Online / Spiritual Emergency: Embracing Unexpected Transformation

This module, originally scheduled for Joshua Tree, has been changed to Virtual.  We are grateful for your flexibility as we do our best to work with the uncertainty of the situation.

In 2020 GTT began offering real-time virtual events that are as close to a GTT module experience as we can make them in an online format.

This “Virtual Module” is open to anyone interested. There will be group interaction, teaching, and experiential sessions.  Everything except actual Holotropic Breathwork® sessions, since HB cannot be done virtually.

To enhance the group experience for everyone, please note that you will be expected to attend all sessions of the module just as you would if it were being held live at a retreat center.

Although you may attend this Virtual Module as a stand-alone event, there is also an option for those who wish to get full module credit. In that case, you will be able to make up the Holotropic Breathwork® component in HB-only workshops that we will offer as soon as it is safe to do so. Up to two of these combined Virtual Modules + HB component can be counted toward the seven modules required for certification. This topic is a Required Module.

Understanding spiritual emergency is one of the major contributions of the holotropic perspective. Whether you are a professional or a layperson, someone interested in working with or supporting people in transformational crises, or primarily in your own growth, the module offers a rich experience and valuable information. In addition to differentiating between psychosis and spiritual emergency, we’ll also explore the intensely practical aspects of who, in these kinds of crises, can benefit from Holotropic Breathwork® and how best to work with them in their emergencies. This workshop includes a discussion of the concept of spiritual emergency, its manifestations and forms, historical and anthropological perspectives, treatment strategies and work with family and friends.

REGISTRATION FORM

COST: $398 until January 28; $428 after
Discount for certified HB practitioners

Meeting times below are in the US Pacific Time Zone as well as the Western European Time Zone:

Thursday opening circle: 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific / 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. Western Europe

Friday – 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. US Pacific / 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Western Europe
Friday – 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific / 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. Western Europe
There will be an related activity to do on your own

Saturday – 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. US Pacific / 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Western Europe
Saturday – 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific / 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. Western Europe
There will be an related activity to do on your own

Sunday – 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. US Pacific / 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Western Europe
Sunday closing circle – 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific / 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. Western Europe

Cindy Pickreign

Cindy Pickreign, M.S., M.A. (module facilitator) was born in Upstate NY and raised in Western MA, but has lived her entire adult life in the Pacific Northwest. With a Masters in Computer Science and 25 years in corporate IT, she came to Holotropic Breathwork® quite skeptical but also in great psychological pain. Her breathwork journey has been, at times, truly terrifying – at times, ecstatically joyful – and ultimately, profoundly healing and life changing. Heading back to school at Seattle U, School of Theology and Ministry she earned a M.A. in Transformational Leadership and came to understand that Holotropic Breathwork® was her ministry in this world.

Cindy is currently the President of Breathwork Northwest, a non-profit organization dedicated to Holotropic Breathwork® education and experience in the Pacific Northwest. In this role she regularly organizes and facilitates 1-day workshops, as well as 3-day residential retreats. Cindy has also been supporting all of GTT’s virtual modules since the onset of COVID-19.

GTT U.S. (San Francisco) Holotropic Breathwork® – The Holotropic Shift and the Power Within

COST $425 includes Saturday lunch
or use QR code
This is a non-residential workshop, however hotel rooms are available for those coming from a distance (or nearby who want to stay at the venue).
To reserve a hotel room, please call Hotel Reservations at 800.686.3741 and let them know you are attending “Holotropic Breathing Workshop”
Holotropic Breathwork® provides a safe and caring container for deep exploration in an “expanded” or “holotropic” state of consciousness.  A combination of breath and music enables a participant to surrender to a natural process of spiritual and psychological healing. This healing takes many, often mysterious, forms and becomes a collaboration of mind, body, and spirit.
Holotropic Breathwork® is greatly recommended for people seeking meaning and context, people who want to heal from trauma, people who want to access and expand their creativity, and people who are looking for a non-denominational, non-religious, substance-free spiritual path. Long time participants report great positive changes in their lives and a sense of deep spiritual fulfillment.
Holotropic Breathwork® uses deep, effective breathing; a specially designed musical journey; and a safe and supportive setting with a trained staff of facilitators to enable an expanded state of awareness, allowing deep self-exploration and personal transformation. Mandala drawing and group processing of the journey are important integrative elements of the Holotropic process.

The workshop includes preparation, sessions, and integration.  There are two sessions of Holotropic Breathwork, so that each person has one session as a “breather” and one as a “sitter” or partner. Friday evening will present the theory underlying the work, and Sunday will include time for Q & A.

