The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of Holorenic Breathwork (HrnB), a pro-longed, voluntary hyperventilation procedure, on certain personality properties, meaning of life and levels of dis-tress. A total of 62 subjects, aged 18-35 years, were compared using a repeated measures design. The experimen-tal group (N=31) participated for the first time in a workshop where the hyperventilation procedure was used.
Measures were taken before and after the workshop (one week and one month later). The control group subjects (N=31) did not receive any alternative treatment. The tests used were the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-R-90), the Purpose in Life Test (PLT) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R). In the experimen-tal group, there was a significant reduction in the Global Severity Index of the SCL-R-90, and a significant in-crease in the meaning of life (PLT), Self-directedness, Cooperativeness and Self-transcendence (TCI-R) one week and one month after the workshop.