Breathwork Certification Near Grand Rapids

Breathwork certification near Grand Rapids: 3 days in person in Milwaukee, on the far shore of Lake Michigan. Catch the ferry from Muskegon and be there for September 17-19, 2027.

Breathwork Training
Dates and Tuition

Three days in person or twelve weeks online. The same surrender-based method and mentorship from Ryan and Shelby either way.

See all dates and locations (6 more)

Every Training Includes

  • Complete course materials and manual
  • Ongoing mentorship from Ryan and Shelby
  • Private graduate community
  • Monthly graduate call on the first Wednesday of every month

Not sure yet? Share your info and we will reach out or Book a Clarity Call.

What You Walk Away With

You leave ready to guide two sessions on your own: our signature Liquid Breathwork session and a Rebirthing session, from the opening and the breath to consent-based touch and the close. You also learn trauma-informed safety.

Ryan and Shelby actively guide multiple sessions every month. We share the exact strategies we use to build community and keep clients coming back, so you can book your first paid clients.

Both formats end with the same certification, taught by Ryan and Shelby in a small cohort. In person is three days in the room, and from 2027 it includes the online cohort at no extra cost. Online on its own is 12 weeks of live group calls plus 60+ video lessons, for less. The graduate community and mentorship stay with you after.

If you can travel, come in person. Breathing in a room with your cohort is the one part a screen can't give you.

Book a Call with Ryan & Shelby

Breathwork Training From Grand Rapids, Across the Lake

None of our trainings happen in Michigan. The closest is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 17-19, 2027.

Milwaukee looks close on the map. Lake Michigan is in the way, and GRR has no nonstop flight there. So you pick one of three ways over:

  • By boatThe Lake Express sails from Muskegon to Milwaukee. Walk on, or bring the car.
  • By carAround the south end of the lake, through Chicago, then north.
  • By railThe Pere Marquette down to Chicago, then the Hiawatha up to Milwaukee.

The training runs Friday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm Central. We keep snacks out all day. Meals are on you.

Rather fly? GRR goes nonstop to D.C., and Washington, D.C. runs May 21-23.

In person in Milwaukee

Cross the lake for three days in the room with Ryan and Shelby. You lead real people through the breath and get notes on the spot.

Next: Sep 17-19 · $1,997

In-person details

Online from home

No ferry schedule to plan around. Ryan and Shelby hold live group calls for 12 weeks, and you watch the video lessons whenever the week allows.

Next cohort March 9, 2027 · $1,497

Online details
NCBTMB Approved Provider seal

Massage therapists: Liquid Breathwork is an NCBTMB Approved Provider (#1003401). Our separate massage therapist course earns 24 CE hours. See the CE course

Getting Across Lake Michigan

The Lake Express from Muskegon

Muskegon sits about 40 miles away, at the west end of I-96. The Lake Express, a high-speed ferry, covers the roughly 80 miles to Milwaukee in 2.5 hours. Both terminals have parking.

Lake Express has not posted its 2027 schedule yet. In mid-June 2026 the boats made two round trips a day, with no evening sailing. If 2027 looks like 2026, the morning crossing lands after our 9am start, and the last boat home leaves before we wrap at 6.

So cross on Thursday and sail back Monday. Or take the ferry over and drive home.

Amtrak, by way of Chicago

The Pere Marquette leaves the Vernon J. Ehlers Station once a day. It stops in Holland and St. Joseph and reaches Chicago Union Station in about 4 hours.

From Union Station, the Hiawatha gets to Milwaukee in 1 hour 29 minutes, with 7 round trips a day (6 on Sunday). We have not lined up the two schedules, so build in a night along the way.

Flying from GRR

Gerald R. Ford International in Cascade Township is the second-busiest airport in Michigan. It flies nonstop to D.C. and to the Phoenix area, which helps if one of those dates fits better.

Driving around the lake

Go around the bottom of the lake through Chicago and up into Wisconsin. You gain an hour on the way. Chicago traffic can change the drive a lot, so look it up for the day you plan to leave.

September by the Lake, and an Hour Back

Milwaukee in September runs low 70s by day and mid 50s at night, about the same as a Grand Rapids September. The lake cools the Milwaukee shore, so pack a layer for evenings.

September also sits inside the ferry season, which runs from spring into late October. For this training the boat is a real option.

Wisconsin runs on Central time, one hour behind Grand Rapids. Our 9am start is 10am back in Grand Rapids, so set Friday's alarm by Milwaukee time.

Coming from across the Midwest

West Michigan has more than one way to the Milwaukee training. Open the one closest to home.

From Muskegon, Holland and Grand Haven

From Muskegon, you are already at the ferry. The Lake Express leaves from your town, so the drive up I-96 drops out of the trip.

Holland and St. Joseph are Pere Marquette stops, so you can catch the Chicago train close to home. From Grand Haven, where the Grand River meets Lake Michigan, the ferry dock is up the shore in Muskegon.

