Breathwork is a wellness practice that has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its ability to promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve mental and physical wellbeing. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the popularity of breathwork as a healing modality has skyrocketed 400% since 2019. As awareness grows, so does the demand for certified breathwork facilitators to guide others on their journey to healing and self-discovery.
If you’re here, chances are you’re drawn to the idea of becoming a breathwork facilitator. Maybe you’ve read up on the practice, experimented with techniques, or even taken a breathwork class or two. Now, you’re wondering – can you turn this interest into something more and guide others on their own breathwork journey?
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know on how to become a breathwork facilitator, including the benefits, training needed, career paths, potential earnings, and a step-by-step roadmap to getting into the industry.
We’ll also share stories from real breathwork facilitators, offering insights and inspiration for aspiring instructors.
A breathwork facilitator, also known as a breathwork instructor, or breathwork teacher, is a trained professional who guides people through various breathing techniques and exercises to achieve transformative outcomes. Whether it’s improving everyday breathing, easing anxiety, healing from trauma, or simply finding a sense of calm, they guide individuals through simple yet powerful techniques to regulate the nervous system and support overall wellbeing.
They may use one, or a variety of different breathwork techniques during a practise, including:
Facilitators create a safe and supportive environment for participants to explore their breath, emotions and inner experiences.
A breathwork facilitator focuses on four key areas:
Becoming a breathwork facilitator is a deeply fulfilling and meaningful path that attracts people from all walks of life for a variety of reasons. Below are just a few reasons why we see people train to become facilitators.
They’ve Experienced the Magic Themselves
Many people are drawn to becoming facilitators themselves because they have personally experienced profound transformations through breathwork. If you’ve experienced the emotional, mental and physical benefits of yourself, you might want to help others do the same.
The power of conscious breathing has a profound impact on the mind and body; helping people overcome anxiety, overcome unresolved trauma, regulate emotions, improve sleep and even heal physical ailments such as sleep apnea, athsma and high blood pressure.
Becoming a breathwork facilitator allows individuals to share these life-changing benefits with others.
It’s In-Demand
As breathwork grows in popularity, so does the need for skilled facilitators. Certified practitioners now work in diverse settings including health clinics, yoga studios, private practices, youth centers, corporate spaces, and more. Breathwork is for everyone!
There are So Many Options!
There are many different pathways you can take as a breathwork facilitator. You can run one-on-one sessions, group classes, or corporate workshops. Work in a variety of environments including offices, schools, clinics, gyms, even jails or the beach (yes, some of our breathwork instructors do this!). You can even create online programs or run overseas retreats. The opportunities are almost endless and you get to choose which path you take as a qualified breathwork teacher.
They Have a Passion for Helping Others
If you’re someone who gets joy from helping others, breathwork is a very fulfilling career as it is scientifically proven to help with things like anxiety, depression, trauma, and a variety of other health issues.
They aren’t therapists, but they do provide therapeutic breathwork sessions that promote relaxation, emotional release, and inner peace.
Ultimately, facilitators are crucial to the science because they contribute to the growing field of integrative and holistic approaches to mental and physical health care.
Facilitators don’t just do the role because it can be lucrative (see below), they take joy in witnessing the positive transformations and growth experienced by their students, knowing that they have played a role in helping people live better lives.
It Can Be Financially Rewarding
While it shouldn’t be the main motivation to get into the industry, breathwork instructors can create multiple streams of income through the generation of programs, classes, courses, workshops and one-on-one sessions.
Breathwork Facilitators can expect to earn anything from $25 per week to $6000 and beyond, depending on what they offer (online programs, group or one-on-on sessions), their time commitment (breathwork as a side gig or full-time guru) and creativity (develop something new, or go with the tried and trusted).
Learn more in this article about How much can you earn as a breathwork instructor.
It’s a Gateway to Career Growth
While anyone can become a breathwork facilitator, we often see people in other careers become instructors to add to their service offering or grow their careers. This includes physiotherapists, yoga and pilates teachers, integrative doctors and personal trainers. A certification expands their skill set, allowing them to integrate breathwork seamlessly into their existing role.
