The utilisation of breathing techniques used in order to achieve altered states of consciousness, to establish equilibrium, and to create a variety of beneficial effects on one's mind-body-spirit connection.

Breathwork is the practice of using intentional, controlled breathing exercises to positively affect a person's physical, mental, and emotional state. With the aid of a breathworker, the person can alter their mind-body-emotional state. There are more than 50 types of breathwork types such as Transformational Breathwork, Integrative Breathwork, and Holotropic Breathwork. Each one achieves a different goal, and each achieve a different type of release in the physical and emotional bodies, as well as a regulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Breathwork, which was originally regarded as 'spirit' or 'life force', has played an essential role throughout history.

The breath is considered a vital life force across a wide span of cultures and religions, such as:

Prana (India), Qi / Chi (China), Ruach (Hebrew), Pneuma (Greek), Spiritus (Latin).

Within Yogic practices, Pranayama, meaning the regulation of the breath in Sanskrit, is a crucial aspect to Ayurvedic practices, and there are 8 main pranayama which are carried out. Within Daoist practices, integrated breath is combined with movement and intention, such as in Qigong and Tai Chi.

In Shamanic practices, breathwork has been an important tool used for healing and entering alternate states of consciousness. The breath is used in order to connect to the spirit world and access deeper, more profound levels of awareness.​

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