Our honest The SYSTM review comes down to one question. Do you want five trauma-informed days in San Diego with one teacher, or live training with two teachers near Phoenix or online?
The SYSTM is a trademark of its owner. Liquid Breathwork is not affiliated with or endorsed by The SYSTM or Summer Valentino, and we don't teach or certify their method.
Next training
Online: next cohort March 9, 2027
In person: Phoenix, Oