May 8–10, 2026 - WHEN SCIENCE MEETS EXPERIENCE
Learning - Experience - Integration - Leadership
, Lectures - Breathwork - Workshops - Panels
Initiators: Prof. Isabel Dziobek & Yasmine Orth
Co-creation between academia and practice
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“Itwas remarkable to be in a room with so many researchers and authors whose work I’d only encountered in papers. That’s rare in breathwork—usually you have to wade through a lot of noise and marketing. Berlin felt like what the field could be at its best: rigorous, grounded, and genuinely collaborative.”
Text: Till SchröderScience Meets Experience: A Look Back at the Berlin Breathwork Days 2026
Once again this year, the Berlin Breathwork Days—held under the theme “Science Meets Practice”—were shaped by the lively exchange among people who explore and practice breathwork in its many forms. In cooperation with Humboldt University of Berlin, the three-day event brought together science, research, and lived experience through lectures, panels, and sessions, as well as in conversations between program items.
The dates for the next Berlin Breathwork Days have already been set: May 14–16, 2027, in Berlin. Ticket sales will start soon—sign up for the waitlist.
Video by Jens P. Neumann / Music by Keope Title: El Sabata (Instrumental)
Professional Days: Focus on Science
The event kicked off on Friday with the Professional Days, featuring top-tier researchers from the international field, with particularly strong representation from the research groups at Brighton/Sussex and Humboldt University.
Among the scientific highlights was the keynote address by Alessandro Colasanti, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sussex, on the physiological foundations of breathwork. Using a specialized MRI technique, he demonstrated that high-ventilation breathing significantly reduces blood flow to certain brain regions, such as the insula. The participants subsequently described their altered states of consciousness, from which initial hypotheses can be derived regarding the connection between measurable neural processes and subjective qualities of experience such as “oceanic boundlessness.” A second highlight was the presentation by Dr. Richard Blakes from Austin on the positive effects of breathwork on anxiety symptoms.
“BerlinBreathwork Days is easily my favorite annual conference now. Great people, energy, and vibes. This is made possible by a fantastic community that fosters the perfect blend of theory and practice. You can attend a lecture by a top scientist, then jump right into a workshop led by an experienced facilitator.
What other conference offers that? Both experiential and theoretical learning opportunities are available to everyone!”
The focus on the brain was just one of several perspectives. Psychotherapy research was also represented: Striking examples demonstrated how breathing techniques can facilitate processes where traditional talk therapies sometimes reach their limits. Particularly fascinating were two interdisciplinary panels—one on ethical guidelines and safety standards, and a second on the extent to which contextual factors such as the social setting and music, as well as the effects of expectations, can be understood as the actual mechanisms of action behind breathwork. The discussion also addressed the requirements breathwork would need to meet in order to gain long-term recognition from health insurance providers.
How can an altered state of consciousness be scientifically described? This question has been on neuroscientist Timo Torsten Schmidt’s mind for years. Together with his team, he has standardized the descriptions of altered states of consciousness—which have been documented since the 1960s in various studies using inconsistent terminology and measurement parameters—into comparable values. Using a specially developed app, the altered states of consciousness during the individual workshop sessions were recorded in real time. Participants described their experiences using a standardized questionnaire and were able to compare them directly with published values for psilocybin and LSD, as well as with data from the Altered Xperience online database. Schmidt presented the aggregated data in his own presentation. The project has now recorded thousands of pharmacologically induced ACSs, thereby contributing to a more precise understanding of their effects and causes.
Photo credit: Darshana Borges & Janosch FörsterWhen the results were presented on the final day of the event, an interesting difference emerged compared to the effects of substances like LSD: Participants in the Berlin Breathwork Days achieved strikingly high scores on the “Blissful State” dimension. The research project will continue in the future with additional breathwork providers, including Metamorphysis by Yasmine Orth. The high demand for the scientific program has encouraged the organizers to open the format even more widely to the international scientific community in the coming year.
Photo Credit: Janosch FörsterCommunity Days: Hands-On Experience and Exchange
The researchers were also on hand during the Community Days on Saturday and Sunday. Facilitators, coaches, yoga instructors, and therapists provided practical insights, ranging from working with trauma to the use of breathing techniques when counseling high achievers on the verge of burnout.
On Sunday, the topic of leadership also took center stage. Breathing can be a powerful tool for personal development. The event concluded with a keynote address by Ina Remmers, a social entrepreneur and co-founder of nebenan.de. Her key statement really stuck with me: “The need for connection is huge.” The Berlin Breathwork Days 2026 confirmed this impressively.