Flying instead? GRR is the airport for all of it. Want a class first? See Breathwork near Muskegon.

From Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and the rest of Michigan

Kalamazoo and Battle Creek are both stops on the Wolverine. It ends at Chicago Union Station, the same building the Hiawatha leaves from for Milwaukee. That makes your trip two trains and one change in Chicago.

Plan to reach Milwaukee the evening before, so a 9am Friday start never rides on a train connection.

Closer to Lansing, Ann Arbor or Metro Detroit? Our Detroit page lays out the routes from your side of the state.

What Our Graduates Say

Matthew Seibert, Liquid Breathwork certification graduate

Matthew Seibert - Healing practitioner, LBW graduate

“One of the things that really stood out for me during the training was a lot of the hands-on practice that we got, all the reps. It helped me feel more prepared and more confident in my ability to facilitate Breathwork on my own.”

He chose Liquid Breathwork after comparing several certification programs, and now brings Breathwork into the healing work he already does.

Sisily Chevalier, Liquid Breathwork facilitator

Sisily Chevalier - Owner of Body by Sisily, LBW facilitator

“So grateful for both of you, Ryan and Shelby. You’re changing my life right as we speak ... the ladies both booked for next week for paid sessions.”

After getting certified she had paid one-on-ones and a group session booked in Santa Clarita.

Krystal, Liquid Breathwork facilitator

Krystal - Realtor, nurse, LBW facilitator

“I was really looking for something that was more gentle, more supportive ... and Liquid Breathwork delivered just that.”

She arrived a beginner, after one Breathwork class elsewhere that felt like a lot. She left certain that everything we need is already within us.

Students speaking about the Liquid Breathwork certification training

Inside the Liquid Breathwork room - June 2025 training highlights

Hear from past students as they went through our June 2025 training.

A short look at what a full Liquid Breathwork session actually looks like from the inside.

Shelby holding space at a Liquid Breathwork sound session

Shelby - Registered nurse, LBW facilitator

Sells out a women’s only class every month.

Fourteen years a registered nurse, and Ryan’s star student. She has kept those classes full for over two years.

Nigel, therapist and Liquid Breathwork facilitator

Nigel - Therapist and LBW facilitator

“I felt like that one session of Breathwork was more impactful than multiple sessions of EMDR that I received in therapy.”

He now guides Liquid Breathwork along with practicing as a clinical psychologist.

Kat McGill guiding a Breathwork session at a music festival

Kat McGill - Chef and LBW facilitator, owner of Breath and Blossom

Leads Breathwork at music festivals.

Gem & Jam and Peak State in Austin, 20+ people on the grass.

Joseph Norris, Liquid Breathwork facilitator in Flagstaff

Joseph Norris - LBW facilitator and dad, owner of TranceSENDent Breathwork, Flagstaff, Arizona

“The training gave me the confidence to speak with knowledge about breathwork ... the experiencer is put more at ease and able to go deeper knowing that what is happening is normal and ok.”

He has run a class or two every month since April under his own brand.

Brittany Prince guiding a Breathwork class

Brittany Prince - LBW facilitator, owner of Awakened Prana

“The group calls are supportive and range from business growth to breaking down student’s teachings for feedback.”

Weekly classes, held so consistently that three of her breathers came and got certified in Liquid Breathwork too.

Swipe →

Meet more graduatesRead every review

What Three Days Cover

Ryan and Shelby co-teach the whole weekend. The full curriculum sits on the certification page. Here is the short version. Liquid Breathwork is a surrender-based inward journey: still powerful, but not as intense as some styles like Holotropic Breathwork, so you can actually go deeper through surrender.

First, your own breath. Then the art of facilitation: you guide people in the room, with trauma-informed pacing that lets each breather choose how deep to go.

Safety is its own topic. You learn who should not do this practice, what goes in a waiver, and how to ask consent before any touch.

Good Breathwork teacher training also gets you ready to teach around Grand Rapids. So we cover the business side: pricing, and how to fill your first sessions.

Mentorship continues once you are home, where the practice fits on a bench at Meijer Gardens or a walk along the Grand River. 73 students have enrolled so far.

Want to feel a session before you commit? Our Breathwork Grand Rapids directory lists local classes run by other teachers.

Teach yoga? See yoga continuing education near Grand Rapids.

