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Certify as an Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathing Instructor
Add a new dimension to your practice with functional breathing training Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathing Instructor Training Invincible Breathing™
Why Oxygen Advantage®?
Functional breathing is one of the most important pillars of health. In fact, the breath is the first and most basic autonomic function, influencing mind, body, and personal potential.
As a teacher or health professional, whether your specialism is yoga, Pilates, physical therapy, mental health, sports and wellness, public speaking or presentation coaching, the Oxygen Advantage® Level 1 Instructor Training can provide you with the tools to:
- Optimize performance
- Promote better sleep and a better quality of life
- Boost energy and focus and reduce anxiety
- Manage symptoms of many common health complaints
The course explores functional breathing from a scientific, practical, accessible standpoint, leaving you free to inspire your students, clients or patients, whatever their needs.
“Inspire: to breathe/to impart a truth or idea to someone.”
What’s Involved?
The training consists of content and videos, designed and presented by breathing expert, Patrick McKeown. No previous knowledge or experience in breathwork is necessary. It’s easy to complete the course from the comfort of your own home, achieving certification within just ten weeks.
Certification in Just Weeks
Comprehensive instruction is provided in a straightforward, easy-to-follow format. Simply learn in your own time, and take advantage of the training manual, step-by-step videos, and live online webinars with Patrick to deepen your knowledge. All of Patrick’s training material is updated regularly to ensure that it encompasses the latest research.
How Can I Use the Training?
Functional breathing training has been proven to help with:
- Overall health
- Exercise performance and stamina
- Yoga breathing
- Lower back pain, posture and core muscle strength
- PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic disorder
- High stress and mental agitation
- Energy, focus and concentration
- Insomnia and snoring
- Fatigue and mood
- Rhinitis (stuffy nose and hay fever)
- Asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
- Diabetes and epilepsy control
- Depression and anxiety in people with comorbid conditions like bipolar disorder, that prevent the use of anti-depressant medication
Become a Level 1 Oxygen Advantage® Trainer
For a one-off investment of $529, (equivalent to less than $40 per week) you will receive around 100 hours’ worth of study material comprising:
- Online video tutorials by Patrick McKeown covering the theory and practice of the Oxygen Advantage® method
- A comprehensive training manual written by Patrick McKeown
- Access to live two-hour webinars with Patrick, covering topics including sleep, stress and anxiety
- Marketing images and designs to use on your own website and publicity material
- The chance to join our global network of instructors (35 countries and counting)
What Our Students Say
Why Invest In Breath Training?
The body can survive for days without water and weeks without food, but without the breath, it will die within minutes. The breath is closely connected with the heart, and its relationship with the nervous system is so direct that different responses are triggered depending on whether you are inhaling or exhaling. As those skilled in ancient contemplative practices have long known, the breath influences every part of the human experience.
Functional breathing often forms the missing link in terms of fitness and quality of life. It’s cost-effective and suitable for everyone. Despite this, breath training has nowhere near the same following as many mainstream diet and fitness trends. While most people will adapt other aspects of their lifestyle to promote better wellbeing, fitness or mental health, they often don’t think to adjust their breathing.
When focus is drawn to breathing, very few health and fitness professionals are trained to accurately identify dysfunctional breathing patterns and habits, or to give instructions that correct them. With the best of intention, they often lack the tools to help their clients learn practices consistent with physical and mental health. Instead of looking to the root cause of a problem, teaching is often symptom-led. It’s time to change this.
As awareness of functional breathing begins to gather pace in sport and in the wider community, this is the perfect time to gain practical, knowledge that will be relevant for you and your students for the rest of your life. Once certified, you will be able to apply your skills anywhere, any time, making a huge, quantifiable and immediate difference to your clients’ lives. And you will earn a great living in the process.
“Functional breathing often forms the missing link in terms of fitness and quality of life.”
A Few Facts About Breathing
Every single person breathes, all day, every day. It’s fundamental to life. While it might make sense that elite athletes or people in high-pressure jobs could profit from some sort of extra breath training, surely it’s nonsense to suggest that breathing itself is the root cause of problems in the wider population?
The truth is, functional breathing training is relevant for everyone because:
Breathing pattern disorders affect 9.5 percent of the adult population. In people with asthma, its 29 percent, and 75 percent of people with anxiety have dysfunctional breathing. (Jones et al., 2013/Thomas et al., 2001)
Slow breathing at six breaths per minute has been found to optimize heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory sinus arrhythmia RSA), baroreflex (blood pressure receptor) reflexes, gas exchange in the lungs, and to activate the calming power of the parasympathetic nervous system via the vagus nerve.
Sleep disordered breathing is considered to be a public health epidemic, costing the economy millions of dollars in poor productivity and sick days, and contributing to road accidents and early mortality.
