Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) has grown in popularity as a powerful tool for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. It empowers individuals to shed layers of trauma, connect with their inner wisdom, and experience profound transformation. Despite its many benefits, it is vital to be aware of potential breathwork dangers, especially for individuals with contraindications or those who may unknowingly practice variations of breathwork that pose safety risks.
This article combines insights into the dangers of breath-holding during breathwork, contraindications for certain conditions, and the critical importance of having a well-trained facilitator to ensure safe practice.
The Dangers of Breath Holding During Breathwork
While Conscious Connected Breathwork (CCB) is generally safe for most individuals, the practice of intentionally holding the breath during a session can be risky if not done with caution. In some cases, participants have experienced intense reactions when holding their breath—particularly when it occurs outside the guidance of the facilitator.
As a breathwork facilitator and teacher trainer, I’ve witnessed firsthand how breath-holding during connected Breathwork can lead to dangerous situations. In one case, a participant in a group session had a seizure after intentionally holding his breath when I instructed everyone to return to a normal breathing pattern. His body tensed, his complexion turned blue, and he temporarily lost memory of the event. After recovering, he revealed that he regularly practiced Wim Hof breathing and decided to hold his breath at the end because he thought it would feel good.
The danger doesn’t lie in connected breathwork itself but in holding your breath after practicing connected breathwork for an extended period. This is because during CCB, we exhale more than usual, which leads to blowing off more carbon dioxide (CO2) than normal. This results in lower CO2 levels, and CO2 acts as the body’s natural “alarm bell” to breathe.
The risk arises when individuals intentionally hold their breath after more than 10 minutes of connected breathing. This risk increases significantly if the breath hold occurs toward the end of a longer session, such as an hour-long connected breathwork practice. This is when we’ve seen seizures occur.
The key safety concern is that at this stage, your CO2 levels are very low, and holding your breath in this state can override the body’s natural “alarm bell” to breathe. This is especially risky if you’ve trained in breath-holding techniques like the Wim Hof method, which condition you to ignore those signals. As a result, you may enter a state of hypoxia—when the body is deprived of adequate oxygen—which can lead to serious outcomes such as seizures, unconsciousness, or temporary paralysis.
*Click here to read more about the dangers of breath holds in breathwork
Intermittent Breath Holding Under Supervision Is Generally Safe
Some breathwork practices, such as those from Wim Hof and other schools, intentionally incorporate breath holds into their breathing sessions. The risk of seizures seems to be lower when these breath holds occur after a few minutes of connected breathing, as this helps to rebalance CO2 levels.
When a facilitator guides these breath holds and counts them carefully, ensuring they are brief and spaced out during connected breathing sessions, the risk of hypoxia is minimized. It is also worth noting that holding the inhale may be safer than holding the exhale, as it allows more oxygen to enter the body, further reducing the chances of oxygen deprivation.
Conscious Connected Breathing and Breath Holds Serve Different Purposes
Intermittent breath holds might be safe when done every few minutes and guided by a facilitator. However, we believe breath holding and Conscious Connected Breathing (CCB) serve very different purposes and should be kept separate. Breath holds can be great tools for short meditations, quick stress relief, and physical performance training.
Conscious Connected Breathing (CCB), however, follows a continuous, circular breath pattern with no holds. It’s this uninterrupted flow of breath that guides you into a deep inner journey. Through continuous connected breathing you can induce altered states of consciousness, release stored trauma, and create profound, lasting healing.
Contraindications for Breathwork and Related Breathwork Dangers
While Conscious Connected Breathwork is generally safe for most people, there are certain conditions where it may not be advisable or where the technique should be adjusted to minimize potential stress on the body.
These contraindications include, but are not limited to:
- Asthma: Intense breathing techniques may trigger asthma attacks or cause respiratory distress in those with severe asthma (Gibson et al., 2010). For mild to moderate asthma, having a puffer on hand can help manage any potential risks and ensure safety during the session.
- Epilepsy or History of Seizures: The altered states induced by breathwork can sometimes trigger seizures in individuals with epilepsy or a history of seizures (Timmerman et al., 2018). For those without a predisposition, there is no known risk of seizures as long as they avoid holding their breath on purpose.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Those with a history of heart attacks, strokes, or uncontrolled high blood pressure may risk overexertion of the heart or blood vessels (Benz et al., 2019).
- Panic Attacks: Panic attacks and panic disorder are sometimes considered contraindications for breathwork, but with the guidance of a skilled, trauma-informed facilitator, breathwork can be highly beneficial.
- Pregnancy: Certain stages of pregnancy, particularly early stages or complicated pregnancies, can pose risks during breathwork due to physical stress or hormonal changes (Hutson et al., 2016). Check out this article for a more detailed explanation of when and if it is safe to practice breathwork during pregnancy.
- Lung Conditions: Conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be exacerbated by deep or rapid breathing exercises (Burge et al., 2006).
