Breathwork in the UK: What It Is and Where to Try It

Breathwork is having a cultural moment. Five years ago it was a fringe practice associated with Wim Hof and psychedelic therapy circles. Today it's offered in yoga studios, wellness centres, and retreat programmes across the UK — and the evidence base for its effectiveness is growing rapidly.

This guide explains what breathwork actually is (the different traditions vary enormously), what to expect from a session, and where to find classes across the UK.

What Is Breathwork?

Breathwork is an umbrella term covering a range of practices that use conscious control of the breath to achieve specific psychological and physiological effects. The practices vary significantly in their origins and goals:

Wim Hof Method

The most widely known breathwork practice in the UK. Developed by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, it combines rhythmic deep breathing (filling the lungs rapidly 30–40 times, then exhaling and holding the breath) with cold water exposure. The physiological effects are well-documented: reduced CO2 levels create temporary alkalosis, producing feelings of tingling, lightness, and altered state. Combined with cold exposure, the Wim Hof Method has been shown to significantly affect the stress response and immune function.

Holotropic Breathwork

Developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, holotropic breathwork involves sustained, accelerated breathing for 2–3 hours, often with evocative music and in a group setting. The practice can produce non-ordinary states of consciousness — emotional release, physical sensations, and occasionally hallucinatory experiences. It's typically facilitated by trained practitioners in retreat settings rather than weekly studio classes. Not a beginner practice.

Pranayama

Breathwork from the yoga tradition — a structured approach to breath control that has been practised for thousands of years. Pranayama practices range from gentle rhythmic breathing (Nadi Shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing) to powerful activating techniques (Kapalabhati, or skull-shining breath). Most yoga studios in the UK incorporate some pranayama into their classes.

Somatic Breathwork

A more therapeutic approach that uses conscious breathing to access and release stored emotional and physical tension — sometimes called trauma-informed breathwork. Typically offered in a therapeutic context or at specialist retreats.

Clarity Breathwork and Connected Breathing

Continuous circular breathing — inhaling and exhaling without pause — is used in Clarity Breathwork, Transformational Breath, and similar modalities. Sessions often produce strong physical sensations (tingling, warmth, emotional release) and are used for stress, anxiety, and personal development work.

What Does a Breathwork Class Feel Like?

For a standard group breathwork session (Wim Hof style or similar), expect to lie on a mat, receive guidance through the breathing pattern, and experience some combination of the following: tingling in the hands and face, a sense of lightness or floating, warmth or cold, emotional release (sometimes unexpected tears or laughter), and a deep sense of calm in the integration period that follows.

It's rarely dramatic — most people describe a first session as surprisingly gentle and surprisingly effective. The 20–30 minute integration period at the end, where you simply lie still, is often reported as the most valuable part.

Where to Try Breathwork in the UK

London

We The Conscious at Hackney Downs Studios is one of London's most adventurous wellness spaces — somatic breathwork, aerial yoga, and sound healing in a historic former printworks. Their breathwork events are a good introduction to the practice in a well-facilitated group setting.

Sauna Social Club in Peckham combines breathwork and meditation sessions with their sauna and ice bath programme — a particularly effective combination, as the breathwork prepares you for cold water immersion.

Manchester

FIX MCR in the Northern Quarter integrates breathwork guidance into their contrast therapy sessions (cedar sauna and dual ice baths) — an excellent entry point that makes the breathwork immediately practical rather than abstract.

Sussex

Ellasfield near Billingshurst in West Sussex includes breathwork in their retreat and workshop programme alongside cacao ceremonies, yoga, and shamanic healing. A more immersive, nature-embedded context for the practice.

Several yoga studios across Brighton and Hove incorporate pranayama and breathwork into their class schedules — search Happy Place for yoga studios in Brighton to find ones that include breath-focused practice.

Peak District

Rewilded Retreats in the Peak District incorporates breathwork alongside wild swimming and forest immersion — used specifically to prepare participants for cold water exposure. A practical application of the practice in an extraordinary landscape.

How to Get Started

For a first experience, a guided group breathwork session is much better than attempting to learn from YouTube. A skilled facilitator reads the room, provides real-time guidance, and ensures participants feel safe — particularly important for practices that can produce strong emotional responses.

• Choose a clearly described, facilitated class rather than an open practice session to begin with
• Wim Hof workshops and breathwork + cold water sessions are a good entry point — the combination gives you an immediate practical context for the breathing technique
• Inform the facilitator of any medical history — breathwork is not recommended for people with cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, or during pregnancy
• Plan nothing demanding for the afternoon after your first session — the integration phase is real and worth respecting

Find Breathwork Classes Near You

Search Happy Place for breathwork studios, retreat programmes, and wellness centres across the UK — filter by location to find sessions near you.