Last updated: 9th May 2025

What draws someone to become a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator?

For some, it’s the spark of witnessing someone’s first ‘a-ha’ moment. For others, it’s the desire to make a meaningful difference — in therapy rooms, community spaces, or everyday life. And for many, it’s a chance to deepen their own practice and reconnect with themselves.

There’s no single path — and no set type of person. That’s the beauty of the Breathworks Facilitator Training: it brings together people from all walks of life, each with their own reasons for being here, yet united by a shared belief in the power of mindfulness to change lives.

In April 2025, ten people completed their training with long-standing Breathworks Teachers MJ Stephens and Andrea Cygler. In this article, we’re spotlighting a few of their journeys — how they experienced the training, and how they plan to share the Breathworks mini-modules and guided practices in their communities. We hope you find their stories inspiring, and invite you to celebrate our new graduates in the comments below.

Our April 2025 in-person Mindfulness Facilitator Training at Luther King House, Manchester

What is the Breathworks Mindfulness Facilitator Training?

Before we dive into their stories, here’s a brief overview of the training itself.

The Breathworks Facilitator Pathway is a 43-hour programme designed to equip people to confidently lead short mindfulness practices and deliver simple, impactful sessions using the Breathworks approach. It’s ideal for those who want to bring mindfulness into their work or community without undertaking full Teacher Training, which equips you to deliver our 8-week Health and Stress management courses.

The training includes two modules: a foundational online course exploring the six Breathworks mini-modules, followed by a second module focused on facilitation practice within a supportive peer group, with trauma-sensitive guidance throughout.

Module B can be taken online or in person — the latter offering a rare chance to step away from screens and immerse in embodied learning, real-time feedback, and meaningful community connection. That’s exactly what our April 2025 cohort chose to do.

Do You Need a Qualification to Teach Mindfulness?

As mindfulness becomes more widespread, it’s also at risk of being diluted or taught without depth. That’s why having a recognised, values-led qualification matters — not just for credibility, but for the confidence to share it safely and ethically.

The Breathworks Facilitator Training offers a certified, trauma-sensitive pathway for those who want to guide short sessions with integrity and care — even if they’re not ready for full Teacher Training, which equips you to deliver our 8-week Health and Stress management courses.

Breathworks is a BAMBA-approved organisation, rooted in evidence, compassion, and decades of experience.

As April graduate Stephen shared:

“It is important to me that I have a certification so that I know I am competent, and if anyone asks, I can say that I have undergone training. I know how effective mindfulness practise can be, and I genuinely feel the Breathworks approach is well thought-out and clearly explained."

How Did It Feel to Complete the Facilitator Training?

On the final day of our April in-person training, we asked each of our ten participants to capture their experience in just a word or two. Here’s what they shared:

Personal Stories from our April 2025 Facilitators

Steve: Mindful Photography

Steve's mindfulness journey began in childhood, when his mother, a nurse, taught him meditation to help patients manage pain. His path deepened during military service, where mindfulness became crucial for processing emotional impacts of combat deployments. 

Steve sought facilitator training to enhance his established practice of mindfulness photography retreats. As both an ordained Anglican Priest and professional photographer, he discovered how photography naturally cultivates present-moment awareness through noticing light, colour, and environment. This practice helped him heal from military experiences and became a pathway to share mindfulness with others, earning national recognition from Amateur Photographer magazine.

Steve found immense value in the in-person training environment, appreciating how conversations continued beyond sessions and how the carefully held space allowed for encouragement, laughter, profound insights, and the special experience of group meditation. He believes the face-to-face element created "something precious" that enhanced learning after years of zoom-based training.

Looking forward, Steve plans to continue toward full teacher accreditation while immediately applying his learning to enhance his daily practice and photography retreats. 

"I love photography as a pathway into mindfulness, as you are adapting something people already do rather than teaching something completely new. After many years of online Zoom training, there was something precious about an in-person [Facilitator Training] course, which added to the learning."

