What is breathwork?

Breathwork is the intentional use of specific breathing techniques to influence your physical, mental, and emotional state. By changing the way you breathe, you can shift your body into either a calm, regulated state (“rest and digest”) or a more activated, alert state (“fight or flight”). Each technique targets the nervous system to help you manage stress, improve focus, and build emotional resilience.

Put plainly, breathwork helps you return to your true baseline — so you can hold more without spiraling.

In our sessions, the overall goal is simple: Emotional regulation and clarity.

Why should I do breathwork?

The primary way Built to Elevate administers breathwork is through a modality commonly referred to as holotropic breathwork. This style of breathwork is designed to generate activation and intentionally bring the nervous system into a controlled “fight or flight” state.

Put plainly, holotropic breathwork is a form of guided, controlled hyperventilation designed specifically to facilitate emotional release. When we intentionally create the conditions for release, the result is often increased clarity, emotional regulation, and nervous system reset.

What are the benefits of breathwork?

Benefits of breathwork can be seen in the following ways:

• Gain better control over one’s nervous system. 

• Reduce stress and anxiety.

• Better regulate emotions.

• Lower blood pressure.

• Improve mood.

• Calm the mind.

• Increase energy levels.

• Reinforce fitness practices.

No. Not when we’re talking about holotropic breathwork.

If any of the following apply to you, please bring this to our attention prior to participating in a breathwork session:

• You are pregnant.

• You have epilepsy.

• You have high blood pressure.

• You have cardiovascular disease.

• You have a severe mental health condition (e.g., schizophrenia or bipolar disorder).

• You have recently undergone surgery.

• You have severe asthma.

• Certain heart conditions may limit your ability to safely participate in holotropic breathwork.

NOTE: These conditions do not automatically mean you cannot participate in breathwork. However, an alternative approach may be more appropriate than holotropic breathwork.