Breathwork has become an increasingly popular way for coaches to help clients calm their minds, ground their bodies, and access deeper self-awareness. For this edition of Real Talk, we asked our community of coaches how they’re incorporating breathwork into their coaching practices.
Among the many insightful responses, Dr. David Palmer’s stood out for their depth and practical wisdom, so much so that we decided to dedicate an entire article to featuring his perspective. Read on to discover how breathwork has supported him personally, as someone with “ADHD brain” and as a parent of six adopted, neurodivergent children, as well as how he uses breathwork professionally to help clients regulate emotions and find calm.
Be sure to read to the end for Dr. Palmer’s five tips for adding breathwork to your coaching practice.
Why did you choose to add breathwork to your coaching practice?
I didn’t add breathwork just to follow a trend. I embraced it because I’ve seen too many parents and teachers feeling crushed under the weight of their students’ challenges, helpless and ashamed.
Here’s the reality: Most parents and teachers I work with aren’t facing mere “bad behavior.” They’re caught in a struggle that shakes their very foundations—nervous system against nervous system. It’s a powerful clash of dysregulation. Breathwork became foundational to my work, not as a mindfulness cliché but as a bottom-up reset button. It’s the first step in my Rewire the Response© framework.
I needed something immediate, something we could embody in our moment of need. When the meltdowns and other big emotions are expressed and everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control, my clients need an action they can take.
Just one breath. One simple pause. One moment to reconnect. An authentic reset.
That’s when the adult brain starts to take back the reins. That’s the spark where true regulation begins. Without it? All the coaching in the world falls flat. You can’t reason your way through a nervous system that’s in crisis.
Breathwork is more than just a technique; it’s a lifeline. It’s essential repair work. It’s the cornerstone in creating a life that values nervous system health and wellness—for ourselves and for the children who depend on us.
How has breathwork benefitted you—personally and/or professionally?
I didn’t come to breathwork in a yoga studio. I came to it on the bedroom floor.
As a parent of six adopted, neurodivergent kids, navigating school meetings, midnight meltdowns, medication changes, and my own ADHD brain that never shuts off, I was running on fumes. Snapping when I wanted to soothe. Shaming myself for not being the calm, connected parent I knew my kids needed.
Breathwork didn’t fix everything. But it interrupted the spiral.
That first deep breath? It was the moment I chose regulation over reaction. It was the moment I remembered I had a body—and that my body had wisdom and a choice. It didn’t just calm me. It brought me back.
Professionally, breathwork is the anchor I teach every overwhelmed adult I coach. Because when you’re standing in front of a kid in crisis, no strategy matters if your own nervous system is on fire. You need a way to downshift—fast. A breath becomes the bridge: from chaos to calm, from power struggle to presence.
So in a very real way, breathwork changed everything. Not as some fluffy add-on. But as a life-saving, sanity-preserving act of radical self-leadership.
And when I breathe now? I’m not just calming down. I’m modeling what resilience actually looks like.
How has breathwork helped your clients?
Ryan was a 2nd grader with big feelings and even bigger outbursts. His teacher was exhausted—on the edge of burnout by October. Every day felt like a battle.
Instead of starting with Ryan, I started with his teacher and began coaching her after she reached out, overwhelmed and exhausted.
I taught her a simple breathwork reset: inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8. She practiced it three times a day—and especially when she could see Ryan begin to spiral.
Within weeks, her reactions changed. She wasn’t snapping or shutting down. She was breathing—and Ryan noticed. He began breathing with her, without being told.
By winter break, the blowups were fewer. The fear was gone. Their connection grew.
Breathwork didn’t fix everything. But it gave them both a way back to calm—together.
Did you do a breathwork certification program? And would you recommend it, why or why not?
No, I didn’t go through a formal breathwork certification.
But I did invest in multiple trauma-informed and regulation training courses—because my focus has always been understanding the nervous system, not just teaching a technique.
What I’ve learned is this: breathwork isn’t about the perfect script or fancy credentials. It’s about helping real people regulate in real time. The science behind breath and nervous system regulation is well-established—and when used with care, it’s one of the most accessible tools we have.
I’d recommend trauma-informed education before anything else. Because breathwork isn’t always safe or effective if it’s used out of context. But when it’s rooted in nervous system awareness and solid research, it works for just about everyone—especially those who’ve experienced trauma or live in constant dysregulation.
So, no certification? No problem. But get trained in how trauma works. That’s the game-changer.
Editor’s Note: Breathwork offers profound benefits when used responsibly. To get the benefits of breathwork training, plus education on how trauma impacts the body, consider a trauma-informed breathwork training to integrate breathwork safely and effectively into your coaching practice.
Do you have any tips for coaches who want to add breathwork to their coaching practice?
If you’re thinking about adding breathwork to your coaching, start here:
1. Use it yourself—daily.
You can’t teach what you don’t practice. Breathwork only becomes powerful when it’s embodied, not just explained.
2. Know your nervous system.
Track what dysregulates you. Use breath as your reset—not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s not.
3. Make it your baseline, not your backup plan.
Don’t save breathwork for crisis moments. Anchor it into your morning routine, session openers, or transitions. It builds resilience over time.
And when you’re ready to help clients…
4. Keep it simple.
You don’t need elaborate scripts. Teach one breath pattern. Use it consistently. Let it become second nature.
5. Model before you guide.
In tense moments, don’t say “take a breath”—take one yourself. Your regulation is the intervention. That’s how clients shift from reaction to response—with you as the nervous system anchor.
Conclusion
Breathwork is a powerful tool for reducing stress, regulating emotions, and fostering additional calm and clarity. Whether you’re interested in practicing yourself or adding breathwork to your coaching toolkit, the benefits and possibilities are endless. If you’re interested in becoming a breathwork instructor, explore our recommendations for the best breathwork courses to find the path that’s right for you.
Want more tips? See what other coaches had to say about the benefits of breathwork for coaches and clients. Or read other helpful articles on breathwork, mindfulness, or trauma-informed coaching.
Or, try this quick 5-minute breathing script for calm and focus.
Thanks to our contributing coach!
This article wouldn’t exist without the insights and expertise of Dr. David A. Palmer, Ed.D., an educational leader, father of six neurodivergent kids, and creator of the Rewire the Response™ framework. Visit his Website or find him on Instagram.
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