlatans. True, unlike LSD, holotropic breathing is not prohibited. It is worth noting that in Switzerland, as part of an experiment, LSD is allowed to be taken by terminally ill patients as a means of relieving or significantly reducing the fear of imminent death.

Notes

JOSEPH P. RHINEWINE & OLIVER J. WILLIAMS Holotropic Breathwork: The Potential Role of a Prolonged, Voluntary Hyperventilation Procedure as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy // THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE. - 2007. - V. 7. - T. 13. - S. 771–776. - DOI:10.1089/acm.2006.6203
"Myths and dead ends of pop psychology" // S. S. Stepanov. - Dubna.: Phoenix +, 2006. pp. 97-98
Scott O. Lilienfeld & Wallace Sampson The Skeptical Inquirer Journal editors criticize MDMA study as nonscientific, unethical // The Skeptical Inquirer. - Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, 2003. - V. 27.
Joseph P. Rhinewine and Oliver J. Williams Holotropic Breathwork: The Potential Role of a Prolonged, Voluntary Hyperventilation Procedure as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy // The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. - September 2007. - V. 7. - T. 13. - DOI: 10.1089
Buteyko method website
DELIGHT OF THE WEAK AND SATATED
Stanislav Grof. Areas of the human unconscious. Evidence from LSD research
V. Maikov. Pair flight of holonauts: principles of work in sessions and circles of integration
V. Maikov The Essence of the Holotropic Approach.
Yu. A. Bubeev, I. B. Ushakov, State Research and Testing Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Mechanisms of respiration in conditions of prolonged voluntary hyperventilation // Aerospace and environmental medicine. - 1999. - T. 33. - No. 2. - S. 22-26.
Vladimir Emelianenko - certified psychotherapist of the European Transpersonal Association (EUROTAS)
Stanislav Grof. Journey in search of yourself. Ed. AST, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, K. Kravchuk Publishing House, 2008 ISBN 978-5-17-054421-9
Tev Spax. The structure of the musical and noise design of the holotropic session
Colorado governor signs "rebirthing" ban
CANDACE NEWMAKER: Death Through "Rebirthing" Therapy
Lecture by K. N. Buteyko on the dangers of deep breathing
LIFE: Hallucinations from Nothing
Sergey Kardash
Yuri Bubeev, Vladimir Kozlov

Links

Association for Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy
Legal Issues Related to the Holotropic Breathwork Method

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

For the first time, holotropic breathing, as one of the methods of psychotherapy, was discussed thanks to the research of Stanislav Gross. Initially, the holotrope was used for people with mental illness, replacing the use of psychotropic drugs with this type of therapy.

Today, holotropic breathing is one of the leading methods of psychotherapeutic practice, it is practiced in connection with a wide range of different problems - from depression, excess weight, to overcoming serious stressful situations.

What is Holotropic Breathwork?

Holotropic breathing is a method in which, thanks to the use of a special breathing technique, hyperventilation of the lungs occurs. When the lungs are saturated with oxygen, vasoconstriction occurs, as a result of which the work of the brain becomes difficult and interrupted, but at the same time, the subcortex of the brain and the subconscious, respectively, begin to work actively with this.

talking in simple words, holotropic breathing is one of the ways that makes it possible to experience such a deep experience that is not realized at the level of the brain, and that a person does not fully understand, and, accordingly, to some extent is in his captivity.

Thanks to this method, it is possible to live through serious problems and repressed emotions in a fairly short time, and having felt and experienced them during the session, get rid of them forever.

Holotropic Breathwork Technique

Most often, the practice of holotropic breathing is offered to be practiced not once, but in whole courses, since the use of such a psychotherapeutic method involves obtaining the final result of treatment not immediately, but strictly individually. From 1 to 2 hours are allocated daily for holotropy, and the entire cycle of classes is up to 2 weeks.

A lot of psychological techniques are built on pumping oxygen with the help of a certain rhythmic breathing - this is pranayama, meditation, and some yoga asanas, but one of the most intense, but at the same time unsafe practices, of course, is the holotropic breathing technique.

On the one hand, saturation of the body with oxygen increases the body's endurance, increases creativity and sensitivity, but on the other hand, there are cases when a person gets to a not very competent specialist, or studies at home without fully familiarizing himself with the information, which leads to serious psychological problems, because the holotropic is a deep study of the subconscious. In addition, the technique is often used in many religious sects and esoteric practices, so before signing up for a holotropic breathing course at any center, you should get reliable information about the center’s specialists, try to get feedback from those who have already taken this course.

