Paul Hughes is the world’s leading authority on Vivation. He is the director of the Vivation Professional Training School and an internationally renowned speaker and trainer. Since 2001 he has guided more than 20,000 people through a structured process that helps people cultivate a transferable skill for resolving difficult emotions rapidly and pleasurably.

Jim Leonard, the Creator of Vivation, said Paul was “the most gifted Vivation Professional I ever taught.” And when Jim passed in 2008, he left his work and his legacy in Paul’s hands. Since then, he has refined Jim's approach, taking the art of Vivation and the Skill of Happiness to all new heights.

Paul is committed to understanding the history and evolution of human culture, consciousness, and our place in the cosmos. His work is distinct for its clarity and outcomes. And what he teaches quickly leads to emotional autonomy that holds up under pressure, in everyday life, and in loving relationships.

Stig Severinsen is a world-renowned breathwork expert, freediving champion, and Guinness World Record holder who has redefined human limits in underwater performance. Known as "The Man Who Doesn't Breathe," Stig has held his breath for an astonishing 22 minutes and has set multiple world records for breath-holding and swimming under ice. With a Ph.D. in Medicine and a Master's in Biology, he combines scientific knowledge with practical techniques to explore the extraordinary potential of the human body and mind.

Stig is the founder of Breatheology, a revolutionary method that integrates breathwork, meditation, and mindset training to enhance physical performance, manage stress, and improve overall well-being. His teachings have empowered individuals, athletes, and organizations worldwide to achieve peak performance and resilience in high-pressure environments.

A pioneer in bridging science and personal mastery, Stig inspires others through his groundbreaking feats and educational programs. He offers transformative breathwork sessions and workshops, where participants learn to harness the power of their breath to unlock new levels of energy, focus, and mental clarity. Stig’s work reflects his passion for pushing boundaries and helping others discover their limitless potential.

Sasha Yakovleva is the co-founder of the Buteyko Breathing Center and one of the few globally recognized Advanced Buteyko Specialists. A direct student of Dr. K.P. Buteyko and his closest circle, she is fully authorized to teach the method in its complete and authentic form.

Originally from Russia and now based in Colorado, Sasha has guided people around the world to better health and vitality through the Buteyko Method. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and other major media outlets. She is the author of Breathe To Heal, Adenoids Without Surgery, and several educational programs and DVDs.

With decades of experience in holistic healing, journalism, and meditation, Sasha brings a unique and integrative perspective to her breathwork teachings. Her mission is to help others restore their health naturally and reconnect with their inner well-being—one breath at a time.

Cristiano Verducci is the founder of BE BreathEducation and the creator of the global RevolutionAIR project — a movement raising awareness about UnderBreathing, the silent pandemic of modern life.

With over 30 years in wellness and breath education, Cristiano combines Western and Eastern breathwork traditions, including Rebirthing with Leonard Orr, Transformational Breath, Pranayama, and Kriya Yoga. His BE method offers a multidimensional approach to breathing, energy management, and inner sustainability.

Today, Cristiano works primarily with teachers and advanced practitioners, guiding them to move beyond survival breathing into a state of true well-being and inner freedom.

Melissa Terese is the creator of Ceremonial Breath and founder of Breathwork Worldwide, where modern techniques meet ancient ceremonies. Her devotion is to the breath as a bridge between worlds, within bodies, and back to the self. She is a space holder and sacred breath guide trained in Reiki, Craniosacral therapy, shamanic arts and sound healing. Her work calls the soul home through the rhythm of the breath. Her presence is steady and soulful—offering grounded pathways for transformation and journeying with and without plant medicines. Melissa’s breath and medicine wheel ceremonies have touched thousands across five continents, reminding everyone of the wisdom within.

Melissa will guide Festival participants through a Ceremonial Breath Experience. A Transformational Journey rooted in traditional indigenous and shamanic traditions, which open the same doorways to clarity, release, and connection — without ingesting anything but air. Access non‐ordinary states through rhythmic, music‐backed breathing. Release stored tension and awaken a deep presence. This safe, accessible practice reconnects you to your body, spirit, and the innate medicine within.