Photo Credit: Janosch Förster
Photo Credit: Janosch FörsterAbout the Author: Till Schröder works as a writer and concept developer for content-driven communication (current focus: sustainability). The interplay between body and mind has fascinated him since his youth. He completed yoga teacher training in 2008, practices yoga, meditation, and breathwork intensively, and writes about these topics.
Initiators of the Berlin Breathwork Days:
Yasmine Orth (Initiator, Curator, Metamorphysis Breath, Founder of The Lovers & Leaders)
Prof. Isabel Dziobek (Collaborating Partner, Professor of Clinical Psychology at HU Berlin, Director of the University Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic)
Speakers & Facilitators at our Berlin Breathwork Days 2026:
Yasmine Orth (Founder and Curator of Berlin Breathwork Days, Breathwork Facilitator, Founder of The Lovers & Leaders)
Prof. Dr. Isabel Dziobek (Professor of Clinical Psychology, HU Berlin, Head of University Outpatient Clinic for Psychotherapy)
Alan Friday (Breathwork & Mindset Coach)
Dr. Abdel Nemri (neuroscientist, entrepreneur, Into The Deep)
Anja Haberlandner (Physician & Psychotherapist)
Annette Söhnlein (Yoga, Meditation & Pranayama)
Dr. Alessandro Colasanti (Associate Professor of Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Brighton & Sussex Medical School)
Dr. Barbara Breitenstein (Psychological Psychotherapist, HU Berlin)
Dr. Christian Schmitz (Physician, Psychotherapist, and Researcher)
Dr. Gabriele Herrmann (Holistic Orthopedist)
Dr. Guy William Fincham (Scientist, Founder of the Brighton & Sussex Breathwork Lab)
Dr. Martha Havenith (Into The Deep Breathwork, Ernst Strüngmann Institute)
Dr. Marie Christine Bastian, M.D. (Physician, Systemic Therapist, Neurodivergence Coach, and Breathwork Facilitator)
Dr. Renata Wacker (Psychological Psychotherapist in Training, Researcher, Humboldt University of Berlin)
Dr. Richard Blake (Breathwork Researcher, Educator, and Performance Coach)
Dr. rer. nat. Max Wolff (Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Researcher)
Dr. Timo Torsten Schmidt (Cognitive Neuroscientist)
Elena Margulis (Founder & Aromacologist)
Eugene Pashnin (Psychiatrist, PhD Researcher, and Freediving Instructor)
Eva Lang (Breathwork Coach & Breath Therapist)
Felix Falkenhahn (body therapist, Integral Healing Arts)
Florencia Lamarca (Founder of the Fluentbody™ Method)
George Fejer (Ph.D. candidate in cognitive psychology, University of Konstanz)
Gerjet Efken (Breathwork Coach, Leadership Trainer, and Cacao Entrepreneur)
Ina Remmers (Founder of nebenan.de & Impact Entrepreneur)
Indri Tulusan (Founder of the Spirit of Breath Collective)
Irina Naithani (Executive Coach, SOMA Breath® Instructor, Creator of Werise, and Certified Psychologist)
Iva Samina (Sexologist, Hypnobirthing & Sexological Bodywork)
Iza – Isabella Stephanie Hauck (Mental Health Expert, Founder & Sonic Engineer)
Jeanne Wandel (Breathwork, Trauma Integration & Nature Therapy)
Josephine Jörke (Psychologist, M.Sc., and Ph.D. candidate)
Julia Wunderlich (Spiritual Embodiment, Mentoring, Breathwork & Energy Work)
Julius Lassalle (Breathwork Facilitator & Leadership Coach)
Kristin Rübesamen (Yoga Pioneer, Author & Yogahikes)
Lana Porter (Neuroscientist, Researcher, and Breathwork Facilitator)
Lena Erdmann (M.Sc. in Psychology, Ph.D. candidate, and yoga instructor)
Liliana Vasquez-Mock (Psychologist, Holotropic Breathing Practitioner & Psychedelic Facilitator)
Max Leidenberger (Psychological Psychotherapist, Breathwork & Psychedelics)
Nina Hartter (Ph.D. student, HU Berlin & yoga instructor)
Nina Hrkalovic (Breathing Therapist, Author, and Coach)
Paul Auls (Artist, Breathwork and Hypnosis Facilitator)
Paula-Maria Stewart (Embodied Voice Coach & Sacred Voice Artist)
Prof. Dr. Michael Rapp (Professor of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Potsdam)
Prof. Dr. Soyoung Park (Professor & Neuroscientist)
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Lueken (Professor, Psychologist & Psychotherapist, HU Berlin)
Sascha Zeilinger (Founder of Spirit of Breath)
Sofia Uguccioni (Yin Yoga & Gong)
Sonja Mildner (Breathwork Facilitator)
Stefanie Schuster (Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Nervous System Regulation, Gong & Sound Facilitator)
Sukkhadas Auer (Wim Hof Method® Advanced Instructor & Meditation Teacher)
Thomas Schubert (Martial Arts, Little Kung Fu)
Till Schröder (Host & Editor, Berlin Breathwork Journal)
Vidya & Klaus Ulbricht (Founders of Lichtatmung® & naou)
Thank you to our partners for brightening up our spaces with positive energy and small gifts.
