25% off Breathwork instructor training · Enrollment open
Breathwork Instructor Training — science-based, with a world record holder
Learn to teach breathwork on a foundation of respiratory physiology, not belief. Understand what each technique does in the body, who should not practise it, and how to guide other people safely. No spiritual framework required.
- Taught by Budimir Šobat and Constantin Falcoianu — a Guinness World Record breath-hold holder (24:37) and a cold exposure practitioner with 20+ years of experience
- Physiology first — CO₂ tolerance, oxygenation, lung volumes, the vagus nerve, contraindications
- Medical and emergency modules — taught by doctors, so you know the limits and what to do when a session goes wrong
- 100% online, at your pace — no travel, no fixed dates, lifetime title, no renewal fees
Trusted by instructors around the world.
Featured in
- 24:37World record breath-hold
- 40Breathing techniques with pacer
- ~20 hLearning time
- 30+Patterns in the free pacer
Free tools
Breathing pacer and Control Pause test
Follow more than 30 well-known breathing patterns, from box breathing and 4-7-8 to alternate nostril breathing, Kapalabhati and CO₂ tables. Then measure your Control Pause.
Breathing pacer
Breathe through the nose unless the pattern says otherwise. Sit or lie down. If you feel dizzy, stop and breathe normally. Not a substitute for medical advice.
Control Pause test (Buteyko)
- 1Sit upright and breathe calmly through your nose for one minute.
- 2After a normal, relaxed exhale, pinch your nose and press start.
- 3Press stop at the first clear urge to breathe. This is not a maximum breath-hold.
- 4Your first breath afterwards should be calm. If you need to gasp, you held too long.
A self-awareness check, not a diagnosis. Skip it if you are pregnant, have a heart or lung condition, epilepsy, or are unsure, and ask your doctor first.
What the Control Pause tells you
The Control Pause was developed by the Soviet physician Konstantin Buteyko. It measures how long you can comfortably pause your breath after a normal exhale, until the first clear urge to breathe. In the Buteyko method, a short Control Pause is taken as a sign of breathing that is more sensitive to CO₂ and a tendency to over-breathe, and a longer one as a sign of calmer breathing.
For instructors it is useful in three ways: as a personal baseline before you start CO₂ tolerance work, as a simple way to track progress over weeks, and as an easy, low-risk exercise to open a first session with a new client.
Know its limits. In a study of 83 adults, breath-hold time did not predict resting CO₂ levels as Buteyko claimed, but shorter holds were linked to chest-dominant breathing in people with abnormal lung function (Courtney and Cohen, 2008). Use it to observe your own trend, not to compare yourself with others or to draw medical conclusions.
All-in-one training
More than a breathwork course
One price covers the complete Chief Ice Officer® curriculum. You learn to teach breathwork, and you can also lead cold plunge sessions and add biohacking and hydrotherapy to your offer. No add-ons, no second course.
Breathwork
Respiratory physiology, the most relevant techniques, safety and leading real sessions. With Budimir Šobat and Constantin Falcoianu.
Cold exposure
Safe cold plunging and ice bathing, and how breathing makes cold tolerable. With 4× Guinness World Record holder Łukasz Szpunar.
Biohacking and hydrotherapy
Classic Kneipp hydrotherapy and modern recovery tools from the Sebastian Kneipp Academy, plus a mindset module with ice swimmer Elina Mäkinen.
Plus medical foundations, emergency response and a business module — all for one price.
Your breathwork teachers
The man who held his breath for 24 minutes and 37 seconds
Budimir “Buda” Šobat is a professional apnoea diver and Guinness World Record holder. In March 2021 he held his breath for 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Few people anywhere know the limits of the human breath from the inside the way he does.
In the breathwork module he teaches how the respiratory system actually works, how CO₂ tolerance is built, where the hard physiological limits are, and how to keep students safe.
- Guinness World Record — longest voluntary breath-hold, 24:37
- Professional apnoea diver with decades of competitive practice
- Co-teaches the breathwork module together with Constantin Falcoianu
Co-teacher of the breathwork module
Constantin Falcoianu: from technique to a real session
Constantin discovered cold plunging in Finland more than 20 years ago and founded Eisbaden.de, the leading German-speaking cold exposure platform. He teaches a substantial part of the breathwork module, with a focus on practice: leading sessions with real groups, adapting to participants and handling what happens in the room.
He also teaches the module on designing, running and selling your own workshops.
- 20+ years of cold exposure and breathing practice
- Founder of Eisbaden.de, the leading German-speaking cold exposure platform
- Leads real groups and teaches you how to do the same
- Teaches the business module: session design, pricing and finding clients
Physiology, not belief
Most breathwork trainings teach you what to do. This one teaches you why it works.
Understanding the mechanism is what lets you answer a participant’s question, adapt a session on the spot and recognise when to stop. These are the foundations the course builds on.
Carbon dioxide drives the urge to breathe — not a lack of oxygen
The urge to breathe during a breath-hold is triggered mainly by rising CO₂, not falling O₂. Understanding this reflex explains why slow breathing calms, why breath-holds feel so intense and how CO₂ tolerance is trained.
Your blood is already nearly saturated with oxygen
In healthy people at rest, haemoglobin is typically 97–99% saturated. Breathing faster or harder adds almost no oxygen. It changes CO₂ and blood chemistry instead, which is where the dizziness, tingling and cramping of over-breathing come from.
Tidal volume, reserve volume, residual volume
A calm breath moves about 500 ml. Most adults can inhale roughly 1.9–3.3 litres more and exhale roughly 0.7–1.2 litres more. Knowing these volumes turns vague “breathe deeper” cues into real instruction.
The nervous system you are actually training
Long exhales and slow nasal breathing shift the autonomic nervous system toward the parasympathetic state. That is the physiological basis of most calming techniques, and why the same tools help with stress, focus and recovery.
Over-breathing: why safety comes first
Many fast, deep breaths blow off CO₂, raise blood pH (respiratory alkalosis) and can cause tingling, dizziness, muscle cramps (tetany) and loss of consciousness. With clear rules these techniques are useful; carelessly, or in or near water, they are dangerous. That is why safety is taught technique by technique.
What the research supports, and where it ends
In a randomised study in Cell Reports Medicine (Balban et al., 108 participants), five minutes of daily breathwork for 28 days improved mood more than mindfulness meditation, with cyclic sighing showing the largest effect. Claims such as “detoxing” or “releasing stored trauma” go far beyond the evidence. We teach what is known and label what is not.
The techniques
The most relevant breathwork techniques — what each one does, and when to use it
The breathwork module covers the techniques that matter in real sessions, from calming and focus to CO₂ tolerance and activation. Each one is taught with a demonstration, its effect and its contraindications. Here is an excerpt; to practise, use the library of 63 breathing techniques.
Calming and regulation
I.C.E. Breathing
Inhale · Contain · Exhale — 4-4-8- How
- Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4, then exhale slowly for 8. Repeat for several rounds.
- Effect
- The long exhale lowers the pulse and signals safety to the body. The technique we teach first, because it works for complete beginners and in genuinely stressful moments.
The Physiological Sigh
Double inhale, long exhale- How
- Two quick inhales through the nose — one deep, one short on top — then one long, audible exhale through the mouth. Two to five rounds.
- Effect
- The double inhale helps reopen collapsed air sacs; the long exhale engages the vagus nerve. The fastest known way to bring acute stress down within seconds.
Box Breathing
4-4-4-4, also called square breathing- How
- Inhale 4 seconds, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4. Keep the rhythm even and unhurried.
- Effect
- Steadies the nervous system without sedating it, which is why it is popular with athletes, first responders and military units.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Belly breathing- How
- Hands on the belly. Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds so the belly rises while the chest stays quiet; exhale through the mouth for 6.
