Flow Institute Australia Instructor Training Review (2026)
Flow Institute Australia review. The 5-day in-person breathwork instructor training in Melbourne and Brisbane, the AUD 3,495 price, and our verdict.
Flow Institute Australia is a breathwork training school run by Tim and Jackie from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Tim is a former extreme-sports athlete (skydiving, wingsuit BASE jumping, mountaineering) who turned to breathwork, cold immersion, and mindfulness after serious injuries and depression. He lists certifications as an Oxygen Advantage Advanced Instructor, an XPT Performance Breath Coach, and a SOMA Breath Instructor, plus remedial massage and bodywork. Jackie is also a SOMA Breath Instructor, a yin yoga teacher, and a remedial massage therapist. The business has been registered since 2022 and trading as Flow Institute Australia since 2023.
The Level One Flow Instructor Training combines functional breathing (how people breathe day to day, and how to assess and correct it) with conscious connected breathwork, somatic movement, touch, and emotional intelligence, all within a trauma-informed frame.
Flow Institute is a strong practical option for Australians who want to learn in the room rather than on a screen. The curriculum covers both functional and transformational breathwork, and graduates leave with ready-made forms, scripts, and playlists. The trade-off is depth: five days is a short time to learn to guide emotional, connected-breathing sessions, and the school is only a few years old.
How the Training Works
The training has four phases:
- Apply: entry is by application only.
- Prepare: online lectures, pre-learning, and required reading.
- Immerse: a five-day in-person intensive, 8am to 5pm each day, in Melbourne or Brisbane. One part of the site describes it as six days and five nights, so check the exact format for your dates.
- Expand: a group integration call, one included one-to-one mentor call, case studies, and lifetime access to the graduate community.
Intakes are frequent: the school lists ten dates between February and November 2027, alternating between Melbourne and Brisbane.
The curriculum covers functional breathing assessment and correction, anatomy and physiology, the nervous system, polyvagal theory and the window of tolerance, understanding trauma, safety and contraindications, the art of touch and an introduction to bodywork, somatic movement, holding space, building and guiding group “BreathFlow” sessions and one-to-one sessions, and business, social media, and legal basics. Graduates receive ready-to-go scripts, playlists, intake forms, and legal forms.
To be fully certified, you complete case studies after the intensive before being signed off. The site does not say how many.
The contraindications list is unusually strict. It excludes, among others, people with severe PTSD, heart conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy, severe asthma, diagnosed mental health conditions, and anyone hospitalised for a psychiatric condition or emotional crisis in the last five years. That is a responsible line for an intense training.
A Level Two training covers group facilitation, corporate events, performance workshops, ice baths, and public speaking.
Flow Institute Cost
| Option | Early bird | General |
|---|---|---|
| Pay in full | AUD 3,295 | AUD 3,495 |
| 3 monthly payments | AUD 1,195 | AUD 1,225 |
| 6 monthly payments | AUD 605 | AUD 641 |
That is about $2,200 to $2,300 or £1,600 to £1,700. Payment plans add up to slightly more (six payments of AUD 641 come to AUD 3,846). Travel and accommodation are extra, and an extended one-to-one mentorship with Tim or Jackie is available at additional cost.
The refund terms are strict. The AUD 500 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. You get a full refund minus the deposit if you cancel more than 60 days before your training, 50% between 30 and 60 days, and nothing after that. Places cannot be moved to another date or person.
Accreditation
Flow Institute Australia is an accredited training provider with the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM). That is the usual route to insurance in Australia, but it is a general holistic accreditor, not a breathwork-specific standard. See our accreditation guide and our guide to training in Australia.
We found no independent reviews of the training outside the testimonials on its site.
Pros and Cons
What works well
- Fully in person - Five long days of hands-on training in Melbourne or Brisbane.
- Functional and transformational - Breathing assessment alongside conscious connected breathwork.
- Practical toolkit - Business and legal basics, intake and legal forms, scripts, and playlists.
- Responsible screening - A clear, strict list of contraindications.
What doesn't
- Short intensive - Five days to learn both functional and emotional breathwork.
- Case studies not quantified - The number needed to certify is not published.
- Strict refund terms - No transfers and no refund within 30 days.
- Young school - Trading under this name since 2023.
Flow Institute Market Comparisons
Flow Institute vs. Breathless Expeditions
Breathless Expeditions is the other Australian option with in-person training, a 10-week program for A$3,997 online or A$6,997 with an in-person component, plus a money-back guarantee. Choose Breathless for a longer program, a guarantee, and strong independent reviews. Choose Flow Institute for a lower price and a fully in-person intensive in Melbourne or Brisbane.
Flow Institute vs. SOMA Breath
Both founders are certified SOMA Breath instructors. SOMA sells a $497 Facilitator Program for leading its ready-made journeys and a $4,497 Instructor Certification (95 hours) for designing your own sessions, inside a large international network. Choose SOMA for a structured, music-driven method, a cheap first step, and a global community. Choose Flow Institute for more in-person time and a broader mix of functional breathing, bodywork, and connected breathwork.
Flow Institute vs. Oxygen Advantage
Oxygen Advantage offers functional breathing instructor certifications for EUR 449 to EUR 995, online or hybrid. Choose Oxygen Advantage if you only want evidence-led functional breathing for health and sport. Choose Flow Institute if you also want to guide emotional, connected-breathing sessions.
Who This Is For
- Australians who learn best in person - Melbourne and Brisbane intakes run almost monthly.
- Fitness and bodywork professionals - You want functional breathing plus connected breathwork.
- New facilitators who want a toolkit - Forms, scripts, and playlists are included.
Who Should Pass
- People wanting a long apprenticeship - See our best certifications guide.
- Anyone unsure of their dates - Places cannot be transferred.
- People who need GPBA recognition - Look at 400-hour trainings instead.
Flow Institute Verdict
Flow Institute Australia offers one of the more practical in-person trainings in the country. Its founders bring functional breathing and bodywork credentials as well as connected-breathwork experience, the curriculum covers both sides, and graduates leave with the forms and materials they need to start working. Frequent intakes in two cities make it easy to fit in.
Five days is a compressed format for so much content, though, and the number of case studies needed to certify is not published. Combine that with strict refund terms and a school only a few years old, and it is worth asking detailed questions on the discovery call.
Bottom line: A good, hands-on choice for Australians who want an in-person, mixed functional and transformational training at a fair price. Ask about the case-study requirement and be sure of your dates before you pay.
Still deciding? Take our 2-minute quiz to find the certification that fits your goals and budget.
Other independent schools for Australians
- Embodied Breath Academy: Rebirthing-based training from Bali with 30 required client sessions (AU$5,500)
For the full picture, see our guide: Breathwork teacher training in Australia.