Khadi
Roy Kombucha
BRLO Naked
Unicorn
Photo credit: Darshana Borges & Janosch FörsterAnd THANKS to our team:
Without the incredible dedicationof ourvolunteers and our behind-the-scenes team, this day would not have been possible—thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Photo credit: Darshana Borges & Janosch FörsterFollow us on Instagram and sign up for our Breathwork Newsletter for updates!
What our speakers said
„The Breath is the only thing which connects us all. We’re breathing the air of others.“
“Whata three days, what energy! I’m still blown away by what came out of that colorful mix of science, hands-on experience, and curious minds!”
“There’sso much holistic multidisciplinarity in a conference like this that I think this is the way to conduct proper integrative research.”
“Itwas remarkable to be in a room with so many researchers and authors whose work I’d only encountered in papers. That’s rare in breathwork—usually you have to wade through a lot of noise and marketing. Berlin felt like what the field could be at its best: rigorous, grounded, and genuinely collaborative.”
“BerlinBreathwork Days is easily my favorite annual conference now. Great people, energy, and vibes. This is made possible by a fantastic community that fosters the perfect blend of theory and practice. You can attend a lecture by a top scientist, then jump right into a workshop led by an experienced facilitator. What other conference lets you do that? Both experiential and theoretical learning opportunities are available to everyone!”
“Animpression that lingers: a garden—both literal and metaphorical—full of joyful, open encounters. Engaged and attentive, solid and profound .”
"TheBerlin Breathwork Days are a place where you truly feel alive!"
“With the third edition of the Berlin Breathwork Days, YasmineOrth has once again brought together experienced breathwork facilitators from a wide variety of fields, who, through talks and workshops, made the diversity of breath and its therapeutic effects tangible. In addition to the depth and breadth of the breathwork techniques presented, the exchange among participants was particularly special and valuable to me. A society that breathes mindfully cannot help but live in peace and harmony .”
“Ilove this format—thought-provoking, science-driven conversations, curated experiences from talented breathwork artists, and a community that’s genuinely vibrant. We need more of this!”
“Scienceand spirit truly come together in one big breath at Berlin Breathwork Days. A unique and powerful opportunity to explore one of our most profound—yet mystical—human capacities—lying right beneath our hearts.”
“TheBerlin Breathwork Days really showed me just how much potential this practice holds—both scientifically and on a human level. It’s an experience that will surely stay with me .”
What Our Participants Said
Survey of Participants—The Key Qualities of BBD26
“Sucha fantastic, nourishing, intense, and easy weekend at Berlin Breathwork Days. What a privilege it is to have the opportunity to attend this festival and to enjoy and be blessed with workshops, sessions, and panels that stimulate, inspire, and restore all the senses. May the team, the grounds, the birds, and everyone involved in creating Berlin Breathwork Days feel the abundance in their hearts, knowing what they contribute to the collective through their actions and creations.”
“Iam absolutely thrilled by what you’ve put together with the Berlin Breathwork Days. It was a very enriching weekend for me. I’m taking away a lot of inspiration for my own work, and I’m grateful for the scientific presentations and the exchange of ideas across different fields. It was a wonderful feeling to be part of this community, with people who are on the same journey. Thank you so much for your great organization and for making this event possible. Thank you.”
“In addition tothe relaxed atmosphere and the wonderful activities with amazing people, I think it’s great that ‘academic’ science is dedicating itself to this millennia-old ‘experiential’ science of connected breathing. A milestone for holistic health and modern spirituality.”
“TheBerlin Breathwork Days aren’t just an event. They’re a wonderful place that opens its doors once a year to enrich us with experiences, encounters, and in-depth knowledge, to help us grow together, and to remind us that we all breathe the same air. I’m looking forward to the next one!!”
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