Breathwork Certification Curriculum

Self & Breath Mastery

23 lessons

Self Mastery 5 lessons

  • How the Members Area Works (platform tour)
  • Welcome to Liquid Breathwork
  • Consciousness, Authenticity & the L.I.Q.U.I.D. Method
  • Lenses, Maps of Consciousness, Letting Go & Parts Work
  • Intention Setting & Integration Prompts

Breath Mastery 18 lessons

  • What Is Breathwork? The Breath Spectrum
  • History of Breathwork: The Source and the Streams
  • Understanding Liquid Breathwork
  • The Transformational Breath Formula
  • Nose vs Mouth: When to Use Each
See all 18 lessons

The Art of Facilitation

20 lessons

  • Goal Setting & Vision
  • Your Role: Objective & Subjective Safety
  • Trauma-Informed Facilitation
  • The Keys to the Art of Facilitation
  • Physical Touch: Consent & Techniques
  • Vocal Cueing
  • Opening a Session & the Breathwork Script
  • Structuring a Session: The Energetic Arc
  • Session Planner Walkthrough
See all 20 lessons

Includes two full narrated live sessions, close-up touch demos and a practice assignment.

Breathwork Marketing

17 lessons

Marketing Channels 10 lessons

  • Keys to Success & Creating More Impact
  • Marketing Principles: The General Notes
  • Organic, Referrals & Grassroots
  • Social Media
  • Email Marketing
See all 10 lessons

Business Setup & Resources 7 lessons

  • Session Rates & Pricing
  • Requirements for Certification & the Practicum
  • Insurance, Waivers & Contraindications
  • Music & Playlists: Building the Energy Arc
  • Events, Booking & Payments
See all 7 lessons

Beyond our method. You'll study how Holotropic Breathwork®, the Wim Hof Method®, transformational Breathwork and Rebirthing work, so you know where each one comes from and how ours differs. You'll also learn both ends of the breath: when to breathe more than the body needs (hyperventilation), when to breathe less (hypoventilation), and how to guide people safely through either.

Holotropic Breathwork and the Wim Hof Method are registered trademarks of their owners. Liquid Breathwork is not affiliated with them, and your certification is in the Liquid Breathwork method.

The In-Person Immersive

Three days in the room, Friday through Sunday. Ryan McBurney and Shelby Von Oepen, RN BSN, co-lead every training. You receive sessions yourself, then guide your classmates while Ryan and Shelby give you feedback in the moment.

Cohorts are small, so everyone gets real reps guiding full Breathwork sessions. You graduate with the Liquid Breathwork Facilitator Certification.

2027 tuition is $1,997 early bird while early-bird seats last, then $2,497, with monthly payment plans, and the full 12-week online cohort is included at no extra cost. We email the exact address before the training.

The 12-Week Live Online Cohort

The same curriculum, run from home. Our 2027 in-person immersives include it at no extra cost, or take it on its own for less. Each week pairs one live group call with Ryan and Shelby and a video module you watch on your own schedule.

The calls are where the work happens: teaching, live breakout practice, feedback on your facilitation, and business coaching. In small breakout rooms you guide a classmate and are guided in return.

The next cohort starts March 9, 2027. Tuition is $1,497 early bird through January 1, 2027, then $1,797, with monthly payment plans.

Meet Your Guides

Ryan McBurney, founder of Liquid Breathwork and lead breathwork facilitator training instructor in Arizona

Ryan McBurney

Founder & Lead Facilitator

8 years guiding Breathwork, 7 breath programs behind him including 4 full certifications, and a 21-day Breath Mastery Retreat in the Baja desert with Dan Brulé. He has guided hundreds of one-on-one sessions and led groups for thousands of people. Ryan created the surrender-based method this training is built on.

Shelby Von Oepen, co-founder of Liquid Breathwork and breathwork teacher training instructor specializing in somatic support

Shelby Von Oepen

Co-Founder & Lead Facilitator

A registered nurse of fourteen years, and the graduate Ryan still calls his “Star Student”. She has been selling out women’s only classes almost every month for more than two years. Shelby brings an intuitive & nurturing energy into sessions and the training, which is the part of facilitation nobody learns from a video.

Ryan McBurney guiding a live Liquid Breathwork class in Phoenix

Feel our style first

Get a free recording of one of our live Breathwork classes.

Get My Free Recording

Grand Rapids Breathwork Certification FAQ

Where is the closest Breathwork certification to Grand Rapids?

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 17-19, 2027. Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are available up to 30 days before the training starts. If you would rather fly, Washington, D.C. in May is a nonstop from GRR. Or skip the trip and train online.

Can I take the ferry from Grand Rapids to the Milwaukee training?

Yes. Head about 40 miles to Muskegon and board the Lake Express, 2.5 hours across to Milwaukee, on foot or with your car. Lake Express has not posted its 2027 schedule yet. In mid-June 2026 the boats made two round trips a day, with no evening sailing, so plan an extra night on each end. Milwaukee runs an hour behind, so our 9am start is 10am Grand Rapids time.

How much does the Breathwork certification cost?

The September 17-19 Milwaukee training is $1,997, not including lodging or meals. Online is $1,497 early bird through January 1, 2027, then $1,797. Deposits and monthly payment plans are available. Questions: inhale@liquidbreathwork.com or 480-660-9890.

Get Details or Book a Call

Send for the details, or book a Clarity Call and plan the crossing with us.

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