- Effect
- The basis of nearly every other technique. If a student cannot do this, nothing else will work properly.
Buteyko Breathing
Reduced breathing- How
- Deliberately gentle, slow, light nasal breathing — less air, not more — with controlled pauses.
- Effect
- Raises tolerance to carbon dioxide over time and reduces habitual over-breathing. The counterweight to hyperventilation methods.
Activation and body heat
Tummo Breathing
Powerful breaths, then retention- How
- A series of deep, powerful breaths followed by a breath retention and a focus on warmth spreading from the core.
- Effect
- Studied for its effect on core body temperature and used for activation. It comes with the clearest safety rules — we teach exactly when it must not be used.
The module also covers pursed-lip breathing, nasal breathing as a daily rule, Gorilla Breathing, Primitive Man Breathing and Kapalabhati, plus how to sequence techniques into a complete session.
Safety rule: breathing techniques built on many fast, deep breaths are never practised in or near water, while driving, or alone when you are new to them. Teaching these rules is part of the training.
Who this is built for
Professional breathwork training, without the spiritual framework
Nothing in this program asks you to adopt a belief system. If a spiritual approach is what you are looking for, there are excellent schools for that — this is not one of them.
Coaches and athletes
Breathing is the most under-used lever in performance. Learn CO₂ tolerance work, recovery protocols and pre-competition regulation you can put into a training plan.
Corporate and workplace health
A 45-minute breathing session is one of the easiest wellbeing formats to sell into a company. You get the protocols, the safety briefing and the structure for a group of twenty.
Therapists and bodyworkers
Physiotherapy, massage, psychotherapy-adjacent work: breathing techniques that integrate into an existing practice, with clear contraindications and referral boundaries.
Career changers
No prior qualification required. Around 20 hours of learning, done at your own pace, and you finish with a lifetime title and a business module that covers pricing and finding clients.
What is inside
7 modules. Around 20 hours. Breathwork at the centre.
Work through them in any order, at any pace. Every module is taught by the person best qualified to teach it.
Just under 10 hours of video, plus around 10 hours of self-study and breathing practice: 40 breathing techniques, each with a breathing pacer and a PDF guide, 6 scripts with about 100 pages and 42 handouts.
01 BreathworkBudimir Šobat and Constantin Falcoianu
The core module. Breathing mechanics, the nervous system, CO₂ and the techniques themselves.
- Breathing pattern, muscle activity, lung capacities — external and internal respiration, the diaphragm, tidal and reserve volumes.
- Regulating the nervous system — sympathetic and parasympathetic, the vagus nerve, and how breathing switches between them.
- Hyperventilation and oxygenation — the O₂/CO₂ balance, alkalosis, blood pH, and the zones you must never push a student into.
- The most relevant techniques, step by step — the exact instructions, the effect, and the situations each one is wrong for.
- Leading a breathwork session — demonstration and correction, and how to handle a student who starts to panic.
02 Medical InsightsDr. med. Martje Sältz · general and sports medicine
The medical foundations for cold exposure and group practice — so you know exactly where the limits are.
- Absolute and relative contraindications — cardiovascular disease, asthma, epilepsy, pregnancy, and how to screen participants.
- Health benefits and the evidence behind them — immune, cardiovascular, metabolic and mental effects.
- Men and women — cycle and menopause considerations that most trainings skip entirely.
03 Safety and Emergency ResponseLukas Leineweber · doctor, first aid training director
Breathwork can cause fainting, tetany and panic. This module is what separates a responsible instructor from an enthusiast with a playlist.
- Recognising and responding to an emergency — breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, acute panic.
- Checking vital functions — rapid assessment of airway and breathing.
- CPR and defibrillator use — correct compressions and rescue breathing.
04 Workshops, Business and MarketingConstantin Falcoianu · founder of Eisbaden.de
Knowing the technique is half the job. This module is about filling your sessions and getting paid for them.
