9D Breathwork Contraindications
The short answer: 9D Breathwork is safe for most healthy adults, but it uses a conscious connected breathing pattern that meaningfully changes blood chemistry and nervous system activation. Certain medical and psychiatric conditions are contraindications — meaning you should either avoid the practice or get medical clearance before doing a session.
Absolute contraindications
These conditions are generally considered absolute contraindications to deep conscious connected breathwork. If any apply to you, do not do a 9D Breathwork session without speaking to a qualified medical professional first:
- Pregnancy, particularly the first trimester
- Serious cardiovascular conditions — including recent heart attack, unstable angina, uncontrolled high blood pressure, aneurysm, or congestive heart failure
- Epilepsy or a seizure disorder
- History of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar I with unmedicated manic episodes
- Detached retina or glaucoma
- Recent surgery (especially chest, abdominal, or head surgery)
- Osteoporosis severe enough that muscular tension could cause injury
Pregnancy
Deep breathwork shifts CO2 and oxygen levels and can create strong sympathetic activation, which isn’t appropriate during pregnancy — particularly the first trimester. Gentle, calm breathing practices can be pregnancy-safe, but the active 9D Breathwork format is not. Wait until after pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and check with your OB or midwife before returning.
Heart and cardiovascular conditions
Any condition that makes sudden changes in heart rate or blood pressure risky is a reason to avoid or modify the practice. That includes uncontrolled hypertension, recent cardiac events, aneurysm, or severe arrhythmia. If you have a cardiovascular diagnosis and you’re curious about breathwork, start with a conversation with your cardiologist rather than signing up for a live session.
Anxiety, panic, and PTSD
Anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD are not automatic disqualifications — many people with these conditions benefit from breathwork — but they do call for extra care. A panic response can surface mid-journey, and without a skilled facilitator it can be overwhelming. If you’re managing any of these, work with a trauma-informed facilitator, start gently, and let them know beforehand.
Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Hyperventilation-style breathing can lower the seizure threshold, which makes 9D Breathwork unsafe for people with a history of seizures. This is one of the clearest contraindications — the risk outweighs the benefit.
Psychiatric conditions
People with a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or untreated bipolar I should not do deep breathwork without psychiatric support. Non-ordinary states can destabilize these conditions. Depression, mild-to-moderate anxiety, and stable, well-managed mental health conditions are usually compatible with breathwork, but coordination with your mental health provider is wise.
Medications
Most everyday medications are fine with breathwork, but anything that affects cardiovascular function, seizure threshold, or psychiatric stability deserves a conversation with your prescriber. Never stop a medication to do a session — that’s more dangerous than skipping the practice.
Recent surgery or injury
If you’ve had a recent surgery — especially chest, abdominal, head, or eye surgery — wait until you’re fully cleared by your surgeon. Deep, strong breathing can strain healing tissue.
When in doubt, ask
If you’re unsure whether a condition is a contraindication, err on the side of caution: talk to your doctor, and tell your facilitator before the session. A good 9D Breathwork facilitator will ask screening questions and can modify or decline to run a session if the fit isn’t right — that’s a feature, not a problem. For more on the safety framing, read Is 9D Breathwork Safe? and 9D Breathwork Side Effects: What to Expect.
Ready to start safely?
If you’ve cleared the contraindications and you’re ready to try a session with an experienced facilitator, join an online 9D Breathwork session.