- Psychiatric Conditions (e.g., Bipolar, Schizophrenia, or Psychosis): Breathwork can sometimes bring unresolved emotions to the surface, potentially destabilizing individuals with certain psychiatric conditions (Davidson et al., 2010). While individuals with these conditions may benefit from breathwork, they should seek a qualified therapist who is also a breathwork facilitator, or work with a facilitator who feels comfortable navigating these conditions and collaborates with their therapist.
- Thyroid Disorders: Conditions like Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism may make the body more susceptible to stress from intense breathing exercises (Henningsen et al., 2019).
*For a complete list of breathwork contraindications, along with the reasons behind them, click here.
The Dangers of Breathwork for Trauma Survivors with a Poorly Trained Facilitator
Breathwork is an incredibly powerful tool for trauma release and recovery. The altered states, access to the subconscious, and somatic release it facilitates can lead to profound and rapid healing where other methods have failed. However, when practicing breathwork, especially for those with trauma, it’s crucial to work with a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator who understands the sensitive nature of the process.
Inexperienced or inadequately trained facilitators may approach a session with an ego or agenda, aiming to create “big experiences.” They might push you too hard or too quickly beyond your window of tolerance (the space where you feel safe and able to process emotions), and this can have serious consequences.
For individuals with PTSD or other trauma-related conditions, this can lead to retraumatization, where the body reactivates past traumatic experiences, intensifying emotional distress. An untrained facilitator may not recognize when a participant is reaching their emotional limit, inadvertently causing harm by encouraging deeper breathing or more intense practices than the person is able to handle. This can worsen PTSD symptoms, such as anxiety, dissociation, or flashbacks, and may even create new trauma.
To avoid these risks, it’s crucial to work with a trauma-informed facilitator who has completed a 400+ hour Breatwork Training. This ensures your healing journey is guided with the right expertise, offering a safe, attuned, compassionate, and respectful space for your process.
The Importance of Qualified Breathwork Facilitators in Circumventing Breathwork Dangers
As connected breathwork gains popularity, more people are exploring this modality, often without fully understanding the safety measures necessary. Unfortunately, the growing popularity of breathwork has also led to a rise in “shotgun” training programs—short, surface-level courses that fail to provide adequate preparation. These programs leave facilitators ill-equipped to hold space for the depth, intensity, and vulnerability that breathwork often brings.
Breathwork is a powerful practice that requires a deep understanding of both the body’s physiological responses and the emotional terrain it can uncover. Facilitators without sufficient training may overlook signs of distress or fail to manage contraindications, potentially putting participants at risk. They may also unintentionally push someone beyond their window of tolerance, increasing the chances of hypoxia, panic attacks, or exacerbation of pre-existing health conditions.
A skilled breathwork facilitator’s role goes far beyond cueing the breath—they are there to create and maintain a safe, supportive container. They must thoroughly explain the technique, including the physical sensations and emotional experiences that may arise, before the session begins. They must also empower participants to trust their inner wisdom and teach them how to slow down or pause if the process becomes too overwhelming.
In addition, facilitators must carefully observe each participant to ensure they are not holding their breath. This includes watching for signs of hypoxia, such as a bluish tint to the skin, and knowing how to respond calmly and effectively if an unexpected issue arises.
5 Ways to Circumvent Breathwork Dangers and Experience Its Benefits Safely
While Conscious Connected Breathwork offers incredible healing potential and countless benefits, it is essential to approach it with respect and an awareness of its risks. It is a powerful modality and should be treated as such.
- Familiarize yourself with breathwork contraindications and get approval from your healthcare practitioner if you have one.
- If your doctor is unfamiliar with connected breathwork, let them know it activates the Sympathetic Nervous System, induces non-ordinary states of consciousness, and can effect blood pressure and heart rate.
- If you get approval from your healthcare provider, make sure you tell the breathwork facilitator and ensure they are comfortable working with your condition and understand how to modify the technique to ensure safety.
- Depending on the condition, you may be better off doing a 1:1 instead of a group breathwork, so that your session can be better personalized.
- Keep the breath connected for the entire session and do not purposefully hold your breath or sway from the technique outlined by your facilitator.
- If you have trauma, find a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator to work with.
- Choose a facilitator who has completed a GPBA-certified training of 400+ hours.
- A qualified, GPBA-certified facilitator can modify the practice to accommodate most health conditions and contraindications, and provide the support necessary to ensure a safe and effective experience for all.
- Always trust your inner wisdom.
- If the facilitator’s cues don’t feel safe or aligned, honor your instincts. While it’s important to explore your edges and lean into discomfort, breathwork should never put you into a state of overwhelm.
Find a Highly Trained, Trauma-Informed Facilitator or Explore Our GPBA-Certified International Training
If you’d like to explore this incredibly powerful self-healing modality while eliminating the risk of any breathwork dangers, we invite you to check out our database of trauma-informed facilitators.
If you’re intrigued by this modality and interested in training to bring it to others, we invite you to explore our training school further here. We offer the most comprehensive curriculum available—it’s 450 hours, trauma-informed, and GPBA-certified. Our program also provides a strong support network, a vibrant community, and a hybrid training format with both online and in-person segments.
Spread Awareness, Promote Safety
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