Susan Benoit guiding a group breathwork session in the State Shift studio

Level 1 Functional Breath Facilitator Certification

Breathwork facilitator training.

Next cohort begins January 2027. Limited spots available.

An immersive certification.

This certification is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge, embodiment, and skillset required to confidently lead 1:1 and group breathwork sessions. Rooted in science, somatics, and sensory facilitation, this training blends breath physiology, nervous system education, and immersive experiential practice with tools for professional facilitation and business building.

Learn. Do. Teach.

Learn in person. Breath is felt before it is understood, so we teach it the way we practice it: in the studio, in your own body, with real people and real feedback. You graduate having already facilitated, not just having studied how to.

Throughout your certification the State Shift studio is yours to use: for your practicum, for seeing your own clients, and for hosting your own classes and events.

A group breathwork session at a retreat, facing a wall of windows

Susan Benoit

Susan Benoit is a breathwork facilitator, coach, and speaker known for her ability to create grounded, supportive environments where real change can happen.

Her work blends the science of nervous system regulation with a deeply intuitive, human approach, helping people reconnect with their breath, process what is held in the body, and build a greater sense of awareness and control.

Through Submerge and State Shift, Susan has guided individuals, groups, and corporate teams through transformative breathwork experiences that emphasize safety, presence, and integration.

What sets her apart is her presence: calm, attuned, and deeply intentional, allowing others to feel supported as they explore and expand their capacity.

Tarik Hassan

Tarik Hassan is the cofounder of Submerge and State Shift, and a breathwork and performance coach focused on helping people build strong minds, regulated systems, and resilient bodies.

With a background in strength and conditioning, his work sits at the intersection of physical performance and nervous system training. He specializes in teaching people how to use their breath to improve recovery, manage stress, and perform under pressure, whether that is in the gym, at work, or in high stakes environments.

Tarik has worked with individuals, teams, and organizations to deliver practical, results driven experiences that go beyond theory. His approach is simple: teach what works, apply it in real time, and build skills that actually transfer into everyday life.

Meet your certification instructors.

What sets our certification apart.

A participant lying back with eyes closed during a breath session

01 / Science based. Nervous system first.

This is not a hyperventilation heavy or purely cathartic training. We teach breath through the lens of physiology and regulation.

Functional breathing mechanics
Breath biochemistry
Nervous system literacy
Regulation before activation

Breath is not just a state shifting tool. It is the gateway to nervous system regulation. You will understand not only how to guide breath, but what is happening in the body and brain as you do.

Applied with precision. Guided with safety. Backed by physiology.

A facilitator with hands resting on a participant in an eye mask

02 / Facilitation mastery, not just techniques

Most programs teach breath patterns. We teach session architecture. You will learn:

How to structure sessions of different lengths
How to design a progressive breath series
How to build emotional arcs safely
How to read regulation cues in a room
How to give clear, confident somatic cueing

Breath patterns are tools. Facilitation is the craft.

Participants lying on the studio floor around a set of medicine balls

03 / Immersive, applied practice

Many certifications are delivered entirely online. This training is intentionally different. Learn in person, practice with real people, and get feedback while you lead.

Live group facilitation practice
Real time feedback while you lead
Observation of regulation and dysregulation in group settings
Studio access for practicum, client work and hosting events
Video submissions and case studies

You will graduate having already facilitated, not just studied how to.

Who this is for.

This immersive breathwork certification was designed for health and wellness professionals, coaches, clinicians, breathwork practitioners and anyone passionate about learning more about breath as a tool for nervous system regulation and transformation.

Coaches

Strength coaches and performance coaches. For coaches who want to understand what is happening beneath the lift, not just coach the outcome. Breath directly influences gas exchange, pressure systems, and nervous system state, all of which affect performance, fatigue, and recovery.

You will learn how to:

Understand oxygen delivery and how breathing affects output and endurance
Work with ribcage mechanics and intra abdominal pressure for true stability and force transfer
Identify when a client is over bracing, gripping, or stuck in a stress response
Read breathing patterns in real time and adjust your coaching accordingly

Clinicians

For clinicians who want to bridge physiology with practical, body based application. Breath sits at the intersection of biochemistry, the nervous system, and mechanical function. This training gives you a way to integrate that understanding into real time client care.

