About BREATH-BODY-MIND™ Teacher Training

Training, Prerequisites, & Follow-up


Breath-Body-Mind - BBM Fundamentals Course

The 12-hour BBM Fundamentals course is an introduction to all of the core BBM practices. During this course, participants will benefit from an immersive experience of the fundamental BBM practices for their personal benefit and enjoyment. 

The BBM Fundamentals course is also the pre-requisite training and preparation for the Level-One BBM Instructor course.

 

BBM Classes and Practice Sessions

Experienced, advanced BBM Teachers offer a range of classes and practice sessions suitable for beginners to advanced practitioners. Visit the Weekly Practice Session webpage to find a class to suit your schedule and time zone. Then, contact teachers directly to find out how to join their classes and sessions. 

 

Core Three-Level BBM Teacher Training Sequence


Level-One BBM Instructor Certification Training

Pre-requisites

  • Complete a 12-hour BBM Fundamentals course

  • Attend a minimum of six BBM classes with experienced, advanced BBM teachers

  • Have a regular Coherent Breathing personal practice (20 mins a day, five days per week minimum).

Course participants who enjoy and benefit the most from BBM training courses are well prepared.

Preparing for Level-One BBM Training

  • Read or listen to The Healing Power of the Breath, by Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg

  • Know the practices in the BBM Fundamentals manual

The 40-hour experiential BBM Instructor course is designed for participants who wish to begin offering BBM practices to individual clients and small groups (2-6 people). The course is also suitable for those who want to explore the BBM practices and principles more thoroughly and enhance their personal BBM practice.

To achieve Level-One BBM Instructor certification, you will need to watch four or more hours of pre-recorded content, attend 35 hours of live training, and demonstrate safe and effective guidance of BBM practices and essential skills.

Level-One BBM Practices

  • Activating and calming practices

  • Two Ha breath practices

  • Breathing practices with movement

  • Coherent breathing with movement

  • Preparing for Coherent Breathing in Stillness

  • Coherent breathing in stillness sequence

  • Breath moving practice

Level-One BBM Essential Skills

  • Know BBM precautions

  • Understand trauma-sensitive BBM teaching skills

  • Recognize most common breathing challenges

  • Sequence core BBM practice sessions

  • Commit to upholding the BBM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct 


Level-Two BBM Teacher Certification Training

Pre-requisites:

  • Successful completion of the 40-hour BBM Level-One Instructor Training Course

  • A regular BBM and Coherent Breathing personal practice


Recommendations:

  • Attend BBM Fundamentals and Level-One courses as an observer or assistant.

  • Attend BBM Classes with experienced senior BBM teachers.

 

Preparing for Level-Two BBM Training

  • Re-read or listen to The Healing Power of the Breath, by Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg

  • Know the practices in the BBM Fundamentals and Level-One manuals

The 40-hour experiential BBM Level-Two course is designed for Level-One BBM Instructors who want to advance their BBM teaching skills and include the Level-Two BBM practices in their sessions.

To achieve Level-Two BBM Teacher certification, you will need to attend the training, watch pre-recorded training videos, and demonstrate safe and effective guidance of Level-One and Level-Two BBM practices and essential skills.

 

Level-Two BBM Practices

  • Additional activating and calming practices 

  • Additional Ha breath practices

  • Additional breathing practices with movement

  • Coherent breathing with movement variations and modifications

  • Coherent breathing in stillness variations and modifications

  • Additional breath moving circuits

  • Alternate nostril breathing with variations and modifications

 

Level-Two BBM Essential Skills

  • Observe and monitor breathing challenges and progress

  • Offer adjustments for breathing challenges

  • Observe and monitor movement challenges and progress

  • Offer practice variations and modifications

  • Sequence BBM practice sessions, including Level-Two practices

  • Create BBM sessions for a range of population groups


Level-Three BBM Teacher Certification Training (by invitation)

 The 40-hour experiential BBM Level-Three course is designed for Level-Two BBM Teachers who are ready to advance their BBM teaching skills and incorporate Level-Three BBM practices into their sessions. 

To assess readiness for Level-Three Teacher training, applications must be approved by two experienced Level-Three or Four BBM Teachers; their recommendations will be submitted to Dr. Gerbarg and Dr. Brown for approval. 

During the course, Level-Three Teacher candidates are required to lead sections of the Level-One Instructor training for small groups and offer constructive feedback to Level-One course participants. Attending senior teacher pre- and post-course meetings is a key element of Level-Three BBM Teacher development and progression.

Upon successful completion of the Level-Three BBM Teacher training, graduates can submit proposals to share non-certification BBM practices and workshops with specialist groups and communities. 

With experience and support, Level-Three Teachers can progress to developing and training new Level-One BBM Instructors on approved BBM programs led by experienced senior BBM Teachers, Course and Program Directors, and Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg.

 

Preparing for Level-Three BBM Training

  • Re-read or listen to The Healing Power of the Breath, by Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg

  • Know the practices in the BBM Fundamentals, Level-One and Level-Two manuals

  • Assist and observe on approved BBM certification courses.

Level-Three BBM Practices

  • Advanced activating and calming practices 

  • Advanced breathing practices with movement

  • Advanced Coherent breathing with movement variations and modifications

  • All breath moving circuits

 

Level-Three BBM Essential Skills

  • Teach safely and effectively all Level-One and Level-Two BBM practices

  • Demonstrate all Level-One and Level-Two skills 

  • Observe and monitor breathing challenges and student progress

  • Offer adjustments for breathing challenges

  • Offer practice variations and modifications

  • Sequence BBM sessions, including Level-Three practices

  • Observation and Feedback skills to develop Level-One BBM Instructors in training

  • Lead group sessions, practices, and processes safely and effectively

  • Create BBM sessions to meet a range of student needs and populations

  • Be familiar with latest scientific updates and BBM research projects

Additional BBM Training Programs

Additional training and certification programs are available for those who wish to take on a more substantial role in the administrations, research and development of BBM. This training is by invitation only.