Can Breathwork Produce Altered States of Consciousness? What New Research Found

Researchers found that, compared with a guided body scan meditation, a single session of intensive breathwork was associated with:

The study also found improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and wellbeing over time in both the breathwork and meditation groups.

Importantly, this was a small exploratory study involving experienced breathwork practitioners. The findings do not demonstrate that breathwork is a treatment for mental health conditions, nor do they show that breathwork and psychedelics are the same experience.

Humans have intentionally used breathing practices to influence consciousness for thousands of years. Traditions around the world have incorporated breathing techniques into meditation, healing practices, spiritual ceremonies, and methods of self-exploration.

In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in whether certain forms of intensive breathwork can produce altered states of consciousness that may have therapeutic potential.

At the same time, scientific research in this area remains limited. Many questions remain unanswered, including:

The Airway to Alteration (A2A) trial was designed to begin exploring some of these questions.

An altered state of consciousness is a temporary change in how a person experiences themselves, their thoughts, emotions, perceptions, or surroundings.

Altered states can occur in many situations, including:

Experiencing an altered state does not necessarily mean losing awareness or control. Instead, consciousness may temporarily feel different from ordinary waking experience.

People sometimes describe altered states as involving:

The study examined a practice called high ventilation breathwork, specifically a method known as Conscious Connected Breathing (CCB).

During Conscious Connected Breathing:

Practices that involve sustained, intensified breathing can produce noticeable physical sensations and shifts in subjective experience. Researchers are still working to understand the biological and psychological mechanisms involved.

Researchers recruited 24 healthy adults who had previous experience with Conscious Connected Breathing and no history of adverse reactions to breathwork.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Participants completed:

Participants completed:

Researchers measured participants' experiences immediately after the sessions and again approximately one week later.

Participants in the breathwork group more frequently reported experiences researchers describe as oceanic boundlessness.

This can include:

These experiences have also been measured in psychedelic research, although this does not mean the experiences are identical.

Participants in the breathwork group more often reported visionary restructuralization, which may involve:

Not everyone reported these experiences, and the experiences varied considerably between individuals.

Researchers found higher scores on measures of mystical experiences in the breathwork group.

These experiences can include:

Researchers often use these questionnaires in psychedelic studies because they provide a way to measure certain aspects of subjective experience. The questionnaires do not determine whether an experience is spiritual, therapeutic, or beneficial.

Participants in the breathwork group also reported greater emotional breakthrough.

This may include experiences such as:

However, emotional intensity does not automatically lead to healing or personal growth. Emotional experiences can vary widely between individuals, and some people may find altered states challenging, overwhelming, or emotionally destabilizing.

At the one-week follow-up, participants in the breathwork group reported:

Participants described increased understanding of their thoughts, emotions, or personal patterns.

Some participants reported making changes in their perspectives or behaviors following the session.

These findings were based on participants' self-reports. The study did not independently verify whether behavioral changes occurred or whether they continued over longer periods of time.

Both groups showed improvements over time in:

Because improvements occurred in both groups, researchers cannot conclude that breathwork itself caused these changes.

Several factors may contribute to positive outcomes, including:

Further research is needed to understand which factors may contribute most to these changes.

The researchers described some of the experiences as psychedelic-like because participants reported experiences that overlapped with measures commonly used in psychedelic research.

However, there are important differences.

Breathwork:

The study suggests that certain forms of intensive breathwork may temporarily produce experiences that share some subjective features measured in psychedelic research. It does not suggest that breathwork and psychedelics are equivalent.

This study has several limitations.

Only 24 participants were included.

Participants already had prior breathwork experience and had previously tolerated the practice well. Results may not apply to people who are new to breathwork.

Participants knew whether they were assigned to breathwork or meditation, which could influence expectations and self-reported experiences.

Researchers collected follow-up data only one week later.

The study was designed to explore potential relationships and estimate effect sizes. It was not designed to determine whether breathwork is an effective treatment for mental health conditions.

The A2A trial adds to a growing body of research suggesting that intensive breathwork can temporarily alter subjective experience in meaningful ways.

The findings suggest that Conscious Connected Breathing may be associated with:

At the same time, many questions remain unanswered. Larger and more rigorous studies are needed to better understand:

For now, this study provides early evidence that intentionally changing the way we breathe can influence how we experience our thoughts, emotions, and sense of self, while also highlighting the need for continued research and careful interpretation of these preliminary findings.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1851882/full