The title "The Anatomy of Awakening" comes from the core practice of the program, which is a specific pranayama that activates the cerebral spinal fluid, propagating a wave to the brain. This wave activates very specific glands in the brain such as the pituitary gland and the pineal gland. The result of this practice can create a spiritual awakening experience. As we will explore, this is not the only practice that can do so but it is a direct method. As such, AOA training focuses on this particular respiratory technique along with other techniques that generate such experiences. It also covers the research that has explored this phenomenon from multicultural, spiritual, and scientific perspectives.

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that this is much more. "Breathwork" only scratches the surface. The term "Breathwork" is actually a Western rebranding of Eastern (and very ancient) respiratory techniques.  The original name of breathing practices is "pranayama" which is a Sanskrit word (and we dive deeper into this). The program explores both Western and Eastern/Ancient breath techniques however it does not stop there. It dives into many diverse topics such as non-ordinary states of consciousness, brainwaves, methods of awakening, socratic communication, energetic channels, shamanism, sound healing, and most importantly, safe practices for spiritual awakening.

This practice is not: Holotropic, Rebirthing, Circular, Conscious-Connected, Transformational, Soma, Shamanic, The Wim Hoff Method, or any other Western Branded Breathwork. The Westernized breathing practices are touched upon in the training, however, because it is useful to know that they all originate from the Pranayama of Eastern Yoga. There are over 50 respiratory techniques or "Pranayamas." The specific one that we practice is a 2 part inhale and 1 part exhale that happens all through the mouth while laying on the back with the eyes closed. The tempo is even, slow, relaxed, and deep. There is no hyperventilation, intermittent hypoxia, pressure, stress, or strain. We do occasional retentions but they are held gently and without force. The yogic origins of this particular technique identify it as Vyana Vayu.  In order to preserve the integrity of the practice and its origins and to avoid Westernizing it, we have not rebranded it to any other name.

Yes! However, those wishing to explore training for self-reflection and discovery may participate in training without the need for certification. Those who are attending for certification who wish to use The Breath Center as a professional affiliate are required to:

• Attend or Review Modules I-V in their entirety
• Complete Tuition for Module I-V
• Complete Certification Exam
• Facilitate & Document 15 Individual Breath Sessions
• Facilitate & Document 5 Group Breath Sessions of 2-9 Participants
• Complete Review of these documents with The Breath Center Team and be approved by Michael Brian Baker
• Sign Agreement Contract for highest & best practices of facilitation

Yes! This program is designed to create an awakening experience within each individual participant. Many people take the program exclusively for their own personal healing and evolutionary journey. While there are portions of the training that are focused on facilitation, the program is rich with teachings that are not readily available via books or the internet. If one day you decide you want to share it, then you will have a priceless tool in your back pocket to help others. 

The consistent feedback from students and clients alike is that this practice is unlike any other modality. Everyone breathes, and so this practice can be done in any community, religion, or demographic. It can also be a hands-off practice, which means you can breathe anyone from any place in the world via the internet! The effects are often a culmination of what other modalities include. Few modalities offer benefits that are as wide-reaching as this one. When it comes to healing and the evolution of humanity, all benefic practices are welcome. Plus, the beauty of this training is that it’s not just about “one modality” – it is a mandala of an inclusive variety of cultures and their healing practices as well.

This training teaches a very specific breath practice that increases oxygen, prana, and healing in the body in various ways. We are often told by students of other teachers that our program covers much more than most training programs. We cover everything from the yogic origins to the latest scientific studies, from indigenous practices to comprehensive client-facilitator codes of conduct.  We even devote an entire portion of the program to “The Things My Teacher Didn’t Teach Me.” We want you to feel confident, safe, experienced, and educated in the practice and comprehension of this important and fascinating healing modality. It is highly likely that you learn new things in this training that you realize would have been very beneficial to know from the very beginning!  It is a very empowering program.

Like those modalities, this one moves stagnant energy, accelerates emotional and physical healing, and creates rapid transformation. However, the center point of this modality is that the client is doing their own work – they are doing the breath while you are holding space and guiding them. The prana or energy originates in the body of the individual; it is activated by the client's own breathing and its effects are tailored to each person’s unique spoken or unspoken needs. However, many students choose to incorporate additional modalities that they already know in order to create additional support and release during their clients' breathwork sessions!

We are so glad that you are here and considering training! While the breath pattern is a simple one to grasp -and we recommend that after a 60-90 minute workshop, you take the practice home and utilize it in your regular spiritual practice- it can be potentially dangerous to share it with others without the proper training. There are contraindications for this breath practice as well as many other breath practices, and sometimes clients go very deep and need extra care and support for integration. We cover these important topics, plus codes of conduct, morals, safety precautions, and the entire nature of “awakening” from many different cultures. You will feel much more confident sharing the work and your clients will have a much safer and expansive experience with you if you take the time to go through training and obtain your certification.

