The Holotropic Shift & The Power Within

With Holotropic Breathwork each participant gains direct access to his or her own inner healing wisdom. In your HB session, this wisdom brings you a unique and ideal combination of experiences that can include aspects of your personal history and birth, as well as psychological death/rebirth, and an infinite array of transpersonal experiences. Through breathing, a specially designed musical journey, and a safe and supportive setting with a trained staff of facilitators, you experience a true expanded state of awareness, allowing deep self-exploration and personal transformation. Mandala drawing and group processing of the experiences are important integrative elements of the Holotropic process.

In addition, there will be a presentation of the breakthrough “APS” (Awareness Positioning System) technology, developed by Tav Sparks, which can be used to apply the principles of HB to enhance and upgrade your everyday life. By using this practice, every outer experience can become an opportunity for transformation and self-empowerment.

“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

Register using this link.

Early price of $345 through December 15 / $395 after December 15
Includes lunch Saturday and Sunday. Other meals are on your own.

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

Approximate Weekend Schedule:
Saturday, January 25
8:30-9:30 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Preparation for Holotropic Breathwork
Followed by Small Groups
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (included)
1:30 – 5:00 p.m. Holotropic Breathwork Session #1
Mandala Drawing
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Small Groups
Dinner (on your own)
8:30 – 9:00 evening (optional, TBA)

Sunday, January 26
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Holotropic Breathwork Session #2
Mandala Drawing
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (included)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Small Groups
2:30 – 5:00 p.m. Awareness Positioning System
Closing
Note: Exact times are subject to change.

Stacia Butterfield is a long-time staff member of Grof Transpersonal Training. She has facilitated at many GTT workshops and modules, and spoken on Holotropic Breathwork in a variety of settings. She had led large weekend workshops at the California Institute for Integral Studies and in other locations.

Over twenty years of body centered studies have informed Stacia’s approach to integration of deep inner work and led to innovative roles in the Addictions and Transformational Medicine fields. She offered integrative classes at Healing Visions, an early Ibogaine clinic in the British West Indies; and has also made contributions to the MAPS MDMA Therapy Training Program and the Ketamine Training Center.

In addition to her Bay Area workshops, Stacia enjoys working privately with groups of educators, artists, and optimizers.

Tav Sparks has over 35 years of experience working therapeutically with people in expanded states of awareness. He is Director of Grof Transpersonal Training, the only program to certify practitioners of Holotropic Breathwork worldwide. Tav is the author of four books, including The Power Within: Becoming, Being, and The Holotropic Paradigm and Movie Yoga: How Every Film Can Change Your Life, and a four-CD series on Holotropic Breathwork.
(extended bios at links)

Online / Spiritual Emergency: Embracing Unexpected Transformation (Australia/Asia friendly time)

In 2020, GTT is 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.

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 LINK
COST: $398 until September 10; $428 after that date; discount for certified HB practitioners

While open to anyone interested, this topic is a Required Module for anyone wishing to become a certified Holotropic Breathwork® Facilitator.

All times Australia Eastern Daylight:
Thursday evening – opening, 6-9 pm
Friday morning – 9 am-noon
Friday afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm
Friday evening – there will be an related activity to do on your own
Saturday morning – 9 am-noon
Saturday afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm
Saturday evening – there will be an related activity to do on your own
Sunday morning – 9 am-noon
Sunday – afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm, closing

Online / Spirit of Place: Exploring Our Ensouled Relationship with Place & Belonging (Australia/Asia friendly time)

Place is full of significance that is characterized by an acceptance that we simply belong to and identify with it. Place is our home. Join this online community to engage in practices to help us remember our true self, our wholeness, and our deepest sense of belonging.

Our understanding of the spirit of place is supported by the special relationship we foster between our natural surroundings—place—and belonging. Belonging means being present with ourselves, as well as those closest to us (our clan, tribe, family, neighbour, nation). But it is also about being engaged in a colossal cosmic setting—what we call the transpersonal dimensions of our being.