You will learn how to:

Understand gas exchange and its role in symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and dysregulation
Assess breathing mechanics and patterns as part of a broader clinical picture
Recognize how breath reflects nervous system state and adaptive patterns
Apply breathwork safely within scope to support regulation, resilience, and recovery

Yoga teachers

For teachers who want to go beyond traditional pranayama and understand the why behind the breath. Breath is more than rhythm. It is directly tied to nervous system state, pressure systems, and how the body organizes itself in movement.

You will learn how to:

Understand the relationship between breath mechanics, posture, and movement patterns
Work with breath to influence regulation and activation, not just relaxation
Recognize when breath cues are helping or creating more tension or compensation
Guide breath in a way that supports both the physical and internal experience of the practice

Therapists

For therapists who want to integrate the body into the therapeutic process in a safe and meaningful way. Breath offers a direct pathway into the nervous system and physiological state, often reaching what cognitive processing alone cannot.

You will learn how to:

Understand how breath reflects states of safety, stress, and protection
Recognize patterns like holding, shallow breathing, or over breathing as part of a client's presentation
Use breath to support regulation, emotional processing, and integration
Stay grounded in scope while incorporating somatic awareness and tools

Aspiring breathwork facilitators

For those who feel called to guide others and want a strong, grounded foundation. This is not about memorizing techniques. It is about understanding what is happening in the body, why you are choosing a certain approach, and how to adapt in real time.

You will learn how to:

Understand breath through mechanics, biochemistry, and nervous system function
Recognize different breathing patterns and what they indicate
Build and guide sessions with structure, intention, and safety
Read the room and respond to what is actually happening, not just follow a script

Across all roles, this work is about understanding breath as a physiological, mechanical, and neurological process. Learning to observe before you intervene. Knowing when, why, and how to apply what you are using.

Join the waitlist

A large group breathwork session in a bright conference hall

Tarik seated with his hands clasped, listening

Level one.

The Level 1 Functional Breath Facilitator Certification. Designed for health and wellness professionals, coaches, clinicians, breathwork practitioners and anyone passionate about breath as a tool for nervous system regulation and transformation.

Curriculum

Foundations of breath, body and nervous system. Understanding into early embodiment.

Anatomy and physiology of breathing
Biochemistry of breath: gas exchange and pH balance
Mechanics of breathing: diaphragm, ribcage, accessory muscles
Functional and dysfunctional breathing patterns
Nervous system regulation: sympathetic and parasympathetic
Introduction to Polyvagal Theory and the states of fight, flight, freeze and fawn
Breath as a tool for regulation and for activation
The fascial network and its relationship with breath
Somatic awareness, interoception, and recognizing tension and holding

Somatics, language and session design. Embodiment into facilitation.

Core breathwork techniques: nasal, cadence, sigh, introduction to holds
Safety, and when and why to use each technique
Self exploration, guided experiences and partner practice
Tracking sensation, emotional awareness and internal shifts
Self regulation and co regulation
Language, cueing, tone, pacing and facilitator presence
Finding your authentic voice as a guide
Structuring 1:1 and group sessions, and building the arc from warm up to technique to integration
Practice teaching with real time feedback

Facilitation, mastery and integration. Stepping fully into the role.

Holding space in real time
Professional boundaries
Recognizing dysregulation in real clients
Protecting your energy: co regulation without over giving
Designing sessions, series and class offerings
Enhancing the experience: playlists, scent, environment and inclusive spaces

Business, branding and launch.

Building your offering
Pricing and positioning
Marketing with integrity
Integrating breathwork into your current business

Practicum and facilitator development.

Real client work, 1:1 and in groups
Written case studies documenting intake, session design and what you observed
Recorded facilitation of a 1:1 session and a group session
Personalized feedback on every submission

What's included

Comprehensive workbook
Breathwork techniques workbook
Access to the studio and its resources during your certification, to practice, run your practicum, see clients and host events
Level 1 Functional Breath Facilitator Certification, awarded on successful completion of your practicum and all course requirements
Certification and professional recognition through the International Breathwork Foundation (IBF) and the International Practitioner of Holistic Medicine (IPHM)

Next cohort

January 2027, in person at State Shift Studio, 22 Caesar Ave, Ottawa.

Limited spots available. Join the waitlist for dates and early access.

Cost

Pre sale: $2,999 plus HST
Regular: $3,599 plus HST

Payment plans are available. To secure your spot, a $500 non refundable deposit is required.