We will slow down, listen, and create the conditions where the heart can open, the nervous system can settle, and true transformation can occur — not by doing more, but by surrendering more deeply. This session is not about performance or intensity. It’s about returning to what’s essential. A place where the breath guides, the body remembers, and the spirit integrates.

Stuart Wilson is a globally recognized expert in the Wim Hof Method with over 2,500 students trained in Thailand. As an Oxygen Advantage Master Instructor and a Breatheology Instructor, Stuart combines his extensive knowledge and experience to offer transformative breathwork sessions. With a background in finance and a personal journey from burnout to breathwork, Stuart brings a unique perspective to his teachings. He integrates customized soundscapes synced to the breathing rhythm, leveraging his many years of experience in the electronic music scene to create a unique, powerful, and immersive experience.

Roberto Suarez is el HappyCoach and Founder of el HappyBreath Center for Learning

As a yogi, tai chi instructor, former athlete, and business leader, he’s passionate about guiding individuals to unlock their full potential through the power of el HappyBreath Method.

Roberto’s unique approach is a blend of techniques learned under the guidance and training of leading breathwork pioneers.

With decades of experience in the practice of holistic wellness, Roberto has led over 50k people in circular breathing at healing events around the world in places like Cuba, Mexico and Australia.

His compassionate and personalized 1-on-1 sessions have empowered countless individuals from all walks of life to manage stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance overall well-being.

His mission is to empower you with simple yet powerful tools to transform your life, one breath at a time.

RahQuel lives in Costa Rica. Her mission is supporting consciousness evolution and a world that thrives. She leads clients through deep transformations, leading to healing karma and stepping into dharma. She is the Director of The Energy Of Breath School (founded in NYC in 2006). She is co-founder of Bliss Burn Costa Rica and Director of The Flow State Dance Company. She co-created the BioDynamic Breathwork Practitioner Training with Giten Tonkov, training hundreds of facilitators worldwide, and then met Cory Herter who inspired her to create 'Gamma Breathwork' and the ‘Gamma Breathwork Facilitator Training'.

RahQuel's background includes extensive training in addiction recovery, trauma healing, bioenergetics, somatic experiencing, encounter work, rebirthing, coaching, whole nutrition, primal therapy, and family constellations. She is a Reiki Master Teacher and practitioner of Sukyo Mahikari - The Art Of True Light, as well as Aumakhua Ki. She is a longtime QiGong and meditation facilitator, an OSHO Sannyasin, and a former prima ballerina who has won awards for choreography. She is also a jetset DJ, playing her sets at Burning Man and clubs worldwide. And she leads Cacao Gamma Ecstatic Dance Journeys.

Frank Roser is an accomplished breathwork, meditation and life coach with a rich background in international coaching. Born in Germany, Frank's journey in coaching American football led him to the USA and Japan. During his time as a professional coach, he discovered the power of breathwork through Francesca Sipma, which transformed his approach to managing stress, achieving clarity and improving performance especially in stressful situations. Certified as a Yin Yoga Teacher, Life Trust Coach and Breathwork Facilitator, Frank integrates his coaching experience with breathwork techniques to help individuals process emotions and find their purpose. His sessions delve into deep, reflective themes, providing participants with profound insights and personal growth.

Deborah Regan is a yoga instructor, Reiki Master, Trauma-informed Kundalini Activation facilitator, life coach, and sound healer. With over 20 years in the healing arts, her work blends movement, breath, and sound to create profound spaces for release, alignment, and reconnection to the self. Deborah’s approach is rooted in honoring the body’s unique anatomy, inviting deep awareness, and creating experiences that restore balance to the nervous system and open pathways for transformation.

Claudio Cabo is a renowned wellness expert in Cabo San Lucas with nearly 30 years of experience in military drills, martial arts, and endurance training. A former Mexican Marine and certified L2 Instructor by USA Archery, Claudio blends his diverse background with his passion for Hatha yoga, creating a holistic approach to health and performance.

His signature program, The Mayan Fitness Secret, integrates O2 Diaphragmatic Breathing and ISO-Dynamic Training to help reduce stress, accelerate recovery, and enhance physical performance. With a focus on breath control and body alignment, Claudio’s method draws from the ancient practices of Hatha yoga, offering a powerful path to both mental and physical balance.

