INTEGRATION

INTEGRATION: WHERE THE REAL WORK HAPPENS

Breathwork, deep process, emotional release—it’s big. But the real work? That happens after. That’s integration.

Too many people chase the high of the experience. They go deep, they break through, they feel everything… and then what? They go home, and life hits them square in the face. If you don’t land what came up, if you don’t sit with it, apply it, work it into your actual life—it’s just another trip.

Integration is where everything comes together. It’s the difference between having a powerful experience and actually changing.

WHAT DOES INTEGRATION LOOK LIKE?

It’s not some mystery. It’s practical.

• Slowing down – Letting what came up actually settle, instead of running to the next thing.

• Feeling it through – Not pushing it away, not overanalyzing—just letting yourself sit with it.

• Making sense of it over time – Some things don’t hit straight away. You might not get the meaning for days, weeks, months. That’s normal.

• Applying what you learned – If you had a massive realisation, now what? How does it change how you show up, how you live, how you move through the world?

THE ROLE OF OA INTEGRATION

I don’t just throw people into the deep and call it a day. Every session, every breathwork journey, every big experience—it’s followed by guidance on what’s next.

• Post-session integration calls – A chance to unpack what landed, so it doesn’t just sit there.

• 1:1 integration support – If something big hit, we work through it. Together.

• Practical tools – Ways to actually live what came through, not just think about it.

This isn’t about endless processing. It’s about owning your experience. Holding what came through without it holding you.

Breathwork cracks the door open. Integration is walking through it.

So if you’re ready to go all in—not just for the high, but for the real work—let’s go.

POST-EXPERIENCE INTEGRATION SYSTEM (PEIS)

For Beginners & Intermediate Practice

Going deep is one thing. Making it stick is another. That’s where the Post-Experience Integration System (PEIS) comes in—a no-nonsense, structured approach to landing what you’ve been through, so it doesn’t just fade into a memory. Inspired by the work of Stanislav Grof, PEIS is designed to help you process, understand, and actually apply the insights from breathwork, deep-state experiences, and expanded states of consciousness.

The Four Steps of PEIS:

• Preparation – Set the ground. Know why you’re doing this. Get yourself ready.

• Experience – Go all in. Trust the process. Let it happen.

• Integration – Take what landed and make it real.

• Support – Don’t do it alone. Find your crew.

STEP 1: PREPARATION

If you want a strong landing, set up a solid takeoff. Before diving into any transformative experience, get yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally ready.

• Set Intentions – Why are you doing this? What are you looking to shift, see, or process? Clarity here makes all the difference.

• Establish Safety – Create a space where you won’t be interrupted—internally and externally. This is your time.

• Inform Yourself – Know what you’re stepping into. Learn about the process, the potential challenges, and what might come up. Go in ready.

STEP 2: EXPERIENCE

Now you’re in it. Whether it’s OA Breathwork or another deep-state practice, this is where you let go and let it happen.

• Surrender – The more you fight it, the harder it gets. Breathe. Let the body do what it needs to do.

• Observe – Stay curious. Notice the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations—without trying to control them.

• Trust the Process – Even if it feels heavy, weird, or wild—trust that what’s coming up needs to come up. You’re in a safe space, and you’ve prepared for this.

STEP 3: INTEGRATION

This is where it actually matters. The breathwork, the experience, the big feelings—none of it means much if you don’t integrate it into your actual life.

• Journaling – Write it down. The details, the emotions, the weird stuff. Some things make sense later.

• Reflection – Take time to sit with it. What did you learn? What hit you? How does this change how you move forward?

• Integration Practices – Make it tangible. Maybe that’s breathwork, movement, meditation, or simply adjusting how you show up in your daily life. It’s not about adding “rituals”—it’s about applying what landed.

STEP 4: SUPPORT

No one integrates alone. Having the right support makes all the difference in whether this sticks or fades away.

• Integration Circles – Spaces where you can talk it out, hear from others, and process together.

• Professional Guidance – Sometimes, what comes up is big. If you need deeper work, seek out professionals who understand these experiences.

• Self-Care – Eat well. Move your body. Rest. Do things that bring you back into yourself. If you don’t look after the vessel, everything else slips.

FINAL WORDS

Integration isn’t a one-day thing. It unfolds over time. Be patient. Stay with it. The PEIS gives you a framework, but at the end of the day, you have to do the work.

Breathwork cracks the door open. Integration is walking through it.

If you’re ready to do this properly—let’s go.

Reference: Inspired by the work of Stanislav Grof, particularly his research into expanded states of consciousness and transpersonal psychology.

Further Reading:

Core Texts on Integration & Expanded States

• "The Stormy Search for the Self" – Stanislav & Christina Grof (Explores crisis states and how to integrate profound experiences.)

• "Realms of the Human Unconscious" – Stanislav Grof (Breaks down altered states, their structure, and therapeutic potential.)

• "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" – James Nestor (Deep dive into the science and history of breathwork.)

• "The Body Keeps the Score" – Bessel van der Kolk (Trauma, body-based healing, and why integration is critical.)

• "Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma" – Peter Levine (Somatic approaches to processing and resolving deep experiences.)

Additional Reads on Process & Personal Work

• "The Wisdom of Trauma" – Gabor Maté (Understanding trauma, healing, and post-experience integration.)

• "The Myth of Normal" – Gabor Maté (How modern life shapes our mental and emotional health.)

• "Radical Acceptance" – Tara Brach (Letting go of resistance and fully facing what arises.)

• "When the Body Says No" – Gabor Maté (Connections between stress, emotions, and the physical body.)

• "The Untethered Soul" – Michael A. Singer (A more introspective look at awareness and how we process deep states.)