What are “Lobster Claws” and why do they happen??

Why We Get "Lobster Claws" During Breathwork

During active breathwork practices, some people experience hyperventilation and their hands curl or they get tightness in the hands or around the mouth. Known as tetany and described by many as “lobster claw” hands, this can occur in different types of breathwork such as Holotropic, rebirthing, transformational, Wim Hof Method (WHM), and others.

Many breathwork teachers explain tetany as caused by holding onto unconscious, “stuck” energy or the need for control. Or the needing to “let go” of anything that might come up during the breathing.

A more scientific answer is that tetany is the involuntary contraction of muscles that occurs when carbon dioxides decreases significantly in the body. This can happen during breathwork when we hyperventilate and breathe really fast or exhale too forcefully – so the rate or volume of breathing eliminates more CO2 then the body can produce .

Tetany is more likely in people with underlying mineral imbalances, including:

• Low magnesium – more likely during pregnancy or lactation, use of diuretics

• Low potassium

How can you avoid this?

• During breathwork, slow down the breathing, reduce the forcefulness or duration of exhales (just lightly “let go” of breath), move/massage hands or you can pause the breathing by closing your mouth and taking long deep inhales and exhales out the nose.

Thanks for reading about tetany and breathwork!