Rachel: Mindfulness for Multiple Sclerosis & Neurological Conditions

Following her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in February 2023, Rachel experienced a range of difficult emotions—feeling "stressed, shocked and angry" about her health and "frustrated with my body and levels of tiredness." Seeking tools to manage these challenges, she enrolled in Breathworks' Mindfulness for Stress course in late 2024.

Rachel found the approach transformative, discovering it was "really interesting and helpful in finding balance, reducing my stress levels, giving me a more positive outlook on life and ways of learning to understand and accept the things I cannot control."

As a practising therapist with extensive experience supporting others, Rachel immediately recognised how these techniques could benefit her counselling clients and others with neurological conditions.

Though initially hesitant about the in-person training option, generally preferring the convenience of online learning, Rachel took a courageous step by travelling to Manchester—her first solo long-distance drive since her diagnosis. This was a significant milestone that initially challenged her confidence as she navigated new complications related to her condition. The decision proved profoundly valuable, however, as she experienced the unique benefits of meditating in a group setting for the first time.

"Both MJ and Andrea were fantastic and led the sessions so well, providing a truly supportive and safe learning space. I thank them both for sharing their expertise and passion, for their hard work, warmth and encouragement and for helping me to get over my initial anxiety and nervousness."

Rachel particularly valued connecting with "such interesting people of different backgrounds and perspectives" and got "so much out of it" in ways that simply couldn't be replicated online.

Now equipped with new-found confidence, Rachel is already exploring how to deliver short workshops using the mini modules in her counselling work with students, as well as developing an innovative offering for her local neurological centre, where she hopes to support others on similar health journeys.

Stephen: Supporting Therapy Clients & Students

Having completed several eight-week courses with Breathworks and explored Mark Williams' Deeper Mindfulness programme, Stephen discovered mindfulness to be a powerful tool for managing stress. Inspired by the impact it had on his own wellbeing, he set out to integrate mindfulness into his work as a therapist—offering short, supportive sessions for clients—and to explore sharing practices with students at the college where he worked.

When we caught up with Stephen after the training, he shared:

"I delivered my first Breathworks mini-module to a group of students today in the college where I work, and it seemed to go very well.

Both the Facilitator A & B training really helped with my knowledge and understanding of the mini-module content, my own mindfulness practise and my confidence to deliver mindfulness sessions to others.

I am very appreciative of the whole Breathworks team for putting the course together based on their years of collective experience, and especially to the Facilitator Trainers, Andrea & MJ, who were supportive and encouraging throughout."

Liz: A Continued Commitment to Self-Care

After years working as a nurse in a high-stress role, a breast cancer diagnosis prompted Liz to reassess what truly mattered. In the process of recovery, she discovered mindfulness—and with it, a new way of relating to stress, pain, and everyday life.

Practising daily meditation, mindful movement, and simply being in nature helped Liz rebuild her wellbeing. Inspired by the difference it made, she enrolled onto the Facilitator Training with the intention of empowering others to care for themselves with more kindness and balance.

Reflecting on the in-person training, Liz shared how much she valued the immersive practice, the sense of connection, and the encouragement to teach in a way that feels authentic. She now hopes to combine mindfulness with reflexology and kinesiology to help others navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.

"After cancer treatment, I realised how vital self-care is—and mindfulness became a key part of that. These practices helped me manage anxiety and overwhelm during recovery.

The in-person training was inspirational. It grounded me in practice and gave me the confidence to teach authentically."

Become a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator

Our next training begins Wednesday 16th July 2025 and includes 43 hours across two modules, with options to complete Module B online or in person. Fees for the full training are: £960 (online) or £1,055 (in person). Payment plans are available, and we offer concessionary rates and a limited number of bursary places to help make the training more accessible.

Learn more and apply here, or join a free online Open Day to explore your options and ask any questions.