Vivation for Mental Health
What is Vivation?
Vivation is a breathwork modality that activates the pleasure centers in the brain and body. When these centers are activated while also activationg and processing trauma, negative thinking, or unwanted emotions, the negative associations with events, feelings, etc. are broken and their energies are integrated back in to the body and mind as joy, peace, harmony, love, forgiveness, or any other positive, uplifting emotion.
The practice itself is easy to learn and anyone has the ability to begin practicing. There are five vital components to vivation known as the 5 elements that are necessary to be aware of during the practice. These are:
1: Circular breathing
Circular breathing or connected breathing is a style of breath where there is no pauses in breathing. The inhale flows into the exhale and the exhale becomes the inhale with no break. The circular breathing is what allows energy to build within the body/mind complex and begin the process of activating, processing and integrating.
2: Complete relaxation
Relaxation is a crucial part of the vivation experience because when we are tense, the energies moved by the breath are blocked and little work can be done. Complete relaxation is a skill that may take some time to master, but most are able to relax sufficiently to gain tremendous benefit from the practice.
3: Awareness in detail
It comes as no surprise that behind this modality is one of the greatest tools for self-healing, awareness. developing a state of mindfulness allows the practitioner to engage the present moment from a place of safety and also begin to bring the emotional and cognitive framwork into the physical reality. This allows for the practitioner to take the possible overwhelming feelings or emotions of trauma and pain from a state of nebulosity to concrete reality.
4: Integration into ecstasy
When the practitioner becomes aware of the emotions, feelings, or thoughts found stored in the body, they are then able to hold those sensations while the breath (cicular breathing) continues to activates the body's pleasure centers which allows the conscious mind to see the emotions, thoughts, or circumstances in a new, more enjoyable light.
5: Do what you do, willingness is enough
The whole process works through the breath and mindful awareness. Because of this, there is not a "right" way to practice. As a practitioner becomes aware of a sensation or emotion, they might have a desire to change the breathing patterns, contemplate the events, or bliss out to the new feelings they are experiencing. This is why vivation works so well. It is an individual practice that leads to complete autonomy. After a few sessions with a professional teacher, practitioners can begin guiding themselves through the process in the way that works for them.
The practice of vivation itself functions as a method of activating past emotions/feelings and thoughts that have yet to be addressed. Processing those emotions can then take place by tapping into the inherent pleasure that exists in every moment. Lastly, integration occurs, the ability to move the negative energies surrounding the feelings or thoughts into ecstasy, the state of acceptance and openness to the present moment.
Vivation was developed in the 1980's by Jim Leonard but the practices and concepts are based in pranayama, meditation, and mindfulness; practices that have been used for thousands of years for their ability to heal and develop the body, mind, and spirit.
I have been practicing vivation for over a year and have found it to be so beneficial that I am leaving behind many of my old classes and coursework to slowly transition to teaching vivation. With many years of experience in mindfulness, meditation, and other alternative modalities, and as the only certified vivation instructor currently in Utah, you can be sure that the instruction you receive is accurate, beneficial, and of the highest potential.
In this course, we will delve into the 5 elements of vivation and practice with a guided session so that you can experience the process first hand. At the conclusion of the session, there will be a chance for questions and answers.
Dates:
November 21, 2024
6:00pm-8:30pm
Location:
Local Provo address given upon registration
Cost:
$10 for Mental Healthcare workers
$30 for all others