As for age restrictions, due to the simplicity of the technique itself, it can be used even for children from the age of 14, but only according to medical indications. So, the holotropic technique is not difficult to master, it can be represented by the following algorithm:

Lying on the floor, relaxing the body to the maximum, you should breathe as slowly and deeply as possible, focusing on the cycle of inhalations and exhalations. You can close your eyes, but if there is a slight dizziness - do not be afraid of it. The first respiratory stage can last from 10 to 20 minutes.
At the second stage of practice, breathing gradually becomes more intense and even deeper; special music will help regulate the transitions from one stage to another. This stage can last from 40 to 60 minutes.
The last stage of the holotropic is associated with the transition to a slow breathing rate with a gradual transition to normal, everyday breathing.

It should be noted that quite often during the practice of holotropy absolutely unplanned moments occur, such as hysteria, exacerbation of fears, chaotic uncontrolled movements, and even holding the breath. For this reason, psychotherapists recommend practicing holotropy only in pairs, with the obligatory control of the practicing person by a guide, helping him to go through all the problematic moments that arise during the session.

The final stage of practice is art-therapeutic drawing, or modeling, which allows you to bring the problem out of the inner space.

It is often proposed to draw a mandala - a special circular image that includes diverse elements, and only then, in an individual conversation with a psychotherapist, a discussion of the problem and a scenario for its further study takes place.

Those who decide to try out the practice of holotropic breathing should understand that for a start it is necessary to be most fully prepared for this theoretically.

For example, it is worth remembering that you need to prepare yourself for classes. The correct approach would be when a person chooses comfortable clothes, which does not interfere with movements, and prepares the necessary place, freeing it from objects that, during practice, can lead to injuries. You should also remove any jewelry, for those who have poor eyesight- Glasses and contact lenses. It is advisable not to eat anything 4 hours before holotropic practice, otherwise intense breathing can cause nausea and even vomiting.

It is quite possible to master the method of holotropic breathing on your own. However, for a person who does not have experience in this practice, it will not be easy to dive into the subconscious and live through any old problems again with the help of the body. The effectiveness of the holotropic breathing technique for the holonaut depends entirely on the conductor (sitter). An experienced sitter knows that there is a certain code: any touching of the face, chest, throat and genitals is prohibited, because. this can introduce distortion into the session, thus exacerbating the problems. The handler has the maximum right to hold the holonaut by the hand, and also to ensure that in the event of uncontrollable behavior, the person does not get hurt.

Holotropic breathing at home

A person who has studied the method of holotropic breathing well is unlikely to want to conduct classes at home. In addition, an experienced psychologist, if you resort to his help, of course, will prohibit practicing at home. But, knowing the love of many people for risk, psychologists have made some recommendations for those who decide to try out the holotropic breathing technique. So, in order for the session to take place at home, you must:

Be sure to find a person who will simply be in the same room with you, and in case of an atypical situation for a holotropic, will be able to provide assistance. Accordingly, this person must be fully trained and instructed.
The place in the room chosen for the lesson must be safe.
When practicing for the first few times, it is better to try not to use deep diving, and you can also reduce the time of the lesson a little.
It is strictly forbidden to work independently through the practice of holotropic breathing with severe, deep-seated problems. Home practice can only be aimed at relieving tension, relaxation, liberation from negative emotions that occurred during the day.

What kind of music is needed

Not the last role in the holotropic breathing session is played by the music that accompanies the practice. Of course, the music needs a certain and special. In general, there are special musical selections on the Internet, arranged depending on the stages of the holotropic session. If classes are held in specialized places, then, as a rule, the specialist has everything necessary in his arsenal, including music collections for practices.

In general, it should be understood that the music at the holotropic sessions acts as a leader, it is to it that, as a result, the breath is attached. Given this feature, we can say that one of the best musical compositions will be ethnic sacred music. It can be mantras, meditation music, African drums or didgeridoo. The fact is that folk music is a kind of key to our subconscious and a connection to the primitive that is still in each of us. The combination of music and breathing in one rhythm helps to achieve the necessary immersion into the depths of one's own subconscious much faster.

Accordingly, popular music with a text that is understandable to a holonaut, jazz or any other modern music is completely unsuitable for practice, as well as classical music.