This Virtual Module offers a variety of exciting explorations in the natural world, and within our own being. Through the emergence of what we call ‘our stories’, we can learn to listen deeply to what is most meaningful to us as individuals existing within a greater whole. Storytelling has long been a sacred tradition of indigenous peoples from all lands. It is essential to the health and wellbeing of our collective to develop the co-creative process of bringing the universe into being.

We will spend time outdoors engaging with the natural surroundings in your neighbourhood and share our adventures and discoveries by connecting together through the online video link. Join us in an adventure of self-remembering ‘in place’ to deepen our connections of self with world.

All the teaching is geared to participants having a direct experience of their own journey. We will work with explorations in the natural world, guided journey work, other contemplative practices, movement and ceremony to engage the Holotropic principles in a very personal, embodied way.

From participants in the Spirit of Place Virtual Module:
(Most enjoyed about the module) “Vicky’s skill in bringing cohesiveness to a group even online. The depths to which everyone went in their processing and how well we were held in that container.Since I had 4 modules and 19 breathing sessions, I have the knowledge and the experience of GTT. being a member of this programme I am rediscovering my true self. The inner freedom that I experience, others too must experience. So with this intention I would highly recommend the GTT virtual modules to others.” – anonymous

(Most enjoyed) “Vicky’s open heart and facilitation skills. I felt very held, seen and safe in the online space. I felt a strong sense of community. Thank you so much for this incredible module. I learned, shared, healed, and faced so much inside of myself. Spirit of place is something I will continue to deepen and share with my community.” – Danica, Poland

REGISTRATION FORM
COST: $398 until January 21; $428 after
Discount for certified HB practitioners

While open to anyone interested, this topic is an Optional Module for anyone wishing to become a certified Holotropic Breathwork® Facilitator.

All times Australia Eastern Daylight:
Thursday evening – opening, 6-9 pm
Friday morning – 9 am-noon
Friday afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm
Friday evening – there will be an related activity to do on your own
Saturday morning – 9 am-noon
Saturday afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm
Saturday evening – there will be an related activity to do on your own
Sunday morning – 9 am-noon
Sunday – afternoon – 1:30-4:30 pm, closing

Being and Becoming: The Journey Towards Wholeness

In this highly experiential module, the holotropic perspective comes alive as we explore the language, method and structure of the Holotropic Paradigm, and how we support and  integrate  the experiences of expanded states of consciousness.

In addition to Holotropic Breathwork® sessions we will offer an overview of Stan Grof’s map of the psyche, deepening  our understanding of the perinatal through the experience of film (Movie Yoga®).  We  will also  use journeying to music, body awareness, and time in nature as we develop our understanding of what it is to be  present to our own experiences and to develop  our capacity to be fully present for others.

Music & Transcendence

This module is an exciting and transformative journey through the world of music. Sound and rhythm have always been vital creative and spiritual tools for transformation. Music has even been called the language of the soul. This is a special opportunity to learn first-hand the music structure that defines Holotropic Breathwork in such a special way.

In addition, we’ll also explore other exciting strategies that help make the Holotropic perspective an essential tool for everyday living.

This module includes: 1) Holotropic music: its history, theory and practice, detailed discussion of the three part structure of a Holotropic Breathwork music set; with demonstrations of specific pieces for each section; 2) Holotropic group work: it’s history, theory and practice, discussion of common group experiences and challenging situations; 3) COEX systems: how we work with multi-level patterns; 4) demonstration of relaxation; 5) facilitator self -care; 6) Practical workshop information – venue, pricing, promotion, brochure, types of workshops.

Celtic Shamanism

As we travel through life, we are greatly impacted by our environment: culturally, physiologically and through our family lineage. Thus we are shaped, thus we grow. Often, this environmental impact remains unconsciously active within us, influencing our choices and our experience of life.

Within this workshop, we will explore our ancestral legacy – a legacy shaped by the experiences, emotional life, gifts/skills and trauma of our ancestors, both near and distant. Working with the circle of life – inception/birth; youth; middle years and old age – we will track our ancestors in our physical, mental/emotional and spiritual bodies. By doing so, we seek to heal, enrich and awaken to our true selves.