Join the waitlist

From our clients.

This training changed the way I see the body. The combination of breath, fascia, and nervous system work just clicked in a way nothing else has. I use this in my sessions now and the depth my clients are reaching is completely different.

★★★★★Jennifer

Such a standout experience for me! Tarik's teaching style made the content approachable and relevant, striking a great balance between evidence informed information and highly practical strategies I could use right away!

★★★★★Brad D.

I really enjoyed the course. I found it very informative. The sessions went by quickly and they provided a good balance between theory and practical info.

★★★★★Rita P.

Working with and learning from Tarik has truly been a life changing experience. The breath work skills I have learnt and applied to my life have become essential to both my mental and physical health.

★★★★★Aylish S.

If you're looking for a quick certification, this isn't it. But if you actually want to understand how to guide people, this is the one. The level of detail, feedback, and real time practice is what sets this apart. You're not just taught how to breathe, you're taught how to feel the body, how to respond, and that you have a choice.

★★★★★Whitney

I came in wanting to add breathwork into my pilates business. I left with so much more: clarity, confidence, and a completely new way of working with people. This isn't just a skill set, it's a shift in how you show up as a practitioner.

★★★★★Robyn

Frequently asked questions.

What makes this certification different?

Most breathwork certifications teach techniques. What to say. What pattern to follow. What protocol to run. But when you are actually in a room with a real human, that is not enough.

This certification is built around a different standard: learning how to read, regulate, and respond in real time. We combine science, somatics, and live facilitation so you do not just understand breathwork. You know how to use it.

Do I get hands on practice during the certification?

Yes, and this is one of the biggest reasons people choose this program. Most certifications are online or theory based. You learn the material, but rarely get enough real world reps to feel confident actually leading.

Our certification is built around learning in person and real practice in a live studio environment. You will have access to the studio to practice and refine your facilitation throughout the program, real time feedback as you develop, and opportunities to guide real people, not just observe.

Confidence does not come from watching. It comes from repetition, feedback, and real experience.

Will I be able to get insurance as a breathwork facilitator?

Yes. On completion of the certification you will be professionally recognized through the International Breathwork Foundation (IBF) and the International Practitioner of Holistic Medicine (IPHM), which allows you to get insurance.

What if I am unable to make a session?

Full attendance is part of receiving the certification. We understand life happens, and we will work with people on a case by case basis.

How many spots are available?

Limited spots available. We intentionally keep this certification small so everyone gets personalized feedback, there is real opportunity to practice and facilitate, and the learning environment stays focused and high quality. Once spots are filled, registration closes.

Will I feel confident leading sessions after this?

That is the goal. Most people do not lack knowledge. They lack reps. Between learning in person, studio access, and live facilitation, you will leave having actually done the work, not just learned about it.

Our focus is simple: you walk away feeling clear, capable, and confident leading both 1:1 and group sessions.

Do I need prior experience with breathwork?

No. We start with the foundations: mechanics, awareness, and understanding how the body and nervous system work. From there, we build into more advanced applications and facilitation. Whether you are brand new or already experienced, the structure is designed to meet you where you are and progressively build your skill and confidence.

How much time should I expect to commit?

Beyond the scheduled training, your growth will come from practice. We recommend setting aside time each week to apply what you are learning, practice your own breathing, and begin guiding others in simple ways. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. The program is designed to be realistic and manageable alongside work and life.

Why is this worth the investment?

Because this is not just information. It is a skillset. Most people have access to breathing techniques. Very few know how to apply them effectively, or guide others through them.

What you are investing in is the ability to regulate yourself under stress, the skill to help others do the same, and the confidence that comes from real experience, not theory. This is something you will use daily, in your work, your training, and your life.

What kind of results can I expect from this certification?

This certification is designed to build a real, usable skillset, not just improve your own breathing. By the end of the program, you can expect to confidently guide both 1:1 and group breathwork sessions, assess and adapt to different individuals in real time, apply breathwork for stress, performance, and recovery in a structured way, and integrate this into your existing work or begin offering it professionally.

Along the way, most people also notice improved breathing efficiency and awareness, better stress regulation and recovery, and more composure and control under pressure.

Join the waitlist.

Next cohort January 2027. Limited spots available. Answer a few quick questions and we will reach out personally when enrolment opens.

Join the waitlist