Holotropic Breathwork Harm or Benefit

As with any method of therapy, the practice of holotropic breathing is on a par with positive impact can also be harmful to the human body. The benefits of Holotropic Breathwork are:

Holotropic is one of them safe ways solutions to psychological problems.
The practice of holotropic breathing works with problems at a deep level, so after going through the session, you can once and for all get rid of those painful memories that are hidden deep in the subconscious.
Thanks to the practice of holotropy, one can find the root cause of the problem and get rid of it forever.
If you need to get rid of bad habits and addiction to alcohol, smoking or drugs, then a holotropic can help with this.
After going through sessions of holotropic breathing, the symptoms of chronic fatigue will disappear and the harmony and peace that have disappeared will return.

However, with such positive influence on the psychological, mental and physical health of a person, there are opponents of the holotropic breathing method, who claim that this practice can cause irreparable harm to the body. Among the main points of harmful effects can be identified:

A sharp and abundant saturation of the body with carbon dioxide due to rhythmic breathing causes vasoconstriction and the death of the nerve endings of the brain, a symptom of this condition is dizziness that appears after practice.
Self-study holotropic can lead to cerebral edema, because from correct execution The main stages of holotropy are essentially life dependent.

Given the pros and cons of holotropic practice, it should be understood that the main harm that this method can cause is associated with ignorance and unwillingness to fully understand the activities that you are going to practice. Therefore, for an unprepared holonaut, this technique is dangerous.

What else is Holotropic Breathwork used for?

The holotropic breathing technique allows you to solve such problems as:

severe, recurring periodically depressive states;
overweight;
postpartum depression, trauma and other problems that women experience during pregnancy and childbirth;
prolonged stressful situations;
panic attacks and fears caused by any events;
insomnia and getting rid of negative thoughts.

Medical contraindications for use

Before you start practicing holotropy, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the contraindications that exist for this psychotechnique. This is especially important for those who are trying to master the breathing technique on their own, since in this case all responsibility for the state of their health falls only on themselves. The severe consequences of holotropic practice can affect people who have the following health problems:

disorders related to the nervous system;
epileptic seizures (congenital and acquired);
high eye pressure;
diseases of the bones and the musculoskeletal system;
heart disease;
bronchial asthma;
exacerbation of chronic diseases.

In addition, holotropic exercises are prohibited during pregnancy and lactation. If in the first case, due to rapid breathing, problems with bearing the fetus and a high risk of miscarriage may occur, then when breastfeeding, due to the peculiarities of the technique, milk may disappear.

Holotropic Breathwork for Depression

Depression is the most common mental illness worldwide today. To cope with its symptoms, people of different sexes and different ages– from 14 to 65 years. Often they try to get rid of this psychological problem with the help of medicines, however, with such treatment, depressive behavior is more likely to be suppressed and contained, while holotropic breathing, with the right approach, will help to forget about depression forever or at least for a long time.

At holotropic sessions, people suffering from depression can not only use this technique to enter unconscious and separated by the personality areas of memories, “breathe” them and express them in the body, release them, also during this practice, the volitional component of the personality is actualized (there is a great influence in this). music). With a depressive syndrome, just this very volitional component of the personality is suppressed and cannot be determined.

During practice, a holonaut can become aware of those negative attitudes that he has and run counter to the needs of the individual, and awareness and acceptance are the first step towards recovery.

Holotropic breathing for weight loss

Surprisingly, one of the main problems of women - being overweight (and resulting depression) will also help to cope with holotropic breathing. There is a saying in India - “You live the way you breathe” and this is the basis of life that allows a person to be healthy both physically and psychologically. The mistake of many women is that they mainly inhale and exhale air through the nose, with this type of breathing, oxygen does not enter the body enough. Proper breathing is deep breathing with the stomach, thanks to which oxygen saturates the cells of our body and burns fat. In addition, breathing normalizes metabolism and helps to remove toxins from the body. For this reason, it is recommended to practice holotropy for all those who have been struggling with excess weight for a long time and unsuccessfully.

And finally, due to the fact that the practice of holotropic breathing has become quite popular in Russia, and it is used more often not in medical institutions, many people are under the impression that the holotrope is a dangerous, hardly clandestine technique, extremely dangerous for people. Of course, this is not the case, firstly, the practice of holotropy has been officially allowed in our country since 1993, and secondly, if you prepare for it correctly, taking into account contraindications, then thanks to holotropy you can get rid of long-tormenting problems.

Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, professor, psychiatrist with fifty years of experience in researching non-ordinary states of consciousness, one of the founders of transpersonal psychology.

In 1956 he received a medical degree from the Karlov Medical School and a doctorate from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. From 1956 to 1967 - a practicing psychiatrist-clinician.

During the same period, he actively studied the basics of psychoanalysis and took part in innovative research projects.

