One big mistake made in most forms of therapy is the reductionist model of separating body from mind. You have talk therapy, psychoanalysis, regression therapy, and a lot of different therapeutic models just focusing on one area – the software, the mind.

To really make therapy work fast you must engage both the software and the hardware. You must engage the body! In Greek, the word soma means “one body” or “one entire thing”. It is also said to mean “one collective consciousness” in Greek too.

Soma is the understanding that the universe is holographic and that you are a manifestation of the vibrations that emit from this holographic universe. You are the net result of everything that was, is and will ever be. You are both the hardware and the software. You are Soma! 

That is why SOMA Breath is a complete holistic system of breathwork techniques. There is no one size fits all, and we take into account that everyone is different and requires different breathing techniques depending on their needs. SOMA Therapeutic Breathwork techniques are the core pranayama techniques that have the most scientific evidence to support their function.

SOMA Breath As A Form Of Psychotherapy?

Holotropic breathwork was designed by Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist and one of the founders of Transpersonal Psychology. Grof was a researcher of altered states of consciousness for the purpose of healing, exploring, personal growth, and obtaining insights into the individual’s psyche. He described his techniques as “experiential method of self-exploration and psychotherapy” (Grof & Grof, 2010, p. 1).

Rebirthing techniques use hyperventilation with some body aspects work for trauma release.

SOMA Breath engages the breath, the body, and the mind for experiences that can lead to trauma release, changes in perspective, creating new neural pathways, awakening dormant parts of the mind, and transforming someone’s life. However, SOMA Breath in itself is not a form or method of psychotherapy. If any participants want to use SOMA Breath as a therapeutic technique, they can! However, if someone wants to use SOMA Breath techniques as their sole form of therapy, perhaps they should seek some professional (psycho)therapeutic help at the same time to ensure their safety.