Breath ≡ Prāṇa ≡ Consciousness
Welcome
Conscious Connected Breathwork in Erlangen, Fürth, Nuremberg & Online
Nervous system regulation · Emotional processing · Expanded states of consciousness ·
Kundalini support - through conscious, connected breathing
About my work
I work as a scholar of religion at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg. At the same time, I am a Kundalini yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator. I offer individual and couples sessions in Conscious Connected Breathwork in my studio in Fürth (Südstadt) or online, as well as group sessions at selected locations. In addition, I support individuals in what is referred to as the Kundalini process.
Bernd-Christian Otto
Breath ≡ Prāṇa ≡ Consciousness
Conscious Connected Breathwork
Conscious Connected Breathwork is a modern evolution of Holotropic Breathing, originally developed by Stanislav Grof in the 1970s. During a one-hour breathing journey, typically done lying down, the breath follows a continuous, connected rhythm, guided by the flow of the music, without pauses between inhalation and exhalation. The gentler nose–mouth breathing facilitates deep processes of awareness and transformation, while also supporting the gradual regulation of the autonomic nervous system. CCB takes place within a carefully held, safe experiential space.
Individual sessions
In an individually guided breath journey, a safe and supportive space emerges for deep exploration of embodied memory and the integration of emotional and energetic processes (“shadow work”). At the same time, conscious connected breathing can support the self-regulation of the nervous system and facilitate access to expanded states of consciousness. The individual session allows for focused guidance and a finely attuned response to personal themes and processes. It is suitable both for beginners and for those who have been on a therapeutic or spiritual path for some time.
Breathwork for couples
Conscious Connected Breathwork is particularly well suited for couples. Breathing together in a shared rhythm can deepen or renew connection, trust, and mindful presence, while opening spaces for emotional expression, new forms of intimacy, and the co-regulation of the nervous system. Couples are supported in consciously sharing their inner processes and integrating them together. If desired, selected elements of tantric praxis-knowledge can be incorporated into the sessions.
Group sessions
Conscious Connected Breathwork can also be practiced in a group setting, typically in a circle of around four to twenty participants. As a shared practice, CCB opens up a collective experiential space in which deep inner processes can unfold, while a sense of connection with the group is experienced through the breath. Carefully selected music playlists and my attentive guidance create a calm and supportive setting for collectively transformative breath journeys.
Kundalini support
I offer grounded support for individuals navigating what is often described as kundalini awakening or kundalini process, including the sometimes challenging transformations that may accompany such experiences. Drawing on both traditional and contemporary interpretations, I do not primarily understand Kundalini as an “energy” awakening in the body, but rather as a force of self-reflexivity within consciousness itself, which gradually seeks to permeate embodied awareness. In contrast to more passive approaches such as the “Kundalini Activation Process” (KAP), Conscious Connected Breathwork offers a particularly suitable method for the stabilisation and integration of this process. My approach combines breathwork as a practical key with my academic expertise in religious studies and three decades of personal experience on spiritual paths of transformation.
Tantric counseling
I have engaged extensively with traditional Shaiva–Shakta Tantra and offer guidance to men and couples based on the praxis-knowledge I have gained through this work, particularly in the areas of embodied presence, conscious relationships, and spiritual sexuality. For men, I offer consultation with a focus on ejaculatory control, as well as other tantric techniques for the cultivation and direction of energy. The true home for many tantric practices lies, however, within the couple relationship. Here, I support couples in engaging with the polarity of worship and self-surrender, thereby gradually opening the body to deeper forms of relational experience. I convey selected aspects of traditional tantric praxis-knowledge in a way that is humorous, reflective, and attuned to contemporary contexts.