- Planning and running a session — venue, group size, sequencing, timing and recovery.
- Safety briefings, disclaimers and consent — what to say, what to document, what to have in place.
- Building the business — pricing, corporate and private formats, and target groups from athletes to complete beginners.
+3 Cold Exposure, Mindset, Biohacking and HydrotherapyIncluded at no extra cost
Breathwork and cold exposure are the same skill viewed from two sides — controlled breathing is what makes cold tolerable, and cold is the fastest way to prove a breathing technique works. Your enrolment includes cold exposure with four-time Guinness World Record holder Łukasz Szpunar, mindset with ice swimmer Elina Mäkinen, and biohacking and hydrotherapy from the Sebastian Kneipp Academy. You are not required to use them — but most graduates end up offering both.
Certificate of ParticipationSelf-assessment quiz · Lifetime title
After the modules an optional online self-assessment lets you check how well you have mastered the material — there is no exam to submit and no pressure. Your Chief Ice Officer® certificate of participation does not expire, and you keep the title for as long as you want.
How to choose
Seven questions to ask before you book any breathwork instructor training
Prices, hours and formats vary widely. These questions separate a training you can build a practice on from one that leaves gaps.
| Question to ask | Why it matters | How the Instructor Masterclass answers it |
|---|---|---|
| Does it teach the physiology? | Without it you can repeat a script but cannot adapt or explain. | Respiratory mechanics, CO₂, oxygenation, lung volumes and the autonomic nervous system come first. |
| Are contraindications and safety taught per technique? | Breathwork can cause fainting, tetany and panic. | Effects and contraindications for every technique, plus separate medical and emergency modules. |
| Does it separate evidence from belief? | Your credibility depends on what you claim. | We say plainly where the evidence ends. |
| Who teaches, and do they practise? | Experience shows in how safely and clearly something is taught. | A Guinness World Record breath-hold holder, doctors, ice swimmers and a 20-year cold exposure practitioner. |
| Does it cover the business side? | Skills do not fill sessions by themselves. | A full module on session design, consent, pricing and client acquisition. |
| What are the real time and cost? | Hidden renewals and mandatory add-ons add up. | Around 20 hours, self-paced, one price, no renewal fees. |
| Is it recognised? | Accreditation helps with insurance, credibility and trust. | Accredited by the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM). |
Reviews
What our instructors say
Every published review is a 5-star review — from Canada, the UK, Germany, Austria and Norway.
“As a scientist and researcher, I chose the Chief Ice Officer program because it offers a wide range of valuable, science-based modules and practical guidance on safety, breathing exercises, business considerations, and essentially everything needed to develop one’s skills and safely guide others. I highly recommend this training.”
Natalya AmirovaNorway
“I am thrilled. I was particularly impressed by the holistic approach. The combination of breathing techniques, mental training and body awareness makes the course truly unique. Practical, inspiring, and it strengthened me physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Cindy Limpl-GötzingerAustria
“The modules are taught by true experts and exceptional athletes. The medical information on exactly what’s happening biochemically in the body is incredibly informative. Thanks to the excellent knowledge transfer, I can accompany my participants professionally.”
Oliver BeeGermany
“Highly knowledgeable instructors and manageable to complete while working full-time. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would highly recommend it.”
Jonathan LeverseidgeUnited Kingdom
“I chose the Chief Ice Officer program after researching and comparing the available options. This was the best choice. I had the opportunity to learn from instructors and trainers that are not only experts in the field, but have decades of experience in the practice.”
Dawn AreshenkoCanada
“The holistic approach is what motivated me to do this training. Interesting personalities as experts, with a résumé that matched the topic, combined with scientifically based scripts — that rounded off the learning content perfectly for me.”
Fabian HauswirthGermany
IPHM accredited
Accredited by the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, an internationally recognized accreditation body for training providers — so your qualification travels with you.