In 1959, he was awarded the Küfner Prize, a national Czechoslovak award given annually for the most outstanding contribution to the field of psychiatry. In the past, he headed the Psychiatric Research Program at the Prague Institute for Psychiatric Research, the Psychiatric Research Program at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, was Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and Resident Fellow at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. From 1961, he headed research in Czechoslovakia on the use of LSD and other psychedelic drugs for the treatment of mental disorders. In 1967-1969, having received a scholarship from the Psychiatric Research Support Foundation (USA), he completed a two-year internship at Johns Hopkins University, then continued his research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. In 1973-1987 he worked at the Esalen Institute (California, USA). During this period, together with his wife Christina, he developed the technique of holotropic breathing, which became a unique method of psychotherapy, self-knowledge and personal growth. In 1993, at the Association for Transpersonal Psychology (ATP) 25th Anniversary Meeting held in August at Asilomar, California, Grof was awarded an Honorary Award for his significant contribution to the development of transpersonal psychology. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Vision 97 Award by the Vaclav and Dagmar Havelov Foundation in Prague. Grof is Professor of Psychology at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco and the Graduate School of Pacifism in Santa. S. Grof conducts training seminars for professionals, writes books, and also gives lectures and seminars around the world. Stanislav Grof is the author of one of the most effective methods The method developed by Stanislav Grof is the most effective and powerful of those that are used today in psychotherapy and psychology. It was under this technique that a serious theoretical base was developed, since Grof is a professional in this area, unlike vayveyshn (D. Leonard) and rebirthing (L. Orr). changes consciousness as a result of connected breathing and music, introduces into a state of trance. Sometimes body work is done as an addition. For 45 years, Grof has been conducting his seminars. During this time, he underwent more than four thousand sessions of holotropic breathing, during which he was born again, returning to the consciousness of a newborn, maybe that's why he looks younger than his years. Stanislav, together with his wife Kristina, developed the only certification program for the training of holotropic breathwork specialists called - containing standards and methodologies for conducting holotropic breathwork. Stanislav Grof often comes to Russia and during the meetings he gives lectures and seminars on Holotropic Breathwork.

Stanislav Grof's visits to Russia

In 2009, Stanislav Grof, a thinker and pioneer known for his enormous contribution to the study of consciousness and the creation of a new scientific paradigm that embraces all areas of human experience, conducted the training "Revolution of Consciousness" in Moscow. This training preceded the congress of the same name.

On June 23-27, 2010, the 17th World Transpersonal Congress "Revolution of Consciousness" was held in Moscow: transpersonal discoveries that change the world. Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof participated in the congress.

Students of Sten and Christina Grof with their teachers, 2012

In 2012, the meeting with Stanislav and Christina Grof took place on October 31 and November 1 in Moscow, Central House of Artists. Here Stan and Christina were surrounded by the attention and support of their

At eighty years of age, Stanislav Grof is a living legend and a major reformer of psychology and psychiatry along with Freud and Jung. In addition, he is an excellent lecturer and interlocutor, a person with whom many stars, politicians and scientists of our time are proud to meet.

Meeting of Vera Konstantinova with Sten Grof in 2014, Rostov-on-Don.

The program of their stay included the opportunity to hear about the Holotropic Breathwork™ method from its creators, as well as participation in the seminar "New Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Self-Research"

"Regions of the human unconscious";

"Beyond the Brain";

"Holotropic Consciousness";

"Space game";

"Revolution of Consciousness" (together with Erwin Laszlo and Peter Russell);

"Psychology of the Future"

"The Greatest Journey";

"When the impossible is possible";

"Man in the face of death";

"Frantic Search for Self" (the last two with Christina Grof.)

"Call of the Jaguar"

In addition, the following books have been published under his editorship:

"Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science"

"Evolution of Consciousness and Human Survival"

"Spiritual Crisis" (together with Christina Grof)

S. Grof founded the International Transpersonal Association and became its president, together with his wife Christina, he organized and conducted international conferences in many countries of the world: USA, India, Brazil, Austria, etc. More than 100 of his articles have been published in professional journals and 20 books have been translated into 16 languages.

The method was developed by the Czech-born American psychologist Stanislav Grof and his wife Kristina in the 1970s as a replacement for the banned LSD.

This technique is widely criticized among specialists for its danger to the brain (nerve cells die due to hypoxia), as well as for its claims to be connected with the real experience of birth. According to S. Stepanov, the leader of the holotropic breathing group himself imposes on practitioners associations with the experience of birth, because of which practitioners have experiences of this type.

The term "holotropic" is derived from other Greek. ὅλος "whole" and τρόπος direction, way.

Story

Stanislav Grof

Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof