Best Breathwork Courses, Training and Certifications in 2024

The simple and automatic process of breathing has many nuances that can be easily overlooked without any conscious effort or focus on breathing technique.

Breathwork, a fancy term to describe the practice of directing conscious and deliberate focus onto the details and quality of the breath, has exploded in popularity of late along with with practice of cold exposure.

Breathwork and breathing practices are designed to address breathing dysfunction and can seriously improve overall health, offering benefits from improving lung capacity, boosting focus and memory, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improving relaxation and sleep. Breathwork is essentially a tool to direct the body and nervous system, to achieve homeostasis.

With the rise in people taking their breathing quality seriously, there have been a huge increase in the number of breathwork practitioners offering breathwork courses, breathing training and breath workshops and more. 

Aside from the popular Wim Hof breathing method, there are loads of highly skilled and practiced breathwork professionals that offer unique learning experiences for different budgets and time commitments.

In this article, we offer a handful of the best breathwork courses and training to improve your breathing, speed up recovery, reduce stress and learn about the power of breathing techniques. From breathwork courses in Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, to amazing online breathwork courses you can do from anywhere like the popular Oxygen Advantage Courses, we have you covered.

Best Breathwork Course of 2024 – Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Oxygen Advantage

Best Online: Mindbodygreen

Best Immersive: Breathless Expeditions

Best Community: Wim Hof Method

Best Sports: Apnea Survival

The Science of Breathing 

There is no doubting that the conscious direction of the breath can illicit positive markers of health.

Breathing is a vital physiological process that allows our bodies to exchange gases, primarily oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the surrounding environment. It is controlled by the respiratory system, which includes the lungs, diaphragm, and other respiratory muscles. Let’s delve into the science of breathing and explore why practicing breathwork and breathing techniques can be beneficial.

Process of Breathing: When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, while the intercostal muscles between the ribs expand the chest cavity. This creates negative pressure, causing air to rush into the lungs through the trachea and bronchial tubes. Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs, into the bloodstream. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide, a waste product produced by our cells, moves from the bloodstream into the alveoli and is expelled during exhalation.

In summary, the science of breathing highlights its essential role in oxygenating our bodies and removing waste gases. By practicing breathwork and various breathing techniques, we can harness the power of conscious breathing to enhance physical and mental well-being, reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall health and relaxation.

Why Practice Breathwork?

A very telling indication of the importance of practicing breathwork and breathing techniques for improving the quality of the breath is the sheer quantity of breaths humans take each day.

At an average of over 22,000 breaths a day, one can imagine the consequences of doing something poorly, so many times per day, and of course the positive impact of improving something that is done so often. The very simple answer to “why practice breathwork?”, is that it is essential for good health and longevity. 

While some breathwork courses offer “breakthrough breathing” with just a few hours breathwork instruction, and others are immersive and run for days and weeks, sometimes months, often on breathwork retreat style delivery, all of these breathwork courses and training are aimed at improving health and reconnecting the breath with the body – which we love!

Some of the well documented benefits of Practicing Breathwork and Breathing Techniques and a good reason to look at options for breathwork courses in 2024 and beyond are: 

1. Stress Reduction: Controlled, deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing the body’s stress response. It helps calm the mind, decreases anxiety levels, and can even lower blood pressure. 

2. Improved Respiratory Function: Breathwork exercises can enhance lung capacity and efficiency by engaging the diaphragm and respiratory muscles. This can lead to improved oxygenation of the blood, increased energy levels, and better overall respiratory health.

3. Enhanced Mental Clarity and Focus: By consciously directing and regulating your breath, you can improve mental clarity, focus, and concentration. Deep breathing techniques help oxygenate the brain, which can enhance cognitive function and boost productivity.

4. Emotional Regulation: Breathwork can have a profound impact on emotional well-being. Certain techniques, such as the 4-7-8 breathing method or alternate nostril breathing, are believed to balance the autonomic nervous system and promote emotional stability, reduce anger, and alleviate symptoms of depression.

5. Improved Physical Performance: Proper breathing techniques are crucial during physical activities. Practicing breathwork can enhance endurance, optimize oxygen utilization, and improve athletic performance. Techniques like rhythmic breathing or breath control in activities like yoga, martial arts, or running can help synchronize movement with breath and enhance efficiency.

6. Enhanced Mind-Body Connection: Breathwork is often incorporated into practices like meditation, mindfulness, and yoga to deepen the mind-body connection. Conscious breathing can help you stay present, cultivate self-awareness, and promote a sense of overall well-being.

7. Stimulated Relaxation Response: Slow, deep breaths stimulate the vagus nerve, which activates the body’s relaxation response. This response can reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, and help counteract the effects of the body’s fight-or-flight response.

8. Pain Management: Focused breathing techniques can aid in pain management by reducing the perception of pain and increasing the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.

9. Improved Sleep Quality: Breathwork exercises, such as deep abdominal breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, can be beneficial for individuals struggling with sleep disorders or insomnia. These techniques promote relaxation, ease tension, and help induce sleep.

10. Cultivating Mindfulness: Conscious breathing serves as an anchor for mindfulness practices. It allows you to bring your attention to the present moment, fostering a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.

Signs of Dysfunctional Breathing

It is easy to assume that because you are breathing, you are doing it correctly. Although breathing is an autonomous function, one that we do not necessarily need to put any conscious thought into for it to occur, this does not mean we are breathing well. 

For someone that pays zero attention to the breath, the chances of breathing dysfunction are high. What you see with many breathwork courses is that they will address the signs of breathing dysfunction, and offer solutions to a achieving elements of conscious breathing, like setting breathing timers, mouth taping at night and the use of popular breathing methods like box breathing, Wim Hof Breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, fire breath and more.

Dysfunctional breathing, also known as disordered breathing or dysfunctional breathing patterns, refers to abnormal or inefficient breathing patterns that deviate from the optimal breathing mechanics. These patterns can have a significant impact on overall health and well-being. Some of the signs and symptoms of dysfunctional breathing and how they affect our health include: 

1. Shallow or Chest Breathing: One common sign of dysfunctional breathing is shallow breathing, where the breaths are predominantly focused in the chest rather than the diaphragm. This type of breathing is characterized by limited expansion of the abdomen during inhalation, and it can lead to inefficient oxygen exchange.

2. Rapid or Irregular Breathing: Dysfunctional breathing may involve rapid or irregular breathing patterns, such as hyperventilation or uneven breathing. Hyperventilation is characterized by excessive, rapid breathing that can lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood, potentially causing symptoms like dizziness, tingling, and lightheadedness.

3. Holding the Breath or Breath-Holding Patterns: Some individuals with dysfunctional breathing may exhibit patterns of breath-holding, where they unintentionally pause or hold their breath during certain activities or when experiencing stress or anxiety. This can disrupt the natural rhythm of breathing and create additional tension in the body.

4. Shoulder and Neck Tension: Dysfunctional breathing often involves elevated shoulders and increased tension in the neck and upper body. This can lead to chronic muscle tightness, discomfort, and contribute to headaches and neck pain.

5. Chest Tightness or Pain: Dysfunctional breathing patterns, particularly those that rely primarily on shallow chest breathing, can result in feelings of tightness or pain in the chest area. This may be due to increased tension in the muscles surrounding the chest and ribcage.

6. Frequent Sighing or Yawning: Individuals with dysfunctional breathing may exhibit frequent sighing or yawning as a compensatory mechanism to increase oxygen intake. However, this can further disrupt the normal breathing pattern and perpetuate the dysfunctional cycle.

7. Anxiety and Panic Symptoms: Dysfunctional breathing can contribute to the development or exacerbation of anxiety and panic symptoms. Rapid, shallow breathing can activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to a cascade of physiological responses associated with anxiety, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and feelings of unease.

8. Sleep Disruptions: Dysfunctional breathing patterns can interfere with sleep quality and quantity, which is one of the most common issues for people right now. Conditions like sleep apnea, characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, fall under the umbrella of dysfunctional breathing and can lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and impaired cognitive function.

9. Digestive Issues: Dysfunction in the breathing process can impact the functioning of the diaphragm, a muscle involved in respiration. Reduced diaphragmatic movement due to dysfunctional breathing may contribute to digestive issues such as bloating, reflux, and altered bowel movements. 

10. Fatigue and Reduced Energy Levels: Inefficient breathing patterns can result in inadequate oxygenation of the body, leading to reduced energy levels, fatigue, and a decreased ability to engage in physical activities.

Effects on Overall Health and Well-being

Dysfunctional breathing patterns can have significant consequences on overall health and well-being: 

1. Reduced Oxygenation: Inefficient breathing limits the amount of oxygen delivered to the body’s tissues and organs. This can impact cellular function, energy production, and overall physiological processes.

2. Increased Stress Response: Dysfunctional breathing can activate the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the body’s stress response and leading to increased feelings of anxiety, tension, and physiological arousal. 

3. Impaired Respiratory Function: Dysfunctional breathing can compromise the efficiency of the respiratory system, leading to suboptimal oxygen exchange and carbon dioxide removal. This can contribute to respiratory symptoms, decreased lung capacity, and reduced physical endurance.

4. Musculoskeletal Issues: Inefficient breathing patterns can create muscle imbalances, chronic tension, and pain in the neck, shoulders, and chest. Over time, this can lead to musculoskeletal issues and contribute to poor posture.

5. Mental and Emotional Well-being: Dysfunctional breathing can exacerbate or contribute to mental health conditions such as anxiety, panic disorders, and depression. It can disrupt emotional regulation, decrease cognitive performance, and impede overall emotional well-being.

6. Sleep Disorders: Certain breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea or upper airway resistance syndrome, fall under the category of dysfunctional breathing. These conditions can significantly impact sleep quality and contribute to daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, and increased risk of other health problems.

What You Get Out of Breathwork Courses, Training, and Certification

Fortunately, dysfunctional breathing can often be addressed and improved through various interventions, and this is where the positive impact of doing a breathwork course and sharing this knowledge can help yourself and others. You will find that the majority of breathwork courses will focus on: 

1. Breathing Retraining: Working with a healthcare professional or a breathing specialist can help identify and correct dysfunctional breathing patterns through techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, paced breathing, and breath control exercises.

2. Mind-Body Practices: Engaging in mind-body practices like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness can help promote awareness of breathing patterns and facilitate a healthier, more efficient breathing process.

3. Physical Therapy: In cases where dysfunctional breathing is associated with musculoskeletal issues, physical therapy can help address underlying structural imbalances and improve breathing mechanics.

4. Stress Management: Effective stress management techniques, such as relaxation exercises, stress reduction strategies, and psychotherapy, can help reduce the impact of stress on breathing patterns and overall well-being.

5. Treatment of Underlying Conditions: In cases where dysfunctional breathing is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as asthma, anxiety disorders, or sleep apnea, appropriate treatment of the primary condition can help improve breathing patterns.

6. Sharing of Knowledge: Sure, one of the benefits of being taught breathwork techniques is the self-improvement and personal health improvement potential. Another factor that many people seek out breathwork courses and training for is the community and service aspect of being able to share the knowledge learnt and help others improve their lives too.

By addressing dysfunctional breathing, individuals can improve oxygenation, reduce tension and discomfort, enhance overall physical and mental well-being, and restore a more efficient and natural breathing process.

Best Breathwork Courses and Training in 2024

There’s an ever expanding list of breathwork courses, breathwork certifications, online training, in person breathwork and meditation courses which range is price, design, delivery modality, qualification, and intended use. Here we share the best breathwork courses and training we have come across to consider for your next investment in your health. 

The Oxygen Advantage