'Functional Breathing Reset'
An experiential dive into Breathing Psychophysiology and Breathwork for improving client outcomes.
With Guest Facilitator, Lisa Kusch, Masters in Applied Breathing Sciences and Registered Psychotherapist.
Next Offerings;
Level 1: Spring 2026 (Saskatoon - Date TBD ) ~ Add your name to waitlist.
Level 2: March 20-22, 2026 (near Winnipeg) ~ Now open for registration.
"Breathing is much more than mechanics. Breathing habits arise from all sorts of circumstances in our lives. Breathing is learned and it also learns."
~ Dr. Peter Litchfield, PhD Behavioral Psychology
Technical Takeaways
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Breathing is not the same as respiration: Participants will gain understanding of external, internal and cellular respiration.
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'Hypocapnia' causes or contributes to over 300 symptoms or conditions: Learn to recognize the common physical, cognitive and emotional effects.
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Identify the 3 primary dysfunctional breathing habit types in clients.
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Through self exploration, identify the role and recognize the effect of dysfunctional breathing behaviours in your own biochemistry, biomechanics and psychophysiology.
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Debunk myths: Explore common misbeliefs about ‘good breathing’ and trending breathing practices and realize the actual effects with data.
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Gain understanding, through experience, of different levels of state change created by over breathing (a gentle group conscious connected breathwork journey)
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Learn self-assessment tools (including surveys, high-tech, no and low-tech measurement tools) to create client self-awareness of dysfunctional breathing habits.
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Learn non-touch, low to no tech tools for supporting your clients' breathing behaviour and mechanics.
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Plan how to integrate breathing behaviour awareness into your specific client sessions.
Who is this training for?
Professionals who want to learn the REAL SCIENCE about breathing and how to recognize when their client's outcomes are limited by dysfunctional breathing habits. The following types of practitioners are well suited;
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Therapists, School counsellors, Teachers
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Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Massage Therapists
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Medical professionals (i.e. Pediatric ENT, Psychiatric & Nurses)
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Breathwork Facilitators
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Movement Educators and Athletic Coaches/Trainers
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Note a separate training is available for Birthing Professionals.
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17 CEU contact hours
Functional Breathing Reset
'Given the high frequency of incorrect breathing patterns in the adult population, attention to the symptoms of hyperventilation should be part of every psychological evaluation, regardless of the specific complaints.'
~ Herbert Fensterheim (1994), PhD Psychology & Author
What's Included
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Experiential learning including real-time tracking with educational capnogaphy - see your breathing on a screen!
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Cutting edge science, theory and application of how breath learns and is behavioural.
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Personal discovery of your breathing habits and low-no tech tools to help your clients.
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Personal exploration of state change and recovery techniques.
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Opportunity to learn with a leading expert in the field.
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Lunch, snacks, tea and coffee (Saturday Supper is on your own)
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Digestion time in nature (14 treed acres with walking paths)
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Trauma-informed, interoceptive practices to increase personal and client embodied awareness.
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2 manuals 'Reflexive Breathing Reset' & 'Breathing Lessons for Clients'
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LOW TECH Breathing Assessment Toolkit ($100 value)
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Group follow-up call approx. 1 month after training to assist with the transfer of skills into your work.
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Optional overnight accommodations can be arranged at retreat center ($80-$90 /night). Highly recommended!
Early Bird: $790+GST
After Oct 5: $860+GST
Advanced Registration opens Sept 2 (to those on waitlist).
General Registration opens Sept 9
$250 Deposit required. Full payment required by Oct 5 (Early Bird Rate) or Nov 1 (Regular Rate).
Max 14 participants.
Precautions & Notes:
~Some breathwork practices are not suitable for & pregnancy modifications will be offered.
~ This is a retreat style event, accommodations arranged separately with Light of Prairies (and highly recommended!) or sleep at home.
~ Registration fees are non-refundable ~
Meet Your Facilitators
Lisa 'LV' Kusch
Saskatoon, SK
LV provides a psychophysiological approach to breathing, wellness, recovery, and mental health using a sensory-motor model. Specializing in behavioral biofeedback & Somatic Breath Therapy, she provides integrative tools for recovery.
Formerly a mid-wife, she is a registered psychotherapist (CPPA), CBBA (Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst) and completed a masters degree in Applied Breathing Sciences through the Graduate School of Behavioral Health Sciences.
LV also completed 1500 hours of training as a breathwork facilitator/trainer in accordance with the Global Professional Breathwork Association, is the Canadian National Representative to the International Breathwork Foundation, and serves on the IBF science and research committee.
Lisa is known for her laugh, her compassionate generosity, and using her super brain power to create playful and creative learning environments.
Joy Onyschak
Winnipeg, MB
Joy has a passion for helping people recovering from chronic stress and trauma befriend their bodies and restore self-trust through felt sense.
She is a Certified Breathing Behavior Analyst, Somatic Practitioner, Circle Way Host and Conscious Connected Breathwork Facilitator with advanced training in working with clients recovering from trauma.
She has 15 years experience leading groups and individuals back home to themselves through yoga, Bodymind Ballwork, Somatic Movement and Breathwork.
In addition to her 1:1 practice, she co-hosts intimate retreats and events that are meaningful, nourishing, and create connection.
Known for being authentic and welcoming, Joy co-creates safe and brave learning environments where collective wisdom arises out of the shared learning experience.
Questions? email joy@joysomatics.ca or text 204-918-2829
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The Science of C02 ~ Supportive Research & Podcasts
Podcast interviews of Lisa Kusch
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Hypo what? The serious impact of low C02 (with Megan Baerg of Neuroacrobatics Part 1~ 39 min)
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Unlocking the power of breathing (with Megan Baerg of Neuroacrobatics Part 2~35 min)
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Breath Less to get more oxygen (Jaw Hacks podcast episode #1 ~ 68 min)
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What we can learn by monitoring our C02 levels in real time (Jaw Hacks podcast part 2 ~ 75 min)
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Sleep, snoring and how daytime breathing can help (IG live recording)
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Better breathing during fire season and poor air quality (IG live recording)
These research applications highlight capnometry's versatility in psychological and physiological assessments;
~ Anxiety disorders which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are common psychiatric conditions associated with significant social, occupational, physical, and economic costs. Capnometry assisted interventions that target the respiratory dysregulation with associated with anxiety disorders have demonstrated considerable therapeutic benefit.(Divya K Madhusudhan, 2020.)
~Capnometry, a non-invasive technique measuring end-tidal CO2, has diverse applications in psychology and medicine. In panic disorder treatment, capnometry-assisted respiratory training has shown efficacy in reducing symptoms by correcting hypocapnia and altering breathing patterns (Meuret et al., 2001; Meuret et al., 2010). This approach, known as CapnoLearning, helps patients understand and self-regulate their breathing behaviors (Litchfield, 2011).
~Capnometry is also beneficial in asthma management, where hypocapnia is associated with symptom exacerbation (Meuret & Ritz, 2010).
~Beyond respiratory disorders, capnometry is valuable in assessing ventilation in altered mental states, detecting metabolic acidosis, and monitoring patients during procedural sedation (Krauss & Boston Ma, 2008).