“The workshop was profoundly transformative for me, I am forever grateful for the experiences and for the new found knowledge, strength, and wisdom. Thank you.” – Simona

“I want you know that the San Fran event was the best and the whole group that does the work is more than outstanding. The love and effort is beyond excellant. Thank you.” – David

Your fee includes lunch and a coffee, tea, and snack break on Saturday. Other meals are on your own.

Overnight hotel accommodations are not included, and are optional.  You may choose to book a room at the Embassy Suites, stay elsewhere, or commute from home.

The workshop will be led by Sharanya Naik, who has conducted numerous Holotropic Breathwork workshops in the U.S. and in India for 20 years, and is a part of the Grof Transpersonal Training (GTT) staff.  She will be joined by a team if experienced HB facilitators.  Cary Sparks, director of GTT, will also be part of Sunday’s Q&A.

Approximate Schedule

Friday
5:30 to 6:30 pm Friday registration
6:30 – 10:00 pm Friday meeting

Saturday
8:30 am – 12:30 pm Holotropic Breathwork® session 1
12:30 to 1:15 lunch is included
1:30 pm – 5 pm Holotropic Breathwork® session 2
5 pm – 6 pm snack break is included
6 pm-8  pm break into small groups
Dinner is on your own

9:30 am – 10:30 am Sunday small groups
10:45 – 1 pm Sunday large group integration and Q&A
1 pm closing – lunch is on your own

Sharon Riva

Sharon Riva (facilitator, organizer) is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist based in Jersey, Channel Islands, UK. She is registered with the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professionals Council. She worked for many years for the States of Jersey health and Social Services Department as a psychologist, supervisor and trainer before setting up a private counselling psychology/psychotherapy practice in St Helier. In 2020 she was awarded a Doctorate of Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy.

Sharon has a deep interest in, and passion for, healing and the human potential for transformation and growth. She worked with various Shamans for many years and through this interest found her way to Holotropic Breathwork®. After her first Holotropic Breathwork® experience in 2016, felt she had “come home” and since then it has become an important part of her life and self care, supporting her personally and professionally in her client work. As a psychologist, she became curious and interested in the model and theory and was drawn to the like minded community. The values, philosophy and compassionate attitude underpinning the Holotropic Breathwork® approach resonate deeply with her personal values and how she works. She certified as a Holotropic Breathwork® in Colorado, USA in July 2022.”

Over the past 8 years Sharon has travelled the world working with the Holotropic Breathwork® community in Europe, the UK, Ireland and the USA. She finds great integrity, wisdom, compassion and humility in this work.

Online / Returning to Brigid’s Hearth: A Time of Rebirth and Re-Emergence

In 2020 GTT began offering real-time virtual events that are as close to a GTT module experience as we can make them in an online format.

This “Virtual Module” is open to anyone interested. There will be group interaction, teaching, and experiential sessions.  Everything except actual Holotropic Breathwork® sessions, since HB cannot be done virtually.

To enhance the group experience for everyone, please note that you will be expected to attend all sessions of the module just as you would if it were being held live at a retreat center.

Although you may attend this Virtual Module as a stand-alone event, there is also an option for those who wish to get full module credit. In that case, you will be able to make up the Holotropic Breathwork® component in HB-only workshops that we will offer as soon as it is safe to do so. Up to two of these combined Virtual Modules + HB component can be counted toward the seven modules required for certification.

Returning to Brigid’s Hearth: A Time of Rebirth and Re-Emergence
with Cáit Branigan

As the world turns and cycles through the many deep and profound changes we are currently experiencing, challenging us to witness our own truth and the nature of our experience; our flaws and our blind spots, we come again to the rebirth of the new year and the emergence of the Spring. In Ireland, Spring is born in the bitter cold of January with the snowdrops and daffodils, to rise with the strengthening sun to it’s climax at the Spring Equinox. Brigid is the Patron of the Season: Inspirer; Goddess of the Eternal Flame and the Sacred Waters; Bringer of Imbas – the Exalted One – Goddess of the Dawn. As Goddess of the Hearth she teaches us to tend the flame – the fire within, the fire of our spirit – and to share the flame with our communities. She blesses us with insight and wisdom, from the depths to the heights. As we return to her Hearth, we begin our year from the sacred space within ourselves, to seek Imbas – Divine Inspiration – to guide and lead us into the year, that we may face the changes and challenges with her fiery arrow of perception, insight and clarity. With mediation, journey, sound and silence, we will come to Brigid’s Hearth to rebirth ourselves, embodying the fulness of our potential.