14-day money-back guarantee
For the Instructor Masterclass LIVE we offer a 14-day satisfaction guarantee — a full refund even if you have already attended live modules.
A title you keep
The Chief Ice Officer® certificate of participation does not expire and carries no renewal fees. Earn it once, use it for good.
All-in-one pricing
Choose your training format
Every package includes the full curriculum — breathwork, medical foundations, safety, mindset, cold exposure and business — plus the lifetime title and access to our international instructor community.
3-Day Power Winter Retreat
Live in Poland
Transformative winter days with 4× Guinness World Record holder Łukasz Szpunar. Breathwork, cold exposure, movement, survival skills, nutrition and regeneration.
- 3 nights’ accommodation included
- Immersive on-site program
- Training with a world record holder
- Limited spots
Instructor Masterclass PLAY
On demand · Start today
The complete training program, 100% online and self-paced. Seven modules, just under 10 hours of video plus around 10 hours of self-study and breathing practice, in English or German.
- The most relevant breathing techniques, step by step, with contraindications
- 6 scripts and 42 handouts to download, 40 breathing techniques with pacer and PDF
- Self-assessment quiz and certificate of participation
- Lifetime Chief Ice Officer® title
Instructor Masterclass LIVE
Live online · English
The premium route: live sessions with the expert team, 1:1 sessions and an examined qualification with a practical component.
- 5 live sessions + 2 recordings
- 1:1 sessions with our experts
- Online exam with practical component
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Pay in instalments with Klarna or by invoice within 14 days. No annual fees, no licensing costs, no renewal charges.
Free download
The Breathwork and Cold Plunge Trainer Guide — free
Market insights, realistic earning potential, an ROI calculator and the marketing strategies that fill breathwork and cold plunge sessions. Plus: subscribers receive an exclusive discount on the program.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
63 breathing techniques to practise and teach
Every technique with clear steps, safety notes and a coaching cue – plus a voice-guided breathing pacer.
FAQ
Questions about the breathwork instructor training
What is a breathwork instructor training?
A professional training that teaches you to guide others through breathing techniques safely: the physiology behind them, which technique fits which situation, contraindications, and how to run a session with real participants. The Chief Ice Officer® Instructor Masterclass is built on respiratory physiology and includes medical, emergency-response and business modules.
Do I need prior experience to become a breathwork instructor?
No. There are no prerequisites and no qualification you need to hold first. A personal breathing practice helps, but the program starts with respiratory anatomy and builds from there. What we do expect is that you practise each technique yourself before you teach it to anyone.
How long does the breathwork instructor training take?
The PLAY program consists of seven online modules with just under 10 hours of video. On top come around 10 hours of self-study and breathing practice with scripts, handouts and 40 breathing techniques, around 20 hours in total. You are not tied to a fixed schedule and can complete the modules at your own pace and in any order. Most people finish within four to six weeks alongside a full-time job.
Is this a spiritual breathwork training?
No. The program is built on respiratory physiology and taught by a world record holder, doctors and experienced practitioners. Techniques with roots in yogic or Tibetan practice, such as Kapalabhati and Tummo, are taught for what they physically do, and we say plainly where the evidence ends. If you want a training grounded in a spiritual tradition, there are good schools for that; this is not one.
Which breathing techniques will I learn?
The most relevant ones for real sessions: calming techniques such as I.C.E. Breathing, the physiological sigh, box breathing and diaphragmatic breathing; CO₂ tolerance work such as Buteyko breathing, pursed-lip breathing and nasal breathing; and activating techniques such as Tummo, Gorilla Breathing, Primitive Man Breathing and Kapalabhati. Each is taught step by step with its effects and contraindications. In the course you practise 40 techniques with a breathing pacer and a PDF guide; for a preview, see the breathwork library.
How is this different from other breathwork trainings?
It starts from physiology instead of belief, is taught by practitioners rather than a single founder, treats safety and contraindications as core content, and includes a full business module. You also get cold exposure, mindset and hydrotherapy modules at no extra cost, and a title that never expires.