A lot of people have been in your shoes! We have specifically designed this training so that you will gain the experience, community, step-by-step format, knowledge, and post-training support to begin to share the work, if that is what your intention is by taking this training. Often, the reason why people don’t facilitate work that they have trained in is because they feel intimidated by the material and don’t know where to start or they didn’t get enough information or they are afraid of “doing it wrong”. We give you a very clear (verbal + written) step-by-step formula to begin to share the work with others. You can do your first session the day after training if you want to! You will also be welcomed into a community of other practitioners that you can connect with and experiment with without the fear of failure, until you feel comfortable sharing with others. We cover all of the basics and so much more and this is so that you will be knowledgeable and confident in your work.

There are about 8 billion people in the world and over 330 million in the US alone. While “Breathwork” may seem to be spreading like wildfire in certain metropolis areas, the truth is, there can never be enough meditation/yoga teachers, counselors, and healing arts facilitators who are well-trained in their craft and practice their work with safety and integrity. Current affairs seem to be calling more arts practitioners to step into their gifts and help restore harmony and balance between people and the earth. Consider this: have you ever seen two artists paint the same object identically? Everyone has their own unique signature when working with the breath and we are here to help you identify yours.

Yes! Many of our students are also yoga or meditation teachers. We will provide you with the information that you need to seamlessly share this practice with your classes.

We take regular surveys from our students and find that at least 75% of students are seeking some sort of personal healing when they attend training. In most cases, these personal needs are met and resolved through the many breath practices and materials covered in the program. The training is designed to both educate and guide participants through a process of self-realization. However, if you know that you are in a critical place emotionally, Michael is available for 1-on-1 sessions and offers extended packages to support you in working through your process and coming to a deeper sense of wholeness and peace in a more personally customized way.

Absolutely! Many people find us by word-of-mouth, personal referral, or just by google search. We practice breathing techniques throughout the training so that you can become familiarized with them. If you’d like to experience this particular respiratory technique before taking the training, we have many online practices for you to download and experience first-hand. 

Hi logical friend! Great inquiry! While we are teaching a “healing modality” (which potentially puts us into the category of “woo-woo” right off the bat), we assure you that we, too, are also very logical. All important foundational concepts are backed by credited scientists and doctors and we have a colletion of references that we readily provide. Consider that most science is documented after a phenomenon occurs, in order to define it or recreate it. In some cases, science even experiments to create something brand new. We invite you to bring your logic along with your open mind and curiosity and with all three, you will expand your knowledge and awareness of what you already know. The bottom line is, this is human science; it is an exploration of what it means to be human. So if you are human (any type of human!), chances are there is something here for you.

Yoga is far more in-depth than “postures” and “flexibility” although you wouldn't know it from the way it is commonly portrayed in mainstream media. The definition of “yoga” is "to yoke". One of its core principles is to 'yoke' or 'bring together' the mind, body, and breath. This can be done through meditation, chanting, asana (postures), pranayama ("breathwork"), and even actions like service and speaking the truth. Each term that refers to these types of yogic “philosophy” will be explained when applied in the training. As far as asana (yoga as physical postures as practiced in typical yoga classes) goes, we will not be doing that during training. We will not be doing any chanting either. The focus of this training is exploring ancient teachings, modern science, pranayama practices, and actions for wellbeing.

Firstly, the fact that you've made your way to this page means that you likely have a big heart. No previous experience is necessary to take this training program. The only prerequisite is the desire to learn and practice self-discovery. Perhaps you also have the desire to be of service to other humans. If so, bonus! Some people go through many trainings in hopes of lighting a certain spark within themselves. Perhaps you already have that spark and you are here to make it grow! There are people who come to this training as complete "beginners" and walk away with so much knowledge of Self and of others and of the world we live in.

In fact, one of our own TAs came to this program as a "beginner" who had never taken any kind of formal yoga training before in her life. She had no interest in facilitating for others, she came only for self-healing and personal evolution. Once she discovered how much more this program actually is, she devoted herself to completing the modules and sharing the practice with others. Whether participants identify as a beginner or a seasoned teacher and healing arts facilitator, we provide everyone with all of the foundational tools together. You will be given a glossary of terms and you will also have the support of our fun and caring graduate community at your side.

Housing and meals during in-person training are not included however we have some affordable housing options available for registered applicants! These range from $400-$1500 for the duration of the training, depending on your preferences. We will have (lots of) snacks, tea, and water for you during the training and there are many restaurants and natural grocery stores within walking distance of the training venue.