Yogis, shamans, and meditators have been using breathing techniques for centuries to induce altered states of consciousness. And for some, breath work is the preferred way to get high.
Getting High On Your Own (Air) Supply
For centuries, Yogis, shamans & meditators have used breathing techniques to induce altered states of consciousness - the types associated with spiritual and psychedelic experiences.
Basically, a long time ago they figured out that breathing can get you stoned.
For some, breathwork is the preferred way to get high and access transcendental states. And many believe that drugs like DMT found in Ayahuasca and Psilocybin from Mushrooms are actually best used as training-wheels in assisting the journey to self-actualization.
For them, breath & meditation are the ultimate tools of consciousness expansion. Whether you think drugs are better or not, all can agree that breath is accessible, free & won’t get you thrown in jail.
And there’s been a resurgence in interest and research into the mind altering effects of breath. Kundalini Yoga which heavily emphasises breathing techniques has been named a top 10 fitness trend in 2017 by the American College of Sports Medicine.
And the ambassador of breath, “The Iceman” Wim Hof has been packing rooms all over the world teaching the breathing techniques that made him famous for overcoming extreme cold and accomplishing incredible feats like climbing Mt. Everest wearing nothing but board shorts.
Scientists are also interested.
A paper published by the American Psychological Association titled “Psychobiology of Altered States Of Consciousness” seems to support what the Yogis & Shamans have known for a while: specific & trainable breathing techniques can have a dramatic impact on your mind.
Slowing down & holding breath - which are techniques used in Yogic Pranayama breathing - have been found to increase Carbon Dioxide in the blood, and can produce feelings of body detachment & transcendence which are commonly associated with spiritual and psychedelic states.
Researches also used EEG devices to measure brain waves in subjects and found that breathing in these ways produced neural activity consistent with very deep meditative practices.
Voluntary hyperventilation - or speeding up the breath - is another technique that has been shown to produce intense effects by decreasing the amount of CO2 in the body and altering pH levels.
These methods, which have been used by Wim Hof, Kundalini Yogis and Holotropic Breathers can produce states of “external awareness, disorientation, weightlessness, detachment, loss of motor control & hallucinations”, according to the research.
It seems that breath is a powerful but overlooked drug that’s been right there under our noses the entire time. But it’s to be respected, just like a bad drug trip it can produce adverse effects. So, consult your local Yogi or breath expert before trying this stuff on your own.