Using shamanic journeying, we will connect to our recent and deep ancestors, finding guides to aid us in understanding the legacy that we carry within. We will delve into the patterns that arise from that legacy and explore the means to resolve that which is unresolved through journeys, pathworking, movement and sound work.

The beauty of this module is that besides the four deeply healing holotropic breathwork sessions (2 as a breather and 2 as a sitter) shamanic journeying will be experienced in a way that you can take this skill back home with you and practice there as well to integrate and foster further transformation.

Appointment with Cary Sparks

Cary Sparks, Director of the Institute for Holotropics and Grof Transpersonal Training, has been supporting people in their inner journeys for over 35 years. She is committed  to holding space for those going through personal transformation of all sorts.

Cary is also available for consultations with training participants; these can be used toward the consultation requirement for certification.

She particularly welcomes the opportunity to connect with anyone facing their own or loved ones’ illness or dementia, and to share her experience with a partner who courageously chose a death with dignity.

Steps for setting up your consultation:
1. Schedule your appointment using the button to the left
2. The cost of your 60 minute appointment is $95.  You will receive an email with link options to pay for your session.
3. You will receive separate emails confirming your appointment, payment information, and, closer to the appointment, a Zoom invitation.

The Art of Living and Dying: A Dance to the Music of Time

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the fascinating human journey, from conception to death and rebirth.

In embarking on this adventure, we may begin to “DANCE” with the music of time, rather than moving through life, resisting the flow toward death.

Such a shift gives us the opportunity to fulfill our deepest life purposes, and let go consciously of what keeps us from embracing this crucial process of transformation.

By viewing life and death through the lens of Holotropic Paradigm, we are able to explore, in depth, the triple dynamic and experience of death-birth-rebirth.

We will draw upon some of the world’s leading paradigms of the death/rebirth process, including:

–  The work of Stephen Levine and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
–  The shamanic practice of working with mortality
–  The contributions of Ralph Metzner and Timothy Leary, including their references to
the Tibetan Book of the Dead

We will also explore the fascinating and powerful impact of near-death experiences on our everyday experience of living.  This unique journey in facing our mortality offers us a profound opportunity to enrich our own unique life journey.

The process will be deeply experiential. In addition to Holotropic Breathwork® sessions, the week’s inner adventures will involve creative exercises, including art, as well as participation in other modalities of psychospiritual journeying.

Registration materials

The Spiritual Quest, Attachment, and Addiction

New ways to look at psychology and spirituality are offering exciting possibilities in the recovery movement, both for individual seekers and for those who work in the treatment field. This module explores a whole continuum, from the idea of addiction as an extreme form of attachment, which affects everyone and which is crucial to spiritual seekers of all practices, to the more articulate forms of addiction: substance, process, relationship, and more. Through theory, discussion and experiential exercises, we’ll look at:

  • The disease paradigm of recovery;
  • The wellness paradigm and the transpersonal recovery center;
  • Implications of perinatal and transpersonal dimensions for recovery;
  • The 12 steps as a world yoga;
  • Addiction as spiritual emergency;
  • Addiction as shamanic crisis;
  • Recovery as a mystery school;
  • Psychedelics and recovery;
  • Recovery and the feminine;
  • Addiction from the homeopathic perspective;
  • Recovery as death/rebirth;
  • Addiction and the global crisis, and more.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience Holotropic Breathwork, a powerful approach to self-exploration, transformation, and healing that combines breathing, evocative music, and release work to explore the deeper dimensions of the psyche. This workshop will be useful to both laypersons and professionals seeking a more authentic and fulfilling lifestyle.

This will be a very experiential workshop. Besides the breathwork itself, all of the teaching is geared to participants having a direct experience of their own journey. We will work with dance, artwork, film, and other integration practices to engage the holotropic principles in a very personal, embodied way.

Registration forms