Vivation

A connected-breathing method created by Jim Leonard in 1979. It emphasizes awareness of sensation, relaxation, and integrating experience rather than pursuing catharsis. Its five elements are circular breathing (an unbroken, continuous rhythm with no pauses between inhale and exhale), complete relaxation (releasing physical effort and tension, especially on the exhale), awareness in detail (focusing directly on the strongest physical sensations without mental stories, judgments or dramatic narratives), integration into ecstasy (shifting context to stay open to the underlying pleasure or positive feeling within the experience) and willingness is enough (trusting the process, because no perfection or forced effort is needed for the technique to work). The breath is usually gentler than in Holotropic Breathwork, and practitioners can learn to use it on their own after guided Sessions. Leonard originally trained in Rebirthing before developing his own approach.