Breathwork Insurance Guide for Teachers (2026)

Breathwork insurance for teachers costs $50–$170/year. Compare providers and coverage across US, UK and Australia, and learn why waivers alone won't protect you.

If you’re teaching breathwork, or planning to, you need insurance. Not because something will go wrong, but because a single lawsuit can cost tens of thousands in legal defense alone, even if you win.

In 2022, the family of a 17-year-old who drowned while practicing Wim Hof breathing exercises filed a $67 million wrongful death lawsuit against Wim Hof and his company. The case was eventually dismissed in 2024, but it took two years of legal battle to get there. Most independent breathwork teachers don’t have the resources for that kind of fight.

Here’s what you need to know.

Do Breathwork Teachers Need Insurance?

Yes. The risk of an actual claim is low, but the real issue is what happens when you’re uninsured and it does occur. For most solo practitioners, an uninsured claim can be financially devastating.

Beyond the financial protection, insurance unlocks practical opportunities:

• Venue requirements - Studios, retreat centers, and wellness facilities require proof of coverage
• Professional credibility - Co-facilitators and event organizers expect you to be insured
• Peace of mind - Focus on your clients instead of worst-case scenarios

Here’s the math: in the US, breathwork facilitator insurance costs around $150–$170 per year. In the UK it starts from £47, and in Australia costs vary depending on your accreditation. An uninsured legal claim can cost the equivalent of $20,000–$100,000+ in attorney fees before you even get to court. In the US, where lawsuits are most common, these costs add up fast. In the UK, Australia, and most other markets, the risk is lower, but the basic equation stays the same: a year of coverage costs less than an hour with a defense attorney.

Yes, You Still Need Insurance Even If Students Sign a Waiver

This is the most common misconception among new breathwork teachers. A waiver alone is not enough. You need both. Waivers and insurance work as complementary layers of protection, not substitutes.

Think of it as layered defense: the waiver discourages claims and strengthens your position, while insurance funds your defense and covers settlements if needed.

If you don’t have a waiver yet, JonPaul Crimi’s breathwork liability waiver is a popular template among practitioners. Consider having a lawyer review any waiver for your specific jurisdiction.

Use both. Always.

What Types of Coverage Do Breathwork Teachers Need?

You need two types of coverage, and most breathwork business insurance policies bundle them together:

Coverage Type	What It Protects Against	Example Scenario
Professional Liability (also called Professional Indemnity or Errors & Omissions)	Claims that your guidance or techniques caused harm	A client alleges emotional distress from suppressed memories surfacing during a session
General Liability (also called Public Liability)	Physical injuries or property damage during your sessions	A participant faints from hyperventilation, falls, and fractures a wrist

Professional liability covers the teaching and facilitation itself. General liability covers accidents in the physical space where you work.

Most policies designed for wellness practitioners bundle both. If you also offer yoga, meditation, or other modalities, confirm your policy covers everything under one plan.

Real Risks That Breathwork Teachers Face

Dizziness and falls are the most common incidents

Hyperventilation affects blood CO2 levels and can cause lightheadedness, especially in first-time participants. Someone gets dizzy, loses their balance, and hits the floor. This is the scenario most breathwork insurance claims come from.

Emotional and psychological harm claims are less common but more expensive to defend

Breathwork can surface suppressed emotions or memories. This is connected to how breathing affects nervous system regulation. Even when the experience is ultimately therapeutic, clients sometimes feel destabilized and look for someone to blame.

Pre-existing conditions can lead to serious medical events

Cardiovascular episodes, seizures, or panic attacks in people with undisclosed or unknown conditions. This is exactly why intake screening matters so much. The Wim Hof wrongful death case is a stark reminder: at least 21 deaths have been linked to Wim Hof-style breathing, mostly from people practicing near water without understanding the risks.

Insurance protects you financially, but good practices reduce the chance you’ll ever need it:

• Use intake forms to screen for contraindications (cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, pregnancy, severe mental illness, glaucoma, history of aneurysms)
• Require signed waivers from every participant, every session
• Know your scope. You’re not a therapist unless you’re licensed as one
• Watch for distress and know when someone needs grounding or should stop
• Never make medical claims or promise breathwork will cure conditions

Most Policies Cover the Basics, But Watch for These Gaps

The good news is that most breathwork insurance policies are designed for exactly the kind of work you do. One-on-one sessions, in-person group classes, and standard breathwork techniques are covered by virtually every provider. But there are a few areas where coverage gaps show up more often than you’d expect.

Online and virtual sessions are the most common gap. If you teach over Zoom, don’t assume your policy includes it. Many policies were written before virtual sessions became the norm, and some providers still treat them as a separate add-on. Ask specifically.

Workshops and multi-day retreats sometimes need specific coverage beyond your standard policy. Running a weekend retreat is different from a weekly class, and some providers draw a line between the two.

Multi-modality coverage matters if you combine breathwork with yoga, meditation, sound healing, or other practices. Some policies only cover the specific modality you listed when you signed up. If your sessions blend techniques, make sure they’re all included.

Occurrence-based vs. claims-made is a distinction worth understanding. Occurrence-based policies cover incidents that happen during your policy period, even if the claim comes years later. Claims-made policies only cover claims filed while the policy is active. If you ever switch providers, occurrence-based gives you better long-term protection.

Territory coverage is easy to overlook if you lead retreats abroad. Most domestic policies don’t cover international work, so check before you travel.

What Does Breathwork Insurance Cost?

Costs vary significantly by region. In the US, where lawsuits are most common, premiums are higher and coverage requirements are stricter. UK and European markets have lower premiums because claims happen less often, though courts there hold practitioners to higher standards of professional conduct. Australia and New Zealand sit somewhere in between, with moderate claim rates and strong professional association networks.

If you travel for workshops or host retreats abroad, verify your policy covers you in those locations. Standard domestic policies often exclude international work. IICT is the standout option for breathwork facilitators working across borders, offering coverage under one membership for teachers who work in multiple countries.

Quick-Start Checklist for New Breathwork Teachers

• Get insured before your first paid session
• Confirm your specific breathwork modality is listed in the policy
• Verify online session coverage if you teach virtually
• Create intake forms that screen for contraindications
• Draft a liability waiver and have a lawyer review it
• Keep proof of insurance accessible for venues and partners
• Set a calendar reminder to renew annually so coverage doesn’t lapse

What If You Only Teach Free Sessions?

If you’re teaching for free, your legal risk is lower but not zero. You can still be sued for negligence, and you’d still need to pay for legal defense. Get insured anyway. Most policies don’t distinguish between paid and unpaid sessions. If you’re holding space for breathwork, you’re taking on liability. The annual cost is small compared to the protection it gives you.

Getting Started

Breathwork insurance is one of the simplest, cheapest risk management decisions you’ll make as a teacher. A few dollars a month protects you from financial catastrophe and unlocks professional opportunities.

Get covered before your first session. Use intake forms and waivers alongside your policy. Review your coverage annually and update it as your breathwork business grows. Insurance isn’t optional. It’s the cost of being a professional breathwork facilitator.

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