Check out this article to read more about why you should become a breathwork facilitator, or read why being a breathwork instructor is one of the best careers in health and wellness for 2025.
As we mentioned above, there are many different pathways you can take as a breathwork instructor. As someone who teaches breathwork to others, you have the flexibility to build a career that aligns with your passion, whether that means working one-on-one, leading group sessions, or integrating breathwork into other wellness practices.
You can work directly with clients who need personalised support for issues such as stress, anxiety, emotional healing, or physical ailments; or those looking to enhance their athletic performance, or overall breathing by learning how to breath properly.
Lead breathwork sessions in spaces that also offer massage, or meditation, creating a holistic wellness experience.
Facilitate breathwork sessions at retreats designed to help people reset, recharge, and reconnect. These can be local, interstate or overseas. Beachside retreats or getaways in the mountains. For example, we’ve hosted expeditions everywhere from Men’s Retreats in the Victorian Alps to Freediving and breathwork getaways in Raja Ampat, to Snow Expeditions in the Snowy Mountains.
“Throughout the weekend, we watch people completely transform. They leave with eyes bright and shiny, proud of themselves, relaxed and truly connected to the people around them. These transformations, often don’t stop on a Sunday. I have seen people months or even years after the retreats, and hardly recognised them, due to the positive changes that they have created in changing their lives.
Every single person that has touched my life through supporting and running retreats, has left a positive impact on me; inspired me. Every time I hear the stories and revelations that the participants share, I continuously realise how similar we ALL are. Breath levels us all, and connects us all. Every time that I am involved, I am motivated to be courageous, just like the participants, to have brave conversations, to evolve, learn and grow. These conversations and self exploration, have had a major impact on my ability to be a leader in Breathwork.”
Partner with businesses to provide breathwork sessions that are tailored to corporate clients. These corporate wellness offerings focus on techniques to reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve employee happiness.
Incorporate breathwork into yoga classes or offer dedicated breathwork sessions to deepen mindfulness and movement.
Collaborate with healthcare professionals to introduce breathwork as a complementary therapy for managing pain, anxiety, or trauma recovery. These professionals might be doctors, physiotherapists or psychologists.
Reach a global audience by offering virtual breathwork sessions, online courses, or guided breathwork programs.
Want to try it for yourself? Get 7 Days of Free Breathwork Practices Now.
You can’t just pick up a few breathwork tips and call yourself a facilitator; it’s a profound journey that requires dedication, skill, and responsibility. Guiding others through breathwork means holding space for deep emotional experiences, making it a role that demands both knowledge, hands-on experience and responsible care. Below is a step-by-step process to take to become a skilled breathwork facilitator.
You can only take people where you’ve been yourself. That means in order to properly facilitate effective breathwork practices, you need to have experienced it for yourself. Start by immersing yourself in the practice of conscious breathing – and become an expert. Explore various breathwork techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, circular breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and transformational breathwork.
Attend workshops, classes, and retreats led by experienced facilitators to deepen your understanding and experience of breathwork.
You’ll want to develop a daily practice to cultivate self-awareness, relaxation and inner connection. You’ll also want to experiment with different breathing patterns, rhythms, and intentions to explore the diverse effects of breathwork on your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
A good breathwork facilitator certification will teach you proper, effective breathwork techniques, laying the foundation for your journey.
Breathwork, when done properly, is the art of merging both science and spirituality. Understanding the science behind breathwork gives you the knowledge to customise your practise in a way that is specific for your clients to create the life-changing results.
Integrating the science of breathwork into your practise positions you as a leader in the field. Knowing how to run breathwork sessions is important, but understanding how it works is what sets great breathwork teachers apart from mediocre ones.
At Breathless we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of science and education. We are actively involved with Australian University research, bringing the science of breathwork to public awareness and continuing to evolve, empower and educate our instructors to deliver this on a larger scale. Learn more about becoming a Breathless breathwork facilitator.
Becoming a breathwork facilitator isn’t just about mastering breathing techniques. It’s about guiding others through deep, personal transformations and understanding the why and how behind it all. That’s why choosing the right certification program matters.
