9D Breathwork Certification Alternative: In-Person Training, No Subscription
This 9D Breathwork certification alternative teaches you to lead a live room yourself, with hands-on mentorship from Ryan and Shelby and one published price.
Next training
Online: dates announced soon
In person: Phoenix, Oct 23-25
Liquid Breathwork vs 9D Breathwork
9D Breathwork is a registered trademark of its owner. Liquid Breathwork is not affiliated with it.
| Compared | Liquid Breathwork | 9D Breathwork |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $1,997In person. Early bird, then $2,497.$1,497Online. Monthly payment plans on both. | Quoted on a call, not publishedPlus a $200/month facilitator subscription on a 12-month term and a required 9D-branded headphone kit. |
| Format | 3 days in person near Phoenix, or 12 weeks online with live group callsOnline support continues after. | Online only: self-paced modules plus live calls |
| Group size | Capped at 6 in Phoenix, 15 online | Large global online cohorts |
| What you learn | Our signature 90-minute session, Breathwork history, and a wide range of styles | One proprietary 9D protocol |
| How sessions run | A live facilitator mixes a playlist on room speakers and adjusts to the room | A pre-recorded 9D audio track on headphones. The timeline is fixed. |
| Style | Surrender-based and quiet. No forced catharsis.Sound healing and Reiki included. | Cathartic. Outward expression is encouraged at the audio peak. |
| Mentorship | Ryan and Shelby, directly, during and after trainingRyan has guided sessions since 2018: 100+ one-on-ones and hundreds of group sessions. | Online community and a large practitioner network |
| Business training | Included, taught by people who have filled four classes a month for years | Limited, mostly from the community |
| Where you can use it | Any live session format. No royalty or licensing. | Strong inside 9D, less portable outside it |
9D figures come from their cost page (checked September 17, 2026) and their published facilitator terms. Read our full 9D Breathwork review
Why People Choose Liquid Breathwork Over 9D Breathwork
In-person, hands-on facilitation practice
In our Breathwork certification, you guide real sessions in the room and get feedback on your voice, pacing, hands, and presence.
A wide range of techniques
Knowing several styles lets you choose the right approach for the person in front of you.
Lead a live room without a pre-recorded track
A playlist you mix in real time lets you slow the music when the group needs two more minutes at the peak.
A gentle method with safety built in
The breather sets the pace and nothing is forced: gentle surrender, never forced catharsis or screaming. You learn why tingling and emotional waves happen. Shelby Von Oepen is a Registered Nurse (RN, BSN).
These lessons teach the live-room skills a 9D audio track would otherwise handle for you.
- Anatomy of a Liquid Breathwork Session: Rounds & Holds
- Music & Playlists: Building the Energy Arc
- Structuring a Session: The Energetic Arc
- Techniques I: Everyday Regulators
- Tetany & Why It's Safe
When 9D Breathwork Is the Better Fit
- If you want to teach the 9D-branded method, certify at the source. Their audio library and instructor network is its own ecosystem.
- 9D runs fully online inside its own global community.
- Headphone sound design is 9D's strength, and their tracks are built for it.
- A fixed protocol from session one can build early confidence for a brand-new facilitator.
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9D Breathwork vs Liquid Breathwork FAQ
What is the best alternative to 9D Breathwork certification?
It depends on what you felt was missing. For small-cohort in-person training with mentorship and business training in one published tuition, Liquid Breathwork. For a global online community and a polished training portal, SOMA Breath. For a trauma-informed online program with weekly live calls, Pause Breathwork. For a retreat-immersion path, Alchemy of Breath. For body-based trauma release, BBTRS.
How much does 9D Breathwork certification cost compared to Liquid Breathwork?
9D quotes tuition on a call. Their facilitator subscription auto-renews on a 12-month term, so ask for the first-year total with the headphone kit. Liquid Breathwork is $1,997 one-time, with payment plans.
Who is the founder of 9D Breathwork?
Brian Kelly is the founder of 9D Breathwork and is generally credited as the creator of the 9D format. The brand emerged in the UK between roughly 2020 and 2022, pairing circular connected breathing with multi-layered audio. It is newer than Holotropic Breathwork® (1970s, Stan and Christina Grof) or Rebirthing Breathwork (1970s, Leonard Orr).
Does Liquid Breathwork teach the 9D Breathwork method?
No. We teach our signature 90-minute session: a guided meditation written by Shelby, about 50 minutes of surrender-based Breathwork, sound healing, and an integration circle. To deliver 9D's audio tracks, certify through 9D.