Claudio works with a broad range of clients, from post-surgery patients to professional athletes and executives, guiding each individual to discover their peak potential. His philosophy, “One conscious breath at a time,” encapsulates his commitment to mindfulness and excellence in wellness.

Ryan & Juliana Patrick are Co-founders of LifeSpark Creative, a breath-based wellness company helping people ignite resilience, regulate stress, and reclaim vitality through science-backed and nature-rooted practices. They integrate functional breathing, embodiment principles, and intuitive presence to restore resilience and unlock human potential. They are dedicated to helping individuals remember their spark, reconnect with their breath, and return to a more authentic, grounded version of themselves.Their mission is simple: Decide. Relax. Breathe.

Ryan is a firefighter, paramedic, and former commercial diver with over 20 years of experience working in extreme, high-stress environments. He blends breathing science with real-world frontline experience. Certified as an Advanced Oxygen Advantage® Instructor and trained in Breath Mastery with Dan Brulé. He teaches first responders, military personnel, athletes, and everyday people to regulate the nervous system and reconnect with their innate strength.

Juliana Patrick is a lifelong photographer and intuitive guide. She brings a soft and loving presence rooted in creativity, presence, and the ability to see beneath the surface. She helps people reconnect with their inner clarity, beauty, and intelligence through mindful movement, breath-led awareness, and grounded emotional support.

Ali McWeeny is a groundbreaking breathwork practitioner, hypnotherapist, herbalist, and permaculture designer based in the Pacific Northwest. Living with limb loss as an amputee, Ali has broken through societal limitations, setting 32 powerlifting records and demonstrating extraordinary resilience and strength. A former elite competitive athlete and coach of peak performance, Ali now focuses on guiding others through life challenges and transformative practices that ignite energy, creativity, and adaptability while dissolving stress, tension, and pain. A focus group Ali has mentored and guided for the past 16 months is the incarcerated community of a men's prison, developing the Breathing Beyond Bars program with help from advisor Dan Brulé and more.

Deeply rooted in a principle-based approach to transformation, Ali creates accessible pathways for people from all backgrounds and beliefs. Their multidisciplinary work spans immersive breathwork sessions, experiential learning, and holistic practices that nurture body, mind, and spirit. Ali integrates these healthful tools into daily life through individual and group sessions, retreats, and intensive training programs.

Whether chopping wood, shooting arrows, or traveling the world to share the gifts of breathwork, Ali's work reflects a commitment to curiosity, compassion, growth and the power of transformation.
At the Breath Fest Ali will be offering a session focused on ReWilding the nervous system through breath.

alimcweeny@gmail.com
@alimcweeny

Stephen Elliott is an American engineer, inventor, and life scientist. He is the author of 4 books including The New Science of Breath. He has been a student and practitioner of Eastern esoterica including yoga, mediation, and martial arts for over 50 years.

Stephen pioneered the contemporary understanding of breathing and its relationship to the autonomic nervous system, physiology and the circulatory system. He coined the term Coherent Breathing and is credited with originating the method and system.

He holds 19 US patents in the fields of electronics, telecommunications, and life sciences. He invented a biofeedback instrument called the “Valsalva Wave Pro,” which allows the simultaneous observation and feedback of what happens to the heart and blood in relation to breathing.

This presentation will make you think of breathing in a whole new way! And it is sure to bring new insights and understanding to your breathwork practice no matter how experienced you are!

Christyn Hall is a fine artist who specializes in transcendental painting and the psycho-spiritual nature of art. She is devoted to helping humanity appreciate life as a precious opportunity to achieve self-realization. Her painting expresses the path of inner self-knowledge and reflects a deep dialogue with the wisdom of her heart. Her work invites us to explore the depths of our own inner universe and the light that emanates from it.

Christyn is a certified facilitator in Transpersonal Psychology & Pneuma Breathwork—an approach and style of breathwork that offers access to subtle spaces in the heart and psyche where one can encounter transpersonal experiences. She offers group Pneuma Breathwork sessions, and individual Pneuma Therapy sessions - supporting and accompanying others in their inner exploration through expanded states of consciousness.