Transformational Breathwork collective workshop

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

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⚠️ Workshop will be led in French ⚠️

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Date: Mon, Jan 27, 6:30 PM (Paris time) – please arrive 10 minutes early.

 

Duration: 2:00h

 

Location: Oasis (meïsō) at Olympiades, 8 rue Albert, Paris 13th – Metro: Olympiades or Porte d’Ivry

 

Price: €50 (€40 reduced rate*)

 

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSFORMATIONAL BREATHWORK

 

Transformational Breathwork is a modality of conscious circular breathing that allows you to put your brain in “admin mode” for a moment, enabling emotions, tensions, and stress to circulate freely. This practice has its roots in conscious breathing techniques rediscovered in the 1960s and 70s by members of an emerging American psychological movement (holotropic breathwork and rebirthing, among others) and is further influenced by ancient yogic breathing techniques (Pranayama).

 

The term “conscious circular breathing” refers to the primary technique of voluntarily and continuously breathing a larger-than-normal volume of air following a specific protocol. This induces an altered state of consciousness for a duration that can range from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the method. In my workshops, we practice this way of breathing for about 40 to 50 minutes straight.

 

The result? It largely depends on your journey, but most people experience one or several of the following benefits (a list of scientific references for each point is available HERE):

 

1. Helps reduce stress and anxiety

• Physiological impact: Activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a state of calm.

• Emotional resilience: Helps release suppressed emotions, reducing emotional burdens.

2. Improves emotional management

• Emotional clarity: Allows for a better understanding of emotions and reactive patterns.

• Emotional transformation: Facilitates access to positive emotions and a sense of inner peace.

3. Boosts vital energy

• Body oxygenation: Improves cellular oxygenation, increasing physical and mental energy.

• Mental vitality: Helps enhance focus and mental clarity.

4. Enhances body awareness

• Body connection: Promotes better listening to bodily sensations and their messages.

• Grounding: Helps you feel more present and in harmony with your body.

5. Improves sleep

• Sleep quality: Reduces stress-related insomnia by fostering deep relaxation.

• Recovery: Supports more effective physical and mental recovery.

6. Facilitates the release of trauma and emotional blockages

• Emotional unlocking: Allows for the release of trauma stored in the body through conscious breathing.

• Somatic healing: Eases physical tensions linked to deep emotional wounds.

7. Improves daily breathing

• Lung capacity: Strengthens respiratory capacity and system efficiency.

• Conscious breathing: Instills calmer, deeper breathing habits in everyday life.

8. Strengthens the immune system

• Inflammation reduction: Supports the reduction of oxidative stress, benefiting the immune system.

• Overall health: Improves general body balance by stimulating circulation and aiding detoxification.

9. Promotes clarity through introspection

• Spiritual awakening: Facilitates altered states of consciousness, allowing for introspective and spiritual work.

• Existential clarity: Helps find deeper meaning in life and align actions with values.

10. Improves interpersonal relationships

• Active listening: Enhances the ability to be more present and empathetic towards others.

• Conflict reduction: Supports emotional regulation, reducing relational tensions.

11. Reduces certain chronic pain

• Physical relief: Helps release accumulated physical tensions, which can alleviate certain chronic pain.

• Pain management: Increases pain tolerance and promotes muscle relaxation.

 

THEMES - Cycle "Shadows and Relationships"

January 13th: "Obedience"
To whom and to what do I obey in my life today? What is unconscious? Of course, there are my values, and then the rules I’ve learned, the ambitions I’ve inherited, the power dynamics, and the beliefs I adhere to, consciously or not, about what I can do with my life.

We will explore what within me is obedient, at my own expense. What feels under the yoke of an authority I did not choose or that no longer serves me?

In France, we inherit a two-faced culture: learned obedience as a condition for social and professional success, instilled in school; and then the strong figure of the rebel, from the Revolution to the Yellow Vests, with the defiant French spirit equally alive in our culture. Through these different lenses, what role do I want obedience to play in my life?

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January 27th: "Lovers"
Romantic relationships are, for most of us, a kind of relational ideal—something to strive for and hold onto as long as possible. At least, that’s what our collective unconscious, woven with Judeo-Christian values, communicates. Romantic relationships are often accepted as existing outside the realm of rationality. But what exactly do they nurture within me? I’ve often encountered answers suggesting, “It’s obvious, no need to explain.” Well, I say, “On the contrary, let’s explain!”

Behind the veil of attraction, playfulness, and passion, what am I hiding in my romantic relationships? How do I use the person I love to hide my shadows, to find comfort where others confront me? To delegate responsibility for what, in reality, will always be mine? When I nurture a codependent relationship, what is really playing out within me?

What if I sought not to reproduce the inherited blockages that have thrown sand into the gears of my past relationships? If I were in a romantic relationship conscious of its biases, striving to help each partner grow, what would change?

 

SESSION OUTLINE

 

To help you prepare, the session will include four parts:

1. A short welcoming circle for introductions.

2. A briefing on the process you’ll experience (Transformational Breathwork), its purpose, and what to expect.

3. The breathing session, approximately 1 hour.

4. A closing circle for debriefing and sharing feedback.

 

BEFORE THE SESSION

 

To prepare yourself:

• Avoid eating in the 2 hours before and limit your water intake in the hour leading up to the session.

• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, like pants and a sweater you can remove if needed.

• Bring your water bottle (no glass, as it can break during the session) and your favorite notebook.

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS

 

While Transformational Breathwork is a powerful and safe practice, it is not recommended in the following cases:

• Cardiovascular issues (chronic or requiring hospitalization in the past 5 years), arrhythmia.

• Epilepsy.

• Chronic respiratory problems (except asthma, provided you bring your inhaler).

• Osteoporosis severe enough that sudden movements could cause injury.

• Severe neurological/psychiatric conditions (especially if on antidepressants or anxiolytics).

• Retinal detachment.

• Untreated/severe PTSD.

• Pregnancy.

• Untreated high or low blood pressure.

• Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis.

• Recent major surgery.

 

For any of these cases, you must consult your doctor beforehand and provide me with a certificate of no contraindication for breathwork practice (similar in effect to holotropic breathwork). Send it to marceau.breathwork@gmail.com.

 

IMPORTANT

 

It’s essential to arrive on time, as the opening circle is crucial for creating a safe container where everyone feels comfortable releasing blockages and emotions. Doors will close at 6:35 PM sharp. Please be ready at least 10 minutes before the session begins. Doors will open at 6:20 PM.

 

PRICES

 

The price is €50.

 

*Unemployed individuals, RSA recipients, and students are eligible for a reduced rate of €40 per session upon presenting their card at the start of the workshop.