A great program doesn’t just give you a piece of paper; it gives you the confidence to hold space for others, the knowledge to guide them safely, and the experience to make a real impact.
At Breathless, we cover all the above and more. Breathwork is our life. As the research evolves, so do we. As a certified Breathless Instructor, you have access to ongoing monthly evidence-based webinars, mentoring opportunities and face-to-face upskilling events to continually expand your skills, knowledge and confidence. Plus your facilitator in this journey, Breathless founder Johannes, is highly skilled, having led renowned people like Layne Beachley and David Goggins through transformative breathwork experiences.
For more insights, check out this article for a comparison we did on some of the best breathwork instructor courses out there.
Becoming a skilled practitioner is an evolution, taking time and practise. Once you’re certified (or during your training) you should start to develop your facilitation skills by doing some hands-on, practical experience. This includes practising creating safe spaces, holding space for emotional release and guiding clients through different breathing techniques.
Like with everything in life, the more you practise, the better you’ll get. We know that this is an essential part of facilitator training which is why we offer our students opportunities to help facilitate in-person sessions run by skilled breathwork instructors, observing experienced facilitators and getting hands-on experience.
Getting as much practical experience in different styles and environments will also help you decide on your chosen teaching style.
“Once you’ve run your 10th breathwork session, you’ll be a completely different facilitator to when you did your first”.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to breathwork and the way that it is delivered, this is one of the reasons that it is so powerful. Finding your unique style allows you to deliver breathwork with creativity and confidence.
Some facilitators like teaching intense fast-breathing sessions, while others prefer taking people through slow, relaxation breathing techniques. But don’t let that limit you, many breathwork facilitators do both!
What initially drew you to breathwork and your personal experiences and insights can help form the foundation of your teaching style.
A good way to find out what styles of breathwork you like teaching are creating your own breathflows. Learn more from this article on how to create breathflows or practises for your students.
See what Shane, one of our breathwork facilitator students says about developing his teaching style:
"I based my style on what I enjoy most when having someone facilitate for me: Real and Honest, and always letting my clients know that I will prioritize their safety and well-being above all. I developed certainty in my nurturing, a strength in tonality when it’s needed, and then the gentle softness so very much appreciated. Sharing from my heart instead of my head, always ‘going first’ and creating a space for shared connection and experience. "I experimented by modelling other instructors and facilitators I’ve worked with or learned from over the years, adopting and adapting from their styles and approaches as I go."
Every career benefits from a mentor, and breathwork is no exception. Guildance and mentorship from successful breathwork practitioners is invaluable as they can offer insights, feedback, and support as you navigate your journey as a facilitator. They can share their wisdom, techniques, and experiences, helping you refine your approach, overcome challenges, and improve your practise.
Here are some ways you can find the right mentor:
Attend breathwork workshops, seminars and conferences to connect with experienced facilitators who practise breathwork.
TIP: When you train with Breathless you will be invited to join our thriving private Facebook community of 500 Breathwork instructors worldwide. It is the easiest way to potentially find a mentor. We also offer paid mentorships with a few of our top instructors.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to potential mentors and ask about their journey, how they got started and any advice for beginners. While it can feel intimidating to approach someone you’ve never met, many in the industry are more than willing to share insights, tips, and guidance to help others get started.
Networking and asking questions are important, but approach it with humility and authenticity. Focus on building genuine relationships rather than simply seeking help – you’ll be surprised at how much support is available when you focus on relationship-building.
No one is more excited about breathwork than those who practise it! Finding a community of breathworkers not only opens the door to networking opportunities but is also a place to problem-solve and make new friends or co-workers.
At Breathless we, pride ourselves on community and connection. We have an ever-growing tribe of Breathwork enthusiasts that come together regularly to share knowledge, practice skills, problem-solve and have fun.