REGISTRATION
COST: $398 until January 7; $428 after
Discount for certified HB practitioners

Meeting times below are in the Pacific Time Zone as well as Dublin time:

Thursday opening circle:   10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dublin

Friday – 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Dublin
Friday – 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dublin
There will be an related activity to do on your own

Saturday – 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Dublin
Saturday – 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dublin
There will be an related activity to do on your own

Sunday – 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Dublin
Sunday closing circle – 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dublin

John Stockberger

John Stockberger (module facilitator) is a professional musician, certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator, certified kundalini yoga and meditation teacher and has a healing practice. He has studied with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Qigong, Taiji, Vipassana, Buddha Dharma and traditional Shipibo Conibo healing in the Peruvian rainforest. He teaches and facilitates yoga and breathwork retreats and workshops in the U.S. and abroad.

Online / Movie Yoga® Salon #3

Movie Yoga® is a way to use movies for personal transformation, as described in the book by Tav Sparks, Movie Yoga: How Every Film Can Change Your Life.  Movie Yoga is about taking our reactions to any movie, no matter how we feel about it – even (maybe especially) a movie or genre we don’t like or feel resistance to – and applying a Holotropic perspective to discover something about ourselves, not only for insight but hopefully for transformation.

This will be the third Movie Yoga Salon and it’s been so much fun to gather with the extended Holotropic Breathwork® community in this way.

Welcome video for Movie Yoga Salon #3

INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUNE 14 MOVIE YOGA SALON #3

1) There is no charge, but you do need to register.  When your registration is sent, you will get basic a chart showing the APS – Awareness Positioning System as explained by Diana in this video.

2) Watch the video, in which Diana Medina tells us how to practice Movie Yoga®. For those who wish to go in-depth on the practice with lots of detail, stories, insight into many films, and overall movie fandom from Tav, the book Movie Yogais available from Holotropic.com, from publishers Hanford Mead, or on Amazon.

3) Before the appointed date and time, we all watch the same movie, whenever we want to in our own homes.  Going to repeat that – watch the movie ahead of time! The movie selected for the Movie Yoga Salon #3 is The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. This film is available through Netflix and on YouTube.

4) As you are watching the movie, follow the guidelines Diana has outlined for practicing Movie Yoga®.  Try to have a pen and paper nearby to take notes, for yourself but also in case you wish to share during the get-together.  Remember, this is not primarily about enjoying the movie, although that would be great too. Negative reactions of any sort are great for doing Movie Yoga®!

4) On Sunday, June 14, at 11 am Pacific time, join the Zoom meeting via the link sent in your confirmation email.  We’ll take it from there.  Depending on how many people participate, we will talk a little bit about the practice of Movie Yoga®, and then all can share with each other in small groups and as a larger one, about the experience and our reactions.

5) That’s it!  If you can’t make this one, watch for the next announcement. We hope to continue having Movie Yoga® gatherings together for awhile.

REGISTRATION

Mason Schreck

Mason Schreck (advisor) is a business strategist with experience as a founder, business developer, and mental health professional. He has a Masters Degree in Integral Counseling Psychology, as well as training in Transpersonal, Guided Imagery, and Expressive Arts therapy. He combines his background in both business and healthcare to assist in advancing the aims of Holotropic Breathwork® more broadly.

Mojca Studen

Mojca graduated from the Faculty of Physics at University of Ljubljana, and from the School of Fine Arts-Sculpturing at the same time. She worked as R&D in the field of NIR spectroscopy and capacitive humidity sensors.

From the beginning of her high school years, Mojca was interested in the boundaries and possibilities of human consciousness. She first sought answers in Sri Aurobindo’s and Krishnamurti’s ideas and philosophies. Through these, she began to practice yoga, especially pranayama. She also learned about Buddhism and the practice of getting to know herself through meditation. A happy coincidence brought her into contact with Carlos Castaneda’s books. At first, these were just interesting stories, beyond the boundaries of the possible, fiction, and legends. Curiosity gave her no peace–she made decisions and attended seminars and workshops organized by Carlos Castaneda, Taisha Abelar, and Florinda Donner Grau. Legends thus became a reality, or one of the possible realities.

The next step in learning about human consciousness was the study of transpersonal psychology and involvement in Grof Transpersonal Training and Transpersonal Hypnotherapy Institute. She has the good fortune of drawing her knowledge of transpersonal psychology directly from Dr. Stanislav Grof, who also mentored her Holotropic Breathwork® research.

She combined her knowledge of biophysics and transpersonal psychology into Neuro Training–a technology that uses binaural tones in a unique way. It is designed as a gym for the brain.

The common thread in all of her searching is her hobby and passion: freediving. Through freediving, she’s learned many techniques of self-discovery and met and collaborated with many interesting people, such as Dr. Natalia Molchanov, her son Alexei Molchanov, Dr. Oleg Bahtiarev, and Dr. Hasai Aliev.

Since 2008 she has worked as a transpersonal psychotherapist and has organized various holotropic workshops. She is also an associate teacher at Sigmund Freud University.