Report on the International Breathwork Foundation’s Global Inspiration Conference in Rhodes, September 2026.
By Alakh Analda.
We have completed the International Breathwork Foundation’s Global Inspiration Conference in Rhodes, Greece, a 7-day event with an AGM meeting most days, where any member can vote on or nominate a proposal. The management structure includes a task force and several teams. A member hosts the conference each year in partnership with the IBF.
At the end of the conference, we have an acknowledgement process. From those who came to the two workshops I offered, many acknowledged the Breathwork Mastery RBM process. Quite a number of people said that their session with Breathwork Mastery RBM in another year changed them completely. It is very fulfilling for me to hear this.
I shared a room with Brigette Martini Powell, whom I have known for a long time and who established the AIR School of Breathwork and has since handed it over to others. Brigette was a keynote speaker and spoke about the gentle breath, which I’d describe as parasympathetic-style.
For Breathworkers, calling the breath “parasympathetic” or “sympathetic activation” is new, and it’s a new way to describe how we work in Breathwork Mastery RBM.
In many ways, this Conference has been a turning point towards parasympathetic activation Breathwork. Besides giving two workshops, I attended three others where the leaders taught parasympathetic activation Breathwork.
In reference to parasympathetic or gentle style Breathwork, many Breathworkers who came to my workshop were amazed by how much they enjoyed their session. Some said they had never been left alone for an entire session without some intervention. I got lots of feedback about my presence, which is a bit of a surprise, but it makes sense, since I have been doing Breathwork since 1986, personally and with others. I think there is a point where, when someone is in Breathwork Training, they reach a point of automatic competence – around the 60-70 personal sessions mark.
Over the years, I have asked many Breathworkers at the conference what instructions they give clients, and this year it seems to be 50-50 between parasympathetic and sympathetic activation. Fifteen years ago, most Breathworkers were more likely to offer hyperventilating, sympathetic-activation styles. Many still recommend mouth breathing, and many nose-only, and some both. Opinions about the advantages of each vary, and I still don’t see why the connection between mouth breathing and a mostly emotional response isn’t obvious. I attribute the success of our Breathwork Mastery RBM process to intention activating bodily sensations and guiding the client toward resolution. That is a distinct feature of our approach.
Some Breathworkers are looking to take on training and recognition of prior learning in Breathwork Mastery RBM. I will be coming home with more points to add to the workbooks. We are the only group with a five-level training programme, and Eleanor and I are certified at the fifth level. Two participants from The School of Breathwork met me at the conference, and one stayed for a few days.
Several issues came up for the IBF task force, especially around complaints. I have made a proposal for handling complaints in the future. One of them is to ask and support the Breathworker who received the complaint, to resolve it from their side.
I served as IBF National Representative for 7 years, and I am now an IBF Ambassador and Elder;and we have a role in all IBF functions. I also serve on the Professionalism workgroup and recently joined the Science and Medical Research workgroup. We voted for the GIC in 2028 in India and in Latvia in 2029. Next year it is in Italy in October.
I have been a member of the IBF since 2000 and have been to 12 conferences. I have loved my participation.
I will write about my experiences in professional organisations so you can get a picture of our scene, because I was also a founding member of the Australian Breathwork Association in 1997 and set training standards long before other organisations in other countries. Then I did what it took to have the Breathwork Mastery RBM courses accredited in the Australian Qualifications Framework, which ran from 1997 to 2016. Eleanor was the last Diploma graduate before I stepped away from the accreditation process for a number of reasons.
It’s definitely time to start a Breathwork Mastery RBM Alliance, and I will send out details in the next few months. I’m looking forward to using all my experiences with professional associations to shape the Alliance. I recommend that you join the IBF and GPBA Global Professional Breathwork Alliance, where you can apply for membership if you meet certain criteria, which you do. However, I think the best use of our energy is to develop the Alliance first as a directory, then as a not-for-profit organisation.
On my way to the conference I became aware that I felt challenged about the whole trip. I added to give and receive strength to my intentions. It works of course and I have never felt stronger or more in my body.
Love intentions!
