The Grof® Legacy Training
This training is rooted in lineage exploring holotropic states of consciousness — states that move us toward wholeness — informed by decades of research, practice, and ethical development.
The Foundations
Stanislav Grof is a Czech psychiatrist and researcher, and one of the early pioneers in the study of holotropic states of consciousness. His clinical work with LSD-assisted therapy, beginning in the 1950s in Prague and later at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center in the
United States, together with the subsequent development of holotropic breathwork, contributed to one of the most extensive bodies of research into these states in modern psychology. His work played a central role in the founding of transpersonal psychology as a formal field and in expanding the understanding of the human psyche.
He introduced the term holotropic — meaning “moving toward wholeness” — to describe states of consciousness in which the intrinsic intelligence of the psyche can unfold, allowing the process to move toward transformation and healing.
Rather than viewing these states as pathological, his work explored them as meaningful expressions of the psyche when approached with care and appropriate support.
In the mid-1970s, during his time as Scholar in Residence at the Esalen Institute in California, he began a long period of workshops and collaborations with leading figures in psychology, consciousness research, and the human potential movement. It was there that he met Christina Grof, his partner in training, with whom he developed holotropic breathwork in 1974.
Responding to the need for a non-pharmacological way to access holotropic states, the method combined breathing, music, and focused bodywork within a carefully held set and setting, drawing on insights from modern psychology as well as ancient practices.
Developing The Method
In the mid-1970s, during his time as Scholar in Residence at the Esalen Institute in California, he began a long period of workshops and collaborations with leading figures in psychology, consciousness research, and the human potential movement. It was there that he met Christina Grof, his partner in training, with whom he developed holotropic breathwork in 1974.
Responding to the need for a non-pharmacological way to access holotropic states, the method combined breathing, music, and focused bodywork within a carefully held set and setting, drawing on insights from modern psychology as well as ancient practices.
In 1988 they founded Grof Transpersonal Training, a facilitator program that grew into an international presence across several continents.
Following Christina’s passing in 2014, Stanislav and his wife Brigitte launched the Grof® Legacy Training in 2020 - a broader platform authorising experienced teachers worldwide to carry the work forward with integrity and care. The Grof® Legacy Training Adria is part of this living international network.
The Practice
The Grof® Breathwork is a structured, non-pharmacological method for accessing non-ordinary states of consciousness, developed within the Grof lineage and used in this training as a primary experiential modality.
Facilitators working in this tradition follow ethical and relational frameworks carefully developed over decades.
From its origins as an experimental approach within therapeutic and workshop settings, the practice has become a cornerstone of transpersonal psychology — an enduring method for personal exploration, emotional release, and spiritual insight.
Evolution of the Method
A key development in the practice was the introduction of the “breather” and “sitter” roles, allowing one participant to fully engage in the experience while the other offers attentive, non-directive support.
This format remains central, supporting both individual processes and the development of presence in relation to others. Over the years, the practice has continued to evolve, integrating insights from modern psychology, depth psychology, and spiritual traditions, while maintaining its core principles and structure.
Originally known as holotropic breathwork, the method is now taught under the name Grof® Breathwork, reflecting its ongoing development within the Grof lineage.
With the establishment of Grof Legacy Training in 2020 by Stan Grof and his wife Brigitte, the international training structure was further consolidated, supporting the transmission of this work across multiple countries and cultural contexts according to its original principles and standards.
Today, Stan and Brigitte Grof authorise experienced facilitators to teach and guide new generations of practitioners within the international network.
Alongside breathwork training, the lineage has expanded to include Grofian Psychedelic Therapy, reflecting renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
Continuity of Responsibility
Readiness for this training is shaped less by credentials, experience level, or professional background, and more by one’s current relationship to inner work — including the capacity for self-reflection, emotional responsibility, and engagement in a longer-term developmental process. The training is intended for individuals drawn toward sustained experiential inquiry, relational learning, and gradual personal and professional formation.
Considering the Training
Readiness
Reflect on your readiness for this training and its level of engagement.
Webinars
Learn more about the structure, approach, and FAQs.
Application
Apply and complete a short self-reflection as part of the process.