“I felt like I was floating!”

Colors, tingles, pulsing energy: what really happens during a breathwork journey

When my student mentioned he had an "OBE" during our breathwork session, I was really confused. Was he telling me he was a member of the Order of the British Empire?

How cool! Although I thought he was from California…?

Turns out he meant "out of body experience." 😅

While not everyone has such dramatic experiences with conscious connected breathing (CCB), it's fascinating how a simple 3-part breath can create profound shifts in how we experience ourselves and the world around us.

During CCB, people report all kinds of interesting sensations: tingling in their hands and feet… as well as their nose or calves or other random places, waves of emotion, sudden insights, deep peace, or feeling like they're floating.

Some describe colors or light patterns behind their closed eyes, or feeling energy coursing through their body.

And yes, occasionally someone feels like they're hovering above themselves (though I promise, you'll stay firmly on your couch or mat!). 🦅

Why does this happen?

The science is pretty cool: When you practice CCB, you're delivering more oxygen to your entire body than usual. This mega-boost actually causes your analytical mind – the part that's always planning, worrying, and trying to stay in control – to temporarily quiet down.

It's like your thinking mind finally takes a nap, letting other parts of your brain come out to play.

This is why CCB can be so powerful for transformation. When your analytical mind steps back, you can access deeper parts of yourself – including old patterns, beliefs, and yes, even those sneaky subconscious blocks that might be holding you back from your goals. 💡

Sometimes people have profound realizations during their practice. Others experience deep emotional releases that leave them feeling lighter and clearer. And most people I’ve done CCB with report feeling more connected to their intuition and inner wisdom afterward.

The best part? You don't have to "believe" in it for it to work. You don't need to try to have any particular experience. You just breathe in the pattern, and your nervous system takes over the rest.

Now, CCB can have negative side effects. So it’s best done with a qualified instructor who can help make sure you have a safe experience and help you get the most benefit from this type of breathing. Especially if you’re a beginner (but even if you’re not).

This is exactly why I'm incorporating CCB into Resolution Rescue, a special training I’m co-hosting TODAY. By combining this powerful practice with hypnosis and practical habit-building strategies, you’ll create the perfect conditions for real transformation. There’s still room if you want to experience it for yourself!

Sign up here for Resolution Rescue.

Whether you're working towards a big, hairy, audacious goal or you just want to feel more peaceful and present in your daily life, CCB can help you access parts of yourself that your regular thinking mind can't reach.

Who knows? Maybe you'll have an OBE of your own. (Just don't let me think you've suddenly turned British. 😉)

Last Gasp

If you do not run your subconscious mind yourself, someone else will run it for you.

~ Florence Scovel Shinn