Which breathing technique is best for stress or sleep?
For acute stress, the physiological sigh is the fastest known reset: two inhales through the nose and a long exhale through the mouth. For winding down before sleep, patterns with a long exhale work best, such as I.C.E. Breathing (4-4-8), 4-7-8 or 2:1 breathing. You can try all of them with the breathing pacer on this page.
What is the Buteyko Control Pause?
The Control Pause is a simple breath-hold test from the Buteyko method: after a normal exhale you hold your nose and time how long it takes until the first clear urge to breathe. It is useful for tracking your own progress in CO₂ tolerance training. Research shows it does not reliably reflect resting CO₂ levels, so it is a self-awareness tool, not a diagnosis.
Is breathwork safe to teach?
It is safe when you know the limits, and genuinely risky when you do not. Techniques based on many deep, fast breaths can cause dizziness, tingling, tetany and fainting; in or near water they can be fatal. That is why contraindications are taught alongside every technique rather than as a footnote, and why the program adds medical and emergency-response modules taught by doctors.
Is the program fully online?
Yes. No physical attendance is required. The Instructor Masterclass PLAY is on demand; the Instructor Masterclass LIVE runs in scheduled online sessions. You can complete either from anywhere in the world.
Can I earn money as a breathwork instructor?
Instructors run public sessions, corporate workshops and retreats, or add breathwork to an existing coaching, therapy or training practice. We do not promise an income. The business module covers pricing, formats and finding clients, and the free trainer guide contains market insights and an ROI calculator so you can make your own calculation.
What can I do after completing the program?
Run breathwork sessions, workshops, corporate formats and retreats; integrate breathing techniques into an existing coaching, therapy or training practice; market yourself using an internationally registered brand; and join our international instructor community. All activities are subject to our terms and conditions and to the regulations of your own country.
Is the training accredited?
Yes. The Chief Ice Officer® training is accredited by the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM). Rules for teaching breathwork differ by country, and health claims are regulated almost everywhere, so check the requirements where you plan to work.
Does it include cold exposure and biohacking?
Yes, at no extra cost. Breathing and cold are two sides of the same skill, so the program includes cold exposure with a four-time Guinness World Record holder, mindset training with a record-breaking ice swimmer, and a biohacking and hydrotherapy module from the Sebastian Kneipp Academy. You can teach breathwork alone if you prefer; most graduates end up offering both. The cold plunge instructor training page covers that side in detail.
How much does breathwork instructor training cost?
The Instructor Masterclass PLAY is currently €1,490 instead of €1,990. The LIVE format is €2,490, and the 3-Day Power Winter Retreat in Poland is €1,390. There are no annual fees, no licensing costs and no renewal charges. The title is yours for life once you have earned it.
How long is my certificate of participation valid?
It does not expire. You receive it on completing all online modules and keep the title for as long as you want, with no renewal fees.
In which languages is the program available?
English and German, with videos, scripts and the self-assessment in both. If you are interested in another language, get in touch; our trainers and participants come from many different countries.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Choose Klarna at checkout to split the payment, or select payment by invoice and transfer within 14 days. If you need a different arrangement, email us before ordering.
Where is the line to breathing therapy and medical treatment?
You learn to guide healthy adults safely through breathing exercises. Breathing therapy in the medical sense, meaning the treatment of illness, is not part of it: you do not diagnose, treat or promise cures; that is reserved for licensed health professionals. With pre-existing conditions the rule is: see a doctor first. That is why contraindications are a fixed part of the training. Rules differ by country; this answer is not legal advice.
Do I need professional liability insurance?
We recommend it to everyone who runs workshops. Make sure the policy explicitly covers cold plunge and breathwork sessions, and have the insurer confirm this in writing before your first workshop. The training itself does not include insurance.
Enrollment open
Learn to teach the breath.
Join instructors around the world who chose a program built on physiology and taught by practitioners.