Connected breathwork, especially Conscious Connected Breathing (CCB) and other similar techniques, has gained popularity for its ability to facilitate deep healing, emotional release, and altered states of consciousness. However, many people wonder: Does breathwork reduce oxygen to the brain? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no—it’s all about how your body processes oxygen and carbon dioxide.
The Science Behind Breathwork and Oxygen Levels
Breathwork involves continuous, deep, circular breathing without pauses. While this boosts oxygen intake, it also lowers CO₂ levels in the blood, as continuous exhales expel more CO₂ than usual. This creates a condition called hypocapnia, which significantly affects how oxygen is delivered to the brain.
1. The Bohr Effect – Holding Onto Oxygen
CO₂ plays a crucial role in oxygen delivery. When CO₂ levels drop due to rapid breathing, hemoglobin in the blood holds onto oxygen more tightly. This means that even though your blood may be highly oxygenated, less oxygen is actually released into brain tissues. This temporary decrease in oxygen availability can contribute to lightheadedness, tingling and tenany, or even visionary experiences (Bohr, 1904; Laffey & Kavanagh, 2002).
2. Vasoconstriction – Blood Vessel Constriction
Low CO₂ levels cause blood vessels to constrict, including those that supply the brain. This can reduce cerebral blood flow, which may contribute to feelings of dizziness or altered consciousness (Nunn, 2008; Bain et al., 2016).
3. Altered States of Consciousness
Many breathwork practitioners experience deep emotional states, euphoria, or spiritual insights. The changes in blood flow and oxygen utilization play a role in shifting brain activity and brain waves, allowing access to unconscious memories, emotions, and even profound healing states (Grof, 2010; Rock et al., 2014).
4. Prefrontal Cortex and Ego Dissolution
During breathwork, the prefrontal cortex slows down, reducing activity in the area responsible for analytical thinking, self-judgment, and ego-based processing. This shift allows participants to bypass the ego and access deeper layers of the subconscious mind. As a result, breathwork can facilitate profound self-exploration, emotional breakthroughs, and spiritual insights (Grof, 2010; Rock et al., 2014).
5. The Amygdala and Emotional Release
The amygdala, the brain’s emotional processing center, also plays a crucial role in breathwork’s transformative effects. As breathwork alters brain chemistry and reduces prefrontal cortex dominance, the amygdala becomes more active, allowing access to suppressed emotions and deeply held trauma. This explains why breathwork often leads to emotional breakthroughs and cathartic releases, as the body and mind create space for healing (Van der Kolk, 2014; Grof, 2010).
Is This Harmful?
In a safe, guided setting, these effects are temporary and not dangerous. Once normal breathing resumes, CO₂ levels normalize, and blood flow and oxygen delivery return to baseline. The body naturally self-regulates (Nunn, 2008).
However, excessive hyperventilation in unsafe conditions (such as practicing alone in water) can pose risks. Additionally, certain health conditions may contraindicate breathwork, so it’s important to be mindful of these risks. This is why practicing under the guidance of an experienced breathwork facilitator is crucial for ensuring a safe and transformative experience (Kunzler et al., 2020).
How Does This Relate to Trauma Release?
The shifts in consciousness, brain waves, and body chemistry during breathwork allow suppressed emotions and stored trauma to surface. Many people experience profound emotional releases as the body finally lets go of deeply held patterns. The temporary physiological changes in oxygen and CO₂ levels create a unique gateway to healing, making breathwork one of the most powerful tools for trauma processing (Grof, 2010; Van der Kolk, 2014).
Final Thoughts on the Question: Does Breathwork Reduce Oxygen to the Brain?
So, does breathwork reduce oxygen to the brain? While it does not necessarily remove oxygen, it temporarily alters oxygen availability due to shifts in CO₂ levels and blood flow. These changes are part of what makes breathwork such a powerful tool for self-exploration and healing. When practiced safely, breathwork can help unlock profound insights, clear emotional blockages, and deepen your connection to yourself.
Ready to experience the power of breath? Reach out to inquire about an upcoming in-person breathwork session or book a private online session to unlock the incredible healing potential within you. Already familiar with the profound effects of breathwork and ready to share this transformational practice with others? Explore our internationally recognized, trauma-informed breathwork facilitator training and become part of a global movement in healing and transformation.
References
- Bain, A. R., Ainslie, P. N., & Hoiland, R. L. (2016). “Regulation of cerebral oxygen delivery: The impact of hyperventilation.” Journal of Physiology, 594(1), 9-10.
- Bohr, C. (1904). “Ueber die Lungenathmung.” Skandinavisches Archiv für Physiologie, 16(1), 402-412.
- Grof, S. (2010). Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration and Therapy. SUNY Press.
- Kunzler, A. M., Röthlin, F., Wipfli, R., Barth, J., & Schnyder, U. (2020). “Risks and benefits of altered states of consciousness in therapy.” Psychological Medicine, 50(3), 456-464.
- Laffey, J. G., & Kavanagh, B. P. (2002). “Hypocapnia.” New England Journal of Medicine, 347(1), 43-53.
- Nunn, J. F. (2008). Applied Respiratory Physiology. Butterworth-Heinemann.
- Rock, A. J., Baynes, S. M., & Casey, T. (2014). “Altered states of consciousness and their therapeutic potential.” Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 46(1), 39-60.
- Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking Press.