Once you’ve had some hands-on experience, met like-minded people, and potentially scored a mentor, you’ll want to decide on what breathwork services you’ll offer. Do you want to run retreats? One-on-one sessions? Create an online program? Do you want to work in corporate environments? Gyms? Yoga studios? Do you want to offer breathwork for athletic performance, to improve sleep, or help people overcome unresolved trauma? There are so many different pathways you can take as a breathwork facilitator, and while you can change at any time, you’ll want to start off with some idea of what you will offer, based on what resonates most with you, and what you enjoy.
"I was finding that in general, there were two types of participants interested in breathwork.
1. The participant that didn’t know anything about breathwork, but was really keen to learn.
2. The participant that did know about breathwork, but it found it challenging to maintain the practice due to time and self motivation.
This is where classes come into their own. Doing things alone can be hard. Hosting a breathwork class or workshop motivates the participant to practice, inspired by the group setting, and committed to a time and a place. This helps with accountability. Similar to a group fitness or yoga class, People in these environments are better able to tap into the group as well as the instructor and environment to learn more to optimise their breathwork experience.
As a Breathwork Instructor teaching classes and workshops, was the only way to improve my craft and uplevel my skills. The cycle of learning, is completed with teaching. Creatively putting together breathwork classes and workshops, helped me to develop creative concepts to allow people to better understand the concepts and their own breath. I am always so grateful for this experience."
In today’s world, of someone can’t find information about your business online, then they simply won’t find you at all.
Your website should be professional and easy to use, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune or require a team of developers. With so many simple site builders available, what really matters is making it easy for people to find you, understand what you offer, and feel compelled to reach out. Your website should include essential information about your services, your background and credentials, and contact details.
Social media is another powerful tool for building your online presence. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are ideal for sharing breathwork tips, live sessions, client testimonials, and behind-the-scenes looks at what you offer.
Regularly posting engaging content helps you connect with your audience and attract followers who may go on to become clients.
Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage your target audience.
Once your website is set up and you have more time to focus on content, make sure it includes valuable breathwork resources like articles, videos, and testimonials to educate and inspire potential clients.
Video content is another effective form of content marketing. You can create videos demonstrating breathwork techniques, discussing their benefits and answering common questions. Posting these videos on YouTube, your website and social media channels can help you reach a wider audience.
Webinars and online workshops are also excellent ways to showcase your expertise and engage with potential clients in real-time.
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach a large audience, with the potential for high ROI (return on investment).
Building an email list is a powerful way to maintain contact with your audience and keep them informed about your services, upcoming events, and special offers. To get people subscribed you could offer a free resource, such as a breathwork guide or a short video course, in exchange for visitors’ email addresses. This helps you build a list of interested prospects who are more likely to become paying clients. Once you have an email list, send regular newsletters with valuable content, including breathwork tips, success stories, and updates on your latest offerings.
Networking with other professionals in the wellness industry can significantly expand your reach. Partner with yoga studios, wellness centres, and holistic health practitioners to offer collaborative workshops or retreats. These partnerships can introduce you to new clients and provide additional value to your existing clients by offering a comprehensive wellness experience.
Positive testimonials and reviews from satisfied clients are powerful marketing tools. Encourage your clients to share their experiences on your website, social media pages, and review sites like Google My Business and Yelp. Authentic testimonials build trust and credibility, helping potential clients feel more confident in choosing your services.
Rebekah (Bek) Nutter is a Naturopath, Sports & Performance Nutritionist, Herbalist, and Fitness Coach, and breathwork facilitator. She utilises breath training and recovery strategies to help clients enhance energy and reduce anxiety.Here is her story in her own words:
“It’s not until we can’t breathe, that we pay attention to how important breath truly is. Becoming overwhelmed, having a panic attack, and losing control of my breath, is where my journey into breathwork began.
Like many of us, I have lived my whole life in my head. As an athlete, I was always very aware of my body, however, over time, had learned that to perform at high levels, I had to ignore and shut down the messages that it was sending. Although I was healthy, I always felt like something was missing; there was a sense of un-ease, a burbling sense of anxiety and an inability to switch off. I was driven to move, not because I wanted to, but because to be able to sit inside my body, I had to. This could only go one way… I would pendulate between having mountains of energy and wanting to be social, to locking the doors and staying in my room, not wanting to see the world.
