Breathwork practices date back thousands of years across various cultures. In pre-modern times, breath control was integral to spiritual and meditative traditions, particularly in India, China, and Tibet. In Hinduism, pranayama, the practice of controlling breath, is a key aspect of yoga, aimed at balancing energy within the body and connecting with the divine. Similarly, Taoist and Buddhist traditions in China emphasize breath regulation through qigong and meditation practices to cultivate life energy (qi) and achieve spiritual enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhism also incorporates advanced breath techniques in its tantric practices, focusing on controlling vital energies to reach higher states of consciousness.

In modern history, breathwork has evolved into a therapeutic tool within Western contexts. The 20th century saw the development of various breathwork modalities, influenced by psychology and alternative medicine. One of the most prominent is Holotropic Breathwork, developed by Stanislav Grof in the 1970s, which combines accelerated breathing with evocative music to facilitate deep emotional release and expanded states of awareness. This period also saw the rise of rebirthing breathwork, pioneered by Leonard Orr, which focuses on resolving repressed traumas through conscious connected breathing. Today, breathwork is widely used not only in spiritual contexts but also in psychotherapy and wellness practices to promote mental, emotional, and physical health. It has gained significant popularity as a tool for stress reduction, self-exploration, and healing, blending ancient techniques with contemporary therapeutic approaches.