By Dr. Alexina Mehta, ND, BHK
As a Naturopathic Physician and Ayurveda Practitioner, I am constantly looking for tools that can be helpful to alleviate the discomfort of my patients. Often, they start their process of addressing their health concerns with a change in diet, supplements, exercise therapy/yoga, meditation, herbal treatments, cleansing practices, or treatments like acupuncture, biofeedback, or IV therapy, for example.
One of the reasons I love natural medicine is that there are so many different tools that can be used, and the approach is personalized to each patient. Many chronic conditions develop over time based on what the person did or did not do.
Our actions are a result of what we think and feel. Therefore, this obviously needs to be addressed, yet it is often overlooked. This necessary deeper examination of oneself is what is called Inner Work.
Inner work allows one to bring more awareness to the habits, behaviors, tendencies, and actions that lead one to where one finds themselves. Then there is a process of reconciliation and rectification to create a new path forward from a healthier place.
We focus so much as a culture thinking of cleansing the body from chemicals, toxins, and junk food, for example. However, we often forget that there is another kind of pollution of the mind and emotions that causes suffering.
This pollution contaminants the peaceful, calm, healthy, helpful, and virtuous nature that is possible for human beings to live each day of their lives. Negative emotions, harmful tendencies, repetitive, mechanical thinking, toxic behaviors, and detrimental actions are pollution of the mind and emotions.
The body and mind interact constantly. They are not separate entities. When we include this understanding and integrate wisdom into the way we address imbalances in the body and the mind, we can begin to see that transformation is possible, and the true the potential of happiness of human beings becomes more of a reality.
As a facilitator of Pneuma Breathwork and Transpersonal Psychology, I’ve witnessed how this body of work bridges the gaps for many of the missing pieces people seek to understand themselves. Below I will address some questions and answers regarding Pneuma Breathwork.
What exactly is it?
It is powerful and easy to-do practice that helps us get to know what we do not yet know or understand ourselves. This technique is for the expansion of Consciousness, self-knowledge, and the progressive analysis of the psyche.
The sustained practice of breathing, combined with a specific musical sequence, along with our intention and focused concentration, opens our perception and from there, an infinite variety of possible experiences arise.
Why is this kind of practice useful?
Pneuma breathwork brings light to ignorance. Ignorance- or not knowing or a lack of awareness is the reason we end up in situations we do not want to be in. Sickness is one of them. When a person is not well, they only want to feel better. Therefore, we need to address this urgent need to focus on awakening consciousness when something happens that we do not understand.
As the founder of the Pneuma Institute and Pneuma breathwork, Juan Ruiz Naupari says, “Pneuma Breathwork promotes Clarity and Understanding of what is known but Unknown, of what is apparently known, but not remembered and therefore not known, because, is remembered through experience, to experience is to remember and to remember is to know.”
How can this practice help us gain more clarity of our inner landscape?
-It supports the process of comprehensive and interdisciplinary work in the treatment of addictions, fears, phobias, and obsessive and compulsive tendencies.
-It unblocks repressed emotions through understanding and forgiveness without the need for painful catharsis.
-It leads to the progressive integration of the qualities of consciousness, producing great momentum in our profound transformation.
-It allows for the establishment of a permanent center of consciousness, from where we can review and comprehend all the circumstances of our personal history.
What does psychology have to do with our health?
Psychology is the study of the soul according to ancient wisdom traditions. The soul includes the mind and the emotions. Holistic systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, and Tibetan Medicine as well as various indigenous systems of healing from around the world acknowledge that the body and mind are interconnected and influence each other.
We separate them in our analysis and understanding of what the mind is or what the body is, however, this becomes problematic as often we stop there and do not continue to investigate ourselves further.
A technique like Pneuma breathwork helps us with self-inquiry and meditation whereby we reflect and begin to comprehend our life and therefore learn how to improve ourselves.
What is a Transpersonal experience?
Amplified States of Consciousness are achieved through the practice of Pneuma Breathwork. These are also known as Transpersonal experiences. These amplified states of consciousness expand our vision, much like going to the top of a mountain rather than being down in the thick of trees. From an expanded state of awareness, we can understand ourselves better.
What are some of the transpersonal benefits of Pneuma Breathwork?
-It activates our transpersonal memory through direct experience with superior consciousness.
-It produces states of recognition of Love, Peace, and Happiness.
-Allows for experiences with Archetypes, Myths, and Symbols from the most diverse ancient traditions. This brings about an understanding of important processes in our lives, activates Inner Wisdom, and the recognition of the meaning of existence and the mission of our lives.
-It releases psycho-spiritual blockages related to the pre-natal, intrauterine, and early childhood stages.
What are the physical benefits of Pneuma Breathwork?
-Purifies and detoxifies vital organs such as the lungs, blood vessels, and the blood.
-Stimulates the strengthening of the nervous system.
-Rapidly expands lung capacity.
-Increases physical endurance.
-Produces an extensive alpha rhythm pattern in the brain.
-Helps to control stress.
Where can I learn more about Pneuma Breathwork?
This practice is offered all over the world by qualified facilitators. You can find out the
closest Pneuma Breathwork session to your city by visiting the website:
pneumainstitute.org or visit the Pneuma International Instagram account:
@pneumainstitute.international
About the Author
Dr. Alexina Mehta is a naturopathic doctor, fitness expert, and speaker. She is passionate about health and well-being, and her work is inspired by her great-grandfather, a mapmaker who discovered the Diamond Sutras. Dr. Mehta offers in-person and online services, and she frequently speaks at events on integrative medicine. She is eagerly awaiting the publication of her two upcoming books.