Holotropic Breathwork was developed by Dr. Stanislav Grof, a Czechoslovakian psychiatrist, and his wife, Christina Grof. The name "holotropic" comes from the Greek words "holos" (whole) and "tropic" (moving towards), meaning "moving toward wholeness." Dr. Grof, a co-founder of Transpersonal Psychology, began his exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness in the 1960s using LSD in therapeutic settings. However, after LSD was banned in 1967, he and Christina developed Holotropic Breathwork as a powerful alternative. This technique uses breath and evocative music to access expanded states of awareness, allowing individuals to explore unconscious material and promote healing.

In the 1980s, Dr. Grof and Christina were joined by Tav and Cary Sparks, who became key figures in the development and spread of Holotropic Breathwork. Tav and Cary were instrumental in refining the practice and training facilitators to guide others through the breathwork process. Their dedication helped to establish a global community of practitioners and brought Holotropic Breathwork to the forefront of transformative practices in psychology and personal development.