PAUSE Breathwork Facilitator Training Review (2026)
A detailed review of PAUSE Breathwork's six-month certification covering cost, curriculum, conscious connected breathing methodology, and how it compares to SOMA and Holotropic training programs.
PAUSE Breathwork runs a six-month online facilitator training. Founded by Samantha Skelly after she discovered breathwork in Bali, it has trained around 1,000 facilitators across 27 countries.
Here’s the thing: the technique itself is conscious connected breathing. You breathe in a continuous loop without pausing. It’s been around for decades under different names - Rebirthing, parts of Holotropic, various pranayama practices. PAUSE has wrapped it in modern wellness language and trauma-informed framing. Not a scam, but also not as clinical as the marketing makes it sound.
Pros and Cons
What works well
- Trauma-Aware Framing - Covers nervous system basics and safety considerations
- Accessible Format - Online program that works around a day job
- Community - Active student group and regular mentorship calls
What doesn't
- Heavy Personal Branding - The founder's lifestyle dominates the marketing
- Pricey for What It Is - $4,000-6,000 for conscious connected breathing
- Looser Structure - Less systematic than [SOMA](/articles/soma-breath-teacher-training-review) or Oxygen Advantage
The Methodology
PAUSE teaches conscious connected breathing. You breathe continuously without pausing between inhale and exhale. The technique can bring on altered states, emotional release, tingling, sometimes intense catharsis. Done well, it’s genuinely helpful. Done poorly, it can leave people destabilized.
The training covers polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed facilitation over six months. Based on the curriculum and graduate feedback, PAUSE provides solid foundational knowledge for holding space safely: screening participants, recognizing distress, knowing when to slow down. It’s more comprehensive than weekend certifications but less rigorous than programs like Holotropic (which requires years of supervised practice) or clinical breathwork trainings designed for licensed therapists.
PAUSE Breathwork Cost
The Pause Breathwork Facilitator Training costs $4,000-$6,000 depending on when you sign up and payment plans. That’s on the higher end for breathwork.
What you get:
- 6 months online
- Pre-recorded modules, self-paced
- Live calls with Samantha Skelly and her team
- Practice sessions with feedback
- Certification at the end
Extra costs:
- Books and materials: $100-200
- Liability insurance: $300-500/year
- Optional mentorship after you’re certified
First year total: roughly $4,500-$7,000
SOMA starts at $999 with clearer protocols. Holotropic takes years but produces facilitators with real therapeutic chops.
The Brand Reality
PAUSE is built around founder Samantha Skelly’s personal story. Her background as a dancer and stunt performer, her struggles with anxiety and disordered eating, her transformation through breathwork in Bali: this narrative shapes the entire brand, from marketing to curriculum.
The business training emphasizes personal branding and online presence, which works well for coaches and practitioners building their own following. The community skews toward wellness entrepreneurs rather than clinical practitioners.
What the training includes:
- Substantial breathwork technique instruction
- Nervous system education and trauma-awareness modules
- Business development focused on personal brand building
- Community support and mentorship calls
If you’re already building a coaching or wellness practice and want to add breathwork as a modality, this approach makes sense. If you’re starting from zero or want clinical credentials, the business-heavy curriculum may feel misaligned.
Safety and Training
PAUSE covers the basics:
- Screening - Checking for heart issues, pregnancy, psychosis
- Reading the room - When to slow down or ground someone
- Trauma responses - Basic freeze/fight/flight awareness
- Boundaries - Consent and ethical practice
Trainers come from coaching, therapy, and wellness backgrounds. The program uses a cohort model with live mentorship calls, so your experience depends partly on your specific cohort’s facilitators and group dynamics.
One thing to keep in mind: “trauma-informed” in wellness usually means awareness of trauma, not the ability to treat it. PAUSE graduates aren’t therapists and shouldn’t position themselves as such.
Who This Is For
- Coaches and Wellness Practitioners - You want to add breathwork to what you already do
- Brand Builders - The founder's style appeals to you
- Online Business Types - You're comfortable with personal brand marketing
Who Should Pass
- Clinical Types - Want real therapeutic training? Look at Holotropic or Integrative Breathwork
- Protocol People - Want clear systems? SOMA has more structure
- Cost-Conscious Learners - There are more affordable paths to certification
Is PAUSE Breathwork Worth It?
PAUSE delivers a legitimate six-month education in conscious connected breathing, a technique with genuine therapeutic potential when facilitated properly. The training covers trauma awareness, nervous system basics, and business development. Graduates leave with real skills for holding breathwork sessions.
The core question is value for money. At $4,000-6,000, you’re paying significantly more than alternatives like SOMA ($999 with clearer protocols) while getting less clinical depth than programs like Holotropic or Integrative Breathwork. The premium buys you Samantha Skelly’s brand ecosystem and business-building framework.
Bottom line: A solid choice for wellness coaches who want to add breathwork to their existing practice and resonate with PAUSE’s personal branding approach. Not the right fit for those seeking clinical rigor, standardized protocols, or the most cost-effective path to certification.
Still deciding? Check our comparison of 20+ breathwork certifications.