One day it all became too much, I crumpled on the floor, panicked, broken and unable to catch my breath. This experience brought with it so many dark thoughts, that until this moment were foreign and incredibly frightening.
As fate would have it, the very next day, I was booked into my first breath and ice and workshop. As I allowed my body to breathe, for the first time, I felt like I had landed on the ground in my body. My mind stopped. Silence. Nothing. Not a thought. For the first time in my life, there was peace.
I walked out of that workshop dumbfounded and determined. Determined to find out more about breathwork. Breath was the missing piece. The more I learned, the more obsessed I became. I studied many different breathwork courses and began to implement my learnings into my naturopathic clinic. I discovered through testing, that my clients suffering from a variation of health conditions, all had the same thing in common. They had dysregulated breathing. The more my clients focused on their breathing, the better the results they achieved from their treatment. Breathwork gave me a tool to empower my clients to put their health back into their own hands.
Training with Breathless changed my life. It integrated science with tradition, it gave me action steps. It gave me accountability, structure and tools. As my breathing improved, my life improved. That burbling sense of anxiety dissolved as my body began to regulate itself through breath.
Naturopathy is a blend of science and tradition. Breathwork has been the bridge.
As a hairdresser, my staff members used to laugh and say that my clients were only coming to see me for their therapy sessions and the hair was a bonus or a by-product. I always loved helping others.
I met my husband in 2015, and he opened up and expressed to me that he had struggled with his mental health. He shared his story of how he was travelling Europe in his early 20’s with friends when after a few partying nights, he completely lost touch with reality. He checked himself into a psych ward in Spain and resided there for a week until a family member flew over to bring him home
After returning to Australia, he was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis. He was heavily medicated with anti-psychotics, anti-anxiety and anti-depressants. He struggled with severe social anxiety, night terrors and daily panic attacks. Ross could barely leave the front door of his house for 2 years.
I tried to help him by teaching him the basic breathwork techniques I knew at the time; box breathing and deep belly breathing. Every time he started to have a panic attack, he would utilise his breathing techniques which helped his body to calm down. Watching his progress, I was astounded by how over the course of 6 months, using these techniques coupled with regular exercise and mindfulness, he completely weaned off all his medications and had never been happier. The panic attacks stopped, his confidence grew, and the night terrors also ceased.
This showed me the power of breathwork and motivated me to learn more! The fact that I witnessed this first-hand and saw his transformation left me speechless. Here was someone who could barely leave the front door for nearly two years, to someone who now stands up and runs workshops and presents to hundreds of people.
I am truly amazed by the power of breathwork”
– Rebekah Nutter
Simon Yuen has been leading global breathwork workshops since 2018 and is now the Community Head at Breathless Academy. He supports Snow Expeditions, Instructor Training, and Master Training alongside founder Johannes Egberts. With expertise in innovative fitness and advanced breathwork, he is a recognised leader in the field, inspiring others by integrating physical and mental health.
Simon has expertise in breathwork and running retreats has empowered countless individuals to achieve profound inner healing and personal growth.
Simon’s retreats combine breathwork sessions, nature immersion, holistic practices as well as sound healing, creating a sanctuary for participants to safely reconnect with their true selves and uncover inner strength.
His comprehensive approach takes these retreats to new depths of relaxation and self-discovery, healing past traumas, cultivating personal development, and experiencing a renewed sense of self-belief and purpose.
Want more stories from real breathwork facilitators? Read about Breathless Founder Johaness’ journey on becoming a breathwork instructor.
Yes, getting certified by a recognized institute is important if you want to practice breathwork professionally. It ensures not only that you have the skills to guide others safely and effectively, giving them the best possible experience, but also enables you to get insurance.
The time it takes to become a breathwork teacher will depend on your chosen training program and commitment. Some certifications take just a few weeks, while more in-depth, trauma-informed courses with supervised practice and mentorship can take several months. It’s all about finding the right path that aligns with your goals and the level of support you want to offer others.
Yes, you can absolutely teach breathwork online. Our facilitator certification has even covered things like setting up your space for teaching online -allowing you to guide others from anywhere in the world.
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