Breathwork Zurich

The Sound & Breath Ceremonies by Sacred Ways have been established in Zurich for many years and stand for trauma-sensitive, responsible and well-founded breathwork and sound healing. At the core of this work are integrity, presence and a deep respect for the human nervous system.

In the context of the growing popularity of breathwork, this approach is essential. Breathwork directly affects the autonomic nervous system and can – if not guided mindfully and in an integrated way – lead to overwhelm, dysregulation or retraumatization. Sacred Ways Institute deliberately positions itself beyond entertainment-oriented formats, focusing instead on safety, experience and inner maturity.

The breathwork sessions by Sacred Ways are oriented towards cultivating presence and acceptance, which enable transformative processes and revelations, but in a consciously organic way. An essential part of the work is awareness of integration, so that experiences can be effectively embodied in the long term.

Sacred Ways offers a space for people seeking an honest, deep and responsible practice – carried by experience, clarity and respect for the participants.

The Naikando Method® is based on connected breathing (Conscious Connected Breathwork), a technique dating back to the 1970s, developed by Leonard Orr at the Esalen Institute in California, exploring themes of immortality and rebirth. Central to this method is connected (circular) breathing, which forms the foundation for a powerful personal development tool capable of bringing about profound shifts in consciousness. Subconscious, traumatic feelings and memories reaching back to one’s own birth can be accessed through CEB therapy; hence CEB was originally known as “Rebirthing.” Conscious energy breathing helps us overcome energetic and physical blockages and release everyday stress and tension, while giving us more clarity, joy and vitality. Conscious Energy Breathing enables us to gain deep insights into our intuitive world by connecting with our deepest inner self and cosmic unity.

Through the integration of frequency and sound therapy elements, Marc has enriched the Naikando Method® with the use of tuning forks and conscious “toning” through the voice, particularly in deep meditative states – the so-called phase of expansion in the breath session; an innovative approach that literally expands the potential for self-healing. The foundation of the method is based on a psycho-spiritual approach in the process of self-knowledge, which in turn forms the basis for Sacred Ways’ students of the Transpersonal Guide & Breathwork Teacher Training.

Marc Grüninger has been active in the healing arts for over 20 years. His background in humanistic and transpersonal psychology shapes his work, as does his extensive practical experience in consciousness and integration processes. In 2004, Marc first encountered transpersonal breathwork in depth at the Esalen Institute in California – a place where pioneers like Stanislav Grof and Leonard Orr significantly co-developed this work. Since then, a continuous path of deepening and practice has accompanied him. Between 2006–2013, Marc attended recurring workshops and programs in the Human Potential Movement at Esalen, particularly in the fields of transpersonal psychology, conscious movement, psychotropic breathwork and shamanism. After his time in the USA, Marc spent a few years in Berlin before returning to Zurich in 2015, where he worked as a social pedagogue and family coach.

Important teachers and mentors in the areas of presence, transpersonal integration and consciousness work include Dr. Howard Lipp and Dr. Hank Wesselman. Since 2024, Marc has been leading the first trauma-sensitive breathwork training of its kind in the DACH region. This extensive experience also shapes his breathwork sessions, in which sound, frequency therapy and transpersonal breathwork work together integratively.

Marc is a father, Transformational Guide & Breathwork Teacher, Transpersonal Integration Coach, certified sound therapist, qualified Esalen® Bodyworker, social pedagogue, lecturer and author of ‘Sacred Ways – A Guide to Your Essence.’

Valérie Grüninger brings a well-founded background in trauma-aware bodywork, particularly through her training in Somatic Experiencing®. This method, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is one of the most recognized approaches worldwide in trauma therapy and nervous system regulation. Valérie was trained by, among others, Urs Honauer and Dr. Peter Levine himself. Additionally, she is a Reiki teacher (in the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition) and works with a refined, clear perception of physical and energetic processes. When present, her presence in the ceremonies particularly supports somatic safety, grounding and co-regulation – central aspects for sustainable breathwork and consciousness work.

Valérie is a mother, founder of Wise Woman Atelier and author of the children’s book Arun & Runa.