Non-ordinary states of consciousness evoked by breathwork correlate with improved heart-rate variability

Conscious-Connected Breathwork (CCB), a high-ventilation breathing practice lasting over 15 minutes, consistently triggers altered states of consciousness, heightened emotional intensity, and decreased heart-rate variability (HRV) during the session, followed by increased baseline HRV afterward. The post-session HRV increase was larger in participants who experienced a wider range of emotions during the session, suggesting emotional catharsis rather than a purely physiological response may drive this improvement. The presence of evocative music did not significantly modulate any of these effects, indicating the breathing practice itself is the primary driver. This work characterizes subjective breathwork experiences using natural language processing and relates them to physiological changes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract High ventilation breathwork is a breathing practice that involves deep, accelerated breathing over a prolonged duration (> 15 minutes). This basic practice underpins a wide range of traditions, from Pranayama to Holotropic and Conscious-Connected breathwork. Anecdotal reports suggest that it can benefit physical and mental health, often by evoking altered states of consciousness. However, scientific research on breathwork is still in its infancy. This study examines the physiological and experiential effects of Conscious-Connected Breathwork (CCB). Specifically, we characterize subjective breathwork experiences using Natural Language Processing analyses of semi-structured phenomenological interviews, and relate them to changes in Heart-Rate Variability (HRV). Finally, to disentangle the effects of the breathing technique itself from context effects, we tested whether the presence of evocative music modified the impact of the session. Our findings indicate that CCB consistently triggers altered states of consciousness, accompanied by increased emotional intensity and decreased HRV during the session, but increased baseline HRV following the session. This increase was larger for subjects who experienced a wider range of emotions during the session, but was not predicted by peri-session HRV. This suggests that post-session improvements of HRV might be a product of emotional catharsis rather than purely physiological hormesis. Finally, none of these effects was significantly modulated by music, indicating that they largely rely on the breathing practice itself.