Breathing exercises can help with problems as wide-ranging as performance anxiety, sleep, stress, poor digestion, heart health, hypertension and cognition.
Most of what we know about breathing is wrong. For example we believe that oxygen is good and carbon dioxide is bad. The reality… CO2 is essential for good health and vital to oxygenation of the cells. Without carbon dioxide, the body would be starved of oxygen, whether or not oxygen was available in the blood. (Singh, 2017)
One of the most common breathing pattern disorders is something called chronic hyperventilation. Forget the image of someone puffing furiously into a paper bag – this is long-term over-breathing that causes imbalances in the blood chemistry and factors in many pathological conditions – read that again – poor breathing patterns are an underlying factor in a lot of illness.
Chronic hyperventilation tends to involve fast, upper chest breathing. This triggers the sympathetic nervous system’s ‘fight or flight’ response leading to chronic stress (and many associated physical and mental health disorders).
We often urge our students to take a ‘deep breath’. But without an understanding of what a deep breath actually is and how to explain it, we may be inadvertently causing more harm than good.
Breathing should be through the nostrils, and rarely, if ever, through the mouth. Breathing through the mouth has been likened to trying to eat through your nose!
It is possible to maintain nasal breathing even during intensive exercise such as running. One study found athletes were able to train to 85 percent of VO2 max whilst breathing through the nose (Thomas et al., 2009).
Conditions including asthma, diabetes and epilepsy can often be successfully managed by increasing blood CO2 levels. In the case of epilepsy, hyperventilation has been proven to trigger seizures, and in panic disorder, blood CO2 levels are directly related to the panic threshold.
Become part of our growing international team and provide your clients and students with a comprehensive functional breathing program. We will supply you with everything you need to become an Oxygen Advantage® Level 1 Instructor from the comfort of your own home, for less than $40 a week.
Start today with a one-time investment of $529
About Your Instructor, Patrick McKeown
Patrick McKeown BA, MA, is considered to be one of the foremost teachers of functional breathing. He has authored eight books, is published in 14 languages and has taught breathing for mind, body and sports since 2002. He has worked with more than 7,000 clients from children to elderly, from the most unwell to elite athletes. He has channeled a wealth of experience, expertise and passion into the delivery of this simple, easy to follow training, in order to share his approach with others, so that many more people can enjoy better health, performance and quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Level 1 Training provide?
The training comprises detailed instruction in methods of optimizing breathing patterns across three dimensions for improved health and exercise performance. You will study:
- The biochemical dimension – how to normalize carbon dioxide levels
- The biomechanical dimension – how to achieve better functioning of the diaphragm breathing muscle
- Cadence or coherent breathing – how to achieve optimal parasympathetic / sympathetic balance
Will this course certify me to teach my students functional breathing?
Yes. Once you have passed the multiple-choice exam, you will receive a certificate in Level 1 Functional Breathing from OxygenAdvantage.com. As well as this certification, we will add your photo, profile and contact details to our list of instructors so that prospective clients can find you.
What are the course objectives?
On completion of the program you will:
- Be able to identify dysfunctional breathing patterns
- Understand dysfunctional breathing and how this impacts sports performance and health
- Have a clear knowledge of respiratory physiology
- Be able to teach exercises to decongest the nose and help establish nasal breathing
- Have the tools to deliver breathing re-education exercises and guidelines to help restore physiologically normal breathing in adults
What is the difference between Level 1 Training and the complete Oxygen Advantage® instructor training?
Level 1 Training provides certification in functional breathing during rest and physical exercise. The Advanced Instructor Training provides certification in functional breathing and simulation of altitude training (intermittent hypoxic, hypercapnic training).
How long does it take to certify as a level 1 Instructor?
Certification on average takes around 100 hours of online tutorials and self-study. Most instructors complete and pass their exam and case studies within one to three months of registration. There is no set time limit to certify.
What materials are provided?
The Oxygen Advantage trademarked logo, instructor manual, marketing materials and client intake form are available to all instructors.
Is there an exam?
Yes. The exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions. You can complete this in one sitting or over several sitting. Upon completion of the exam, you must also submit two case studies.
Do I receive a physical certificate?
Yes, a certificate in Level 1 Functional Breathing Instructor will be provided to you digitally via email for you to print.
Is there follow up support?
Yes, there is continuous follow up support by email. There are also regular live online training sessions, which you can access through the trainer portal. Upcoming dates are:
- 1st July 2020 (8AM-10AM LOS ANGELES, 11AM-1PM NEW YORK, 4PM-6PM LONDON)
- 4th August (8AM-10AM LOS ANGELES, 11AM-1PM NEW YORK, 4PM-6PM LONDON)
- 19th October (8AM-10AM LOS ANGELES, 11AM-1PM NEW YORK, 4PM-6PM LONDON)
- 4th November (8AM-10AM LOS ANGELES, 11AM-1PM NEW YORK, 4PM-6PM LONDON)
During the course, how do I reach out if I’m having a problem or want to ask a question?
You can email or ask your question during the live trainings. Email: [email protected]
Taking the Training
The Level 1 Certified Oxygen Advantage® Instructor Invincible BreathingTM Training covers two modules:
-
Functional Breathing
-
Breathing Mindfulness Method
Patrick will guide you through each topic using simple terminology. Classes are delivered in video format, and you will receive access to live webinars focusing on stress, anxiety and panic disorder.
In order to earn your Level 1 Instructor Certification, you will need to pass the online exam. The exam entry fee and certification is included in the overall cost of the program, which also features access to the Oxygen Advantage® training portal and online webinars.
There are no prerequisites for entry except an enthusiasm for learning and a strong belief in possibilities! Keep reading to find out exactly what you will learn.
How can I apply the training in my professional life?
If you work in health and wellbeing, as a yoga or Pilates teacher, physiotherapist, fitness coach, medical doctor, occupational therapist, osteopath, speech therapist, psychotherapist, martial arts teacher, hypnotherapist, Alexander Technique teacher, caregiver or in any profession that involves unlocking potential, the Oxygen Advantage® training will give you the tools to understand and apply functional breathing training in ways that are directly relevant. Every teacher knows that sense of satisfaction when the penny drops and a student breaks through difficult barriers. Functional breathing training can help you to achieve this.
Once you’ve passed the exam, it’s up to you how you use the training. You may find that this course is the missing link that takes your fitness business to the next level, or you might find that breathing training becomes the focal point for your work with corporate clients. Once you have the knowledge, you can apply it to your students or clients, your area of interest, and your own life. Read on to find out how Oxygen Advantage® instructors incorporate the training into their work.
How Are Existing OA Instructors Using The Training?
There are currently 173 instructors worldwide, from a wide variety of disciplines including Pilates, yoga, strength and conditioning, Buteyko breathing, professional athletes, Wim Hof Method instructors and more.
Some instructors teach the Oxygen Advantage® techniques as a standalone, while others integrate them into their existing training. There’s the opportunity to offer breathing classes to help people with asthma, high stress and sleep disorders, or workshops exploring the concepts of light, slow and deep breathing for yoga asana practice. The Oxygen Advantage® is a technique that can be incorporated into most settings in which the instructor wishes to optimize breathing to improve mental health, sleep quality, respiration and exercise performance.
Once certified, your details will be added to this page!
David Stewart
Windsor / Canada
Kelly Reed
Oregon / USA
Nigel Beach
Australia / New Zealand
Rahul Sharma
Ahmedabad / India
What Will I Learn?
The science of breathing
How to assess your clients
How to practice and teach simple exercises that normalize the body’s biochemistry
How to understand and explain the biomechanical aspects of healthy breathing
How to use cadence breathing to optimize health
Designed and taught entirely by Patrick McKeown, the course comprises a full introduction to the theory and practice of functional breathing. This will give you the tools to help all clients regardless of health, age or fitness. You will have access to:
- The online training portal
- Live online webinars with Patrick McKeown on functional breathing
- A scripted exercise manual
- 23 detailed training videos
- A comprehensive program of study (outlined below)
The entire program is explained in simple, easily accessible terms. Start your functional breathing training today!
Study Components
The Physiology of Breathing Explained (Nine Lessons and Exercises)
Physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical function of the body. It connects medicine, science and health, and provides parameters in which it becomes possible to understand how the human body adapts to stresses, physical activity and disease.
The physiology of breathing encompasses the role of breathing muscles (of which the diaphragm is primary), functional airways, blood chemistry and gas exchange with the atmosphere. When these aspects are fully understood, it is easy to adapt respiratory behaviors to voluntarily control the physiology – for example, reducing sensitivity to blood CO2 or altering levels of blood gases. In studying the physiology of breathing, you will learn about:
How (and why) to influence the autonomic nervous system
What Breathe Light really means and how it impacts the body
Why breathing ‘hard’ causes poor oxygenation of the cells
The importance of nasal breathing during both inspiration and expiration
The effects of poor breathing patterns, long and short-term
How to reduce breathlessness in sports
The benefits of making the switch to nose breathing
How to unblock the nose
What the oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve is and what it means for your students
The term ‘breathing exercises’ encompasses a vast array of potentially confusing practices. The exercises used in the Oxygen Advantage® are designed to work with the body’s physiology and biochemistry. You’ll learn a series of straightforward, safe, functional breathing exercises – the same exercises that Patrick uses with his clients every day. You will also discover how to apply the Body Oxygen Level Test – BOLT – a measure of functional breathing and an index of progress.