Instructor Certification
Become a dual-certified Breathwork//Tactics & Mindfulness instructor
One immersive in-person day. A small, capped cohort. Real hands-on assessment and teaching reps — not a certificate you get for watching videos.
The Breathwork//Tactics Instructor Certification is a compressed, high-impact training built for first responders who've already completed comprehensive online pre-work. Delivered in partnership with The Center for Suicide Awareness, it awards dual certification — Breathwork//Tactics and Mindfulness — in a single day.
You'll arrive with the foundational knowledge already in place. You'll leave with the practical competency to assess breathing dysfunction in real time, deliver the Breathwork//Tactics workshop live, implement cold-training protocols safely, and facilitate mindfulness practices inside your own organization.
Cohorts are capped at 8–12 attendees to protect hands-on time and individual coaching. Investment details are shared directly during your application call — request info to check upcoming dates and pricing for your department.
Before You Arrive
Five online modules, completed at your pace, gated by a pre-assessment quiz.
The in-person day is reserved exclusively for skill-building and confidence — not re-teaching science. Every attendee arrives at the same knowledge baseline.
Nervous System & Breath Science
How breathing interfaces with the autonomic nervous system, arousal states, and decision-making under stress.
Breathing Dysfunction Identification
Recognizing mouth breathing, upper-chest dominance, and paradoxical breathing through visual and verbal assessment.
Breathwork//Tactics Techniques
Every technique taught in the workshop, with guided self-practice to build familiarity and confidence before teaching it.
Cold Training Science
Protocols, physiological effects, safety principles, and contraindications for controlled cold exposure.
Facilitation Principles
Presenting to a first-responder audience: language, pacing, and handling skepticism or resistance in the room.
Pre-Assessment Quiz
A required competency check. A passing score is your ticket into the in-person training day.
Day-Of Schedule
5 hours, 35 minutes. Every block earns its place.
Welcome & Program Introduction
Led by Barb, Executive Director of The Center for Suicide Awareness. Frames the day within the broader mission of first-responder wellness and suicide prevention, and introduces Jesse and the day's structure.
Integration & Calibration
A fast-paced group discussion led by Jesse that bridges the online pre-work to hands-on practice and sets explicit performance expectations for the day.
Breath Mechanics Assessment Lab
The cornerstone skill of the certification. Live demonstration, paired practice, a dysfunction-identification drill, and corrective-coaching practice — every attendee learns to assess and correct breathing dysfunction in real time.
Break
Cold Training Module
Experiential group practice with a full cold-exposure sequence, followed by a facilitator debrief covering setup, safety screening, panic-response management, and informed consent. Optional but strongly encouraged.
Teaching Practicum
Where certification is earned. Jesse models the opening of the workshop, then every attendee delivers an 8-10 minute segment live, with peer and instructor feedback focused on vocal presence, cue clarity, and command of material.
Break
Mindfulness Certification Component
Barb delivers the complementary Mindfulness certification, integrating mindfulness principles and practices with the breathwork skills built throughout the day.
Q&A, Logistics & Certification Ceremony
Open Q&A on facilitation edge cases and department implementation, followed by individual dual-certification presentation and a group photo.
What You Leave With
Dual Certification
Breathwork//Tactics and Mindfulness certification, issued jointly with The Center for Suicide Awareness.
Assessment Skill
The ability to identify and correct breathing dysfunction in a real person, live, under time pressure.
Delivery Reps
Real facilitation experience in front of peers, with direct feedback — not just a script to read from.
Continuing Support
Annual recertification pathway, continuing education access, and an instructor community for ongoing support.
