Comparing Effects of Intense Breathwork to Meditation on Altered States of Consciousness

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX · Mar 31, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of two different techniques—intense breathwork and meditation—on how people experience altered states of consciousness, which are changes in awareness or perception. The goal is to see how a single session of high ventilation breathwork (a type of deep breathing) compares to a session of body scan meditation in promoting wellbeing. Researchers are looking for healthy adults aged 65 to 74 who have some prior experience with breathwork and live in Brighton and nearby areas.

If you decide to participate, you would join one session of either breathwork or meditation, and researchers will observe how these practices affect your mental state and overall wellbeing. However, certain health conditions like high blood pressure, respiratory problems, or a history of seizures may prevent you from joining. If you're interested in exploring how these techniques can impact your consciousness and mental health, this trial might be a great opportunity for you!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Healthy adults in Brighton and the surrounding area
• • Prior experience practising high ventilation breathwork in the form of conscious connected breathing
• • No history of adverse events during such prior breathwork sessions.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of hypotension
• • Hypertension
• • Respiratory or cardiovascular problems
• • Fainting or syncope
• • Epilepsy or seizures
• • Panic disorder or panic attacks
• • Cerebral aneurysm
• • Pregnancy (and possibility one might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding)
• • Breathlessness
• • Bradypnea
• • Tachypnoea
• • Any mental/physical issues affecting the ability to engage in breath control activities.