Restorative Breathwork®
Foundations Facilitator Training
This immersive nine module journey is both a sanctuary and a training ground—inviting you to embody the sacred art of the breath while cultivating the skills to guide others toward deep inner stillness. While the work naturally supports nervous system regulation, emotional clearing, and energetic balance, the Foundations training is presented first and foremost as a contemplative practice—rooted in subtle listening, nervous system regulation, and meditative absorption through the breath.
The training unfolds in two complementary phases. The first modules focus on cultivating personal practice and refining sensitivity to the subtle rhythms of the breath. From this embodied foundation, the later modules gradually introduce the principles and skills of facilitation—supporting students in learning how to guide breath practices with clarity, presence, and discernment.
Note: Training Schedule is located at bottom of this page.
Training Syllabus
Module 1 - Reclaiming the Natural Breath
We begin by restoring the resiliency of the innate breath — allowing its natural intelligence and restorative power to reawaken. This opening module invites you into a deeper relationship with the breath’s subtle wisdom, establishing a foundation for meditation, spiritual inquiry, and skillful facilitation. You’ll explore how restoring the breath to its natural state allows prana to move more freely, and how subtle awareness arises not through effort, but through deep receptivity—revealing the breath as both a healing force and a gateway to awakening.
You Will Explore:
- What defines the Restorative Breathwork® approach
- The intimate and intricate relationship between breath and energy flow
- Awakening the innate breath through subtle receptivity
- The progressive unfolding of breath awareness—from cultivating a receptive presence to deep inner stillness
- A guided breath practice to ground your learning
Module 2 - Preparing the Body to Receive
Before we can enter stillness, the body must feel safe and supported. This module offers the tools and principles to prepare the physical body for inner work. Through posture, propping, systematic relaxation, and an exploration of the anatomy of the uninhibited breath, we create the conditions for breath to move freely—and for the nervous system to soften its guard. From this embodied ground, we introduce the vagus nerve and Polyvagal Theory, alongside trauma-informed presence, so that both practitioner and student are held within a field of safety, receptivity, and trust.
You Will Explore:
- Creating a receptive posture through supine positioning and propping
- The essential practice of systematic relaxation
- Anatomy of the Uninhibited Breath
- An introduction to the vagus nerve and the Polyvagal Theory
- A guided breath practice to experience the power of deep rest
Module 3 - The Meditative Gateway of Breath Awareness
The Breath Awareness practice is a subtle dance—one that invites us to witness the breath without interfering, while at times gently modifying its rhythm without controlling it. It is an act of attentive presence, where effort gives way to listening, and the breath becomes a living current of guidance. In this module, you’ll explore how Breath Awareness opens the doorway to deeper inner awareness, attuning you to the quiet intelligence that resides beneath the breath.
You Will Explore:
- The art of witnessing the breath with openness and non-interference
- Gentle breath modification without control
- Demonstration: Breath Awareness in supine posture
- The five kriyas of mindfulness as pathways to inner stillness
- A guided breath practice that cultivates refined presence
Module 4 - The Subtle Dimensions of the Breath
In this module, participants are introduced to The Three Realms of the Breath, Restorative Breathwork®’s unique mapping of the subtle body. Drawing upon familiar yogic frameworks while offering a new experiential orientation, we briefly revisit subtle anatomy and the primary systems of energetic flow before unveiling how breath moves through the lower, middle, and upper realms of the body. Through guided self-inquiry, practitioners learn to sense these realms directly, cultivating refined breath awareness, energetic harmony, and a receptive presence that supports both healing and awakening.
You Will Explore:
- The subtle body's reciprocal relationship to the breath
- The primary systems of energy flow and how breath influences their movement
- The lower, middle, and upper regions of the subtle body as distinct realms of breath, energy, and consciousness
- Cultivating mindfulness of the innate breath as it moves through a specific realm of the breath
- Guided self-inquiry into exploring the Three Realms of the Breath
Module 5 - Refining The Breath, Awakening the Breath
Building on Breath Awareness and the mapping introduced through the Three Realms of the Breath, this module focuses on the practical skill of breath refinement. Here, we develop the skill of cultivating specific modes of breathing—primarily abdominal and diaphragmatic—as a way to deepen the innate breath response. As the breath’s rhythm is refined with care and precision, the innate breath is stimulated more fully, awakening its capacity to restore balance and vitality. Resting phases are also explored as essential gateways that allow prana to circulate freely and the nervous system to settle into deep stillness.
You Will Explore:
- The subtle dynamics of abdominal and diaphragmatic breathing
- Liberating the innate breath response through even diaphragmatic breathing
- Resting phases as portals to inner stillness and energetic reset
- Demonstration: Facilitating a refined breath practice that flows with the innate breath response—illustrating the dance between gentle guidance and inner unfolding
- A guided breath practice that invites students into the dance—refining the breath while attuning to the subtle responses of the innate breath
Module 6 - Finding Your Voice: The Use of Scripts
As you step into the role of guide, structure can support confidence. In this module, students become familiar with the foundational scripts used throughout Restorative Breathwork® practices. Similar to traditions such as Yoga Nidra, these scripts provide a stable framework for learning the language and rhythm of guided breath practices.
The emphasis in this module is simply becoming comfortable with delivering the scripts. Through partner practice, students explore pacing, tone, and clarity while reading the guidance aloud, allowing the structure of the practices to become familiar and embodied.
You Will Explore:
- Foundations scripts for breath awareness, relaxation, and breath refinement
- Understanding the structure and rhythm of guided breath practices
- Developing clarity, tone, and pacing when reading guidance
- Partner practice for integrating timing, voice, and presence
Module 7 - Holding Space: Developing Facilitation Sensitivity
Once the structure of the practices is familiar, the role of the facilitator begins to deepen. In this module, students learn to guide the scripts with greater sensitivity and responsiveness, allowing the rhythm of the session to be shaped by what they observe in the breath and nervous system of the person they are guiding.
Students begin learning how pacing, cadence, and resting phases can shift naturally in response to what unfolds within a session. While scripts continue to provide the framework, facilitation now becomes an act of attentive presence rather than simple recitation.
Within Restorative Breathwork®, group facilitation grows out of the sensitivity cultivated in one-on-one presence. Partner practice allows students to develop this sensitivity while refining their ability to guide breath awareness and breath refinement practices.
You Will Explore:
- Moving from reading scripts to guiding with awareness and responsiveness
- Adjusting cadence and resting phases based on what you observe
- Demonstrations: Facilitating Breath Awareness and Breath Refinement
- Developing attunement and relational presence in sessions
- Partner practice that cultivates sensitivity to breath and nervous system responses
Module 8 - The Art of Small Group Facilitation
Guiding a group is a sacred practice—an invitation to attune not only to shared rhythm, but to the collective field of consciousness that emerges when many subtle bodies breathe as one.
Building on the script work and facilitation sensitivity developed in the previous modules, students now learn how these same practices expand naturally into small group settings. The attunement cultivated in one-on-one presence becomes the foundation for sensing and guiding the rhythm of a group.
This module explores the art of small group facilitation: sensing energetic coherence, creating rhythmic harmony, and leading breathwork sequences that gently guide participants inward toward silence and meditation.
Topics Include:
- The structure of facilitating a Foundations Restorative Breathwork® series
- Translating breath awareness and refinement practices into small group settings
- Sequencing practices for rhythmic harmony within a group field
- Sensitive transitions into inner stillness and meditation
- A group-oriented guided practice
Completion and Certification
At the conclusion of the eight training modules, participants will be guided through the final requirements for certification. Instructions are provided for completing the final essay, along with the information needed to receive Yoga Alliance and IAYT Continuing Education certificates. Participants are also invited to complete a course evaluation, offering an opportunity to reflect on their learning experience and support the continued refinement of the program. These final steps mark the formal completion of the training while honoring the ongoing development of personal practice and professional responsibility.
You Will Receive:
- Guidelines for the completion essay
- Instructions for Yoga Alliance and IAYT certification requirements
- Course evaluation and feedback form
- Orientation for continuing personal practice beyond the training
Training Schedule
This timeline offers a clear overview of when each phase of the training unfolds, so you can orient your study, practice, and participation with ease.
APRIL 13
Course Portal Opens
Begin Modules 1–5
APRIL 15 @5:30pm ET
Zoom Welcome & Orientation
APRIL 25–26 10:00am - 5:30pm ET
Live In-Person Immersion
Embodiment of Modules 1–5
APRIL 27 – June 13
Modules 1-5 Review & Practice
Modules 6-8 Study & Practice
MAY 6 @5:30pm ET
Zoom Live Q & A's
MAY 20 @5:30pm ET
Zoom Live Q & A's
June 3 @ 5:30pm ET
Zoom Live Q & A's
June 13-14 10:00am - 5:30pm ET
Live In-Person Immersion
Embodiment of Modules 6–8
June 17th @5:30pm ET
Zoom Live Wrap up
