Below, we rank the best Breathwork facilitator training programs worldwide. When choosing a training, it’s important to consider several factors:
- Training Hours: Ideally, the program should offer a minimum of 400 hours of comprehensive training.
- Accreditation: Check whether the program is accredited by the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance (GPBA) to ensure quality and recognition.
- Training Format is Hybrid: Consider whether the program is online, in-person, or hybrid (both). If you plan to facilitate breathwork in-person, choosing a hybrid program with an in-person component is recommended. This will help you refine essential skills like physical touch and creating a safe, welcoming space.
- Tuition: Costs can vary widely, so it’s important to consider your budget when selecting a program.
- Trauma-Informed Approach: Breathwork is a powerful tool for emotional healing, and trauma release is an inevitable part of the process. Therefore, it’s crucial that the training is trauma-informed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to guide participants safely.
We’ve outlined all the essential details below to support you in making an informed decision about this important step in your journey. The writer of this article has worked directly with 7 out of the 10 schools listed below, offering unique insider insights into their strengths and weaknesses, which she shares with us here.
Best Breathwork Facilitator Training Programs:
| Rank | School | Strengths | Weaknesses | Duration | Tuition | GPBA Certified | Trauma Informed | Hybrid |
| #1 | Unity Breathwork | Incredibly robust, trauma-informed curriculum that blends science, personal growth, psychospiritual exploration, and hands-on learning. Delivered in a hybrid format with deep support, class size limits, and a strong sense of community. Affordable, flexible pricing options and taught by an experienced facilitator. | 7-day in-person segment near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico can be out of reach for some. | 450-hour, 10 months | $4,300-5,400 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| #2 | Make Some Breathing Space | Caters to various learning styles, strong emphasis on support, community, and empowerment. When of the best pricing per value trainings on the market. Continued learning pathways offered after graduation. Can train 1:1, customizing your training hours completely to your schedule. | Fully online, without an in-person training segment. | 400-hour, 10 months | $3,285 | ✔ | ✔ | X |
| #3 | Owaken | .A comprehensive 12-month curriculum that blends healing arts with esoteric and practical teachings, while also incorporating key scientific research and insights. | Expensive and lacks an in-person training segment. | 12 months | $9,000-$12,000 | X | ✔ | X |
| #4 | Alchemy of Breath | Well-known hybrid training with many offshoots. Combines breathwork with personal development, online and in-person options. | Can be pricey, may not be as science-focused. | 400-hour, 8 months | $8,899 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| #5 | Biodynamic Breathwork (BBTRS) | Trauma-informed with deep emphasis on trauma release, integrates somatic therapy, bodywork, and movement. | Longer learning curve, can be intense for some. Facilitators take a directive approach which can interfere with the inner wisdom of the breather. | 460-hour | $6,500+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| #6 | NeuroDynamic Breathwork | Fully online, science-based approach, self-paced, no need for music licensing. | No in-person training segment and a limited focus on the spiritual aspects of breathwork. The approach encourages facilitators to remain silent during the Breathwork segment, which may hinder some participants from fully “dropping in.” | 350-hour | $4,000 | X | X | X |
| #7 | Rebirthing Training Programme (AIR School of Breathwork) | Specializes in warm and cold water Rebirthing Breathwork, trauma-healing. Emphasizes both personal and professional growth. | Niche focus. The residential nature of the training is expensive and may present logistical challenges for some participants. 2-year training duration can be too long for many. | 400-hour, 2 years | Varies | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| #8 | Breath Masters | Practical online training with marketing and business support. Known for it 9D sessions with multi-dimensional sound experience, | Less emphasis on deep trauma release, more commercialized. The use of scripts can circumvent the depth that can happen when a facilitator holds a personalized space and speaks from their intuition. | 100-hour | $5,699 | X | X | X |
| #9 | Clarity Breathwork Professional Training Program | 175-hour training. Flexible paths, deep emotional processing. Gentle, compassionate, feminine approach. | Can be expensive for some. Not everyone resonates with the feminine approach. 175 hours is not as comprehensive as other GPBA training’s. | 175-hour | $8,000+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| #10 | Grof Transpersonal Training | The official ‘Holotropic Breathwork’ training, developed by Stanislav Grof. Robust, research-based, strong psychology focus. | Long 2-year certification, limited focus on client empowerment. A more detached and analytical style of space holding with less emphasis on emotional attunement. | 2 years | $9,000+ | X | X | ✔ |
Word of Caution: Two Breathwork Schools to Be Wary Of
These two schools have invested heavily in marketing and have gained popularity among individuals seeking a quick and affordable certification:
These schools have a few concerns. Their programs are too short to be comprehensive or trauma-informed. They also lack accreditation from the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance (GPBA) and don’t meet the required training hours. As a result, trainees are not prepared to hold space for the intense experiences that can arise in connected breathwork. Without a solid foundation, facilitators risk retraumatizing participants, mishandling contraindications, and lacking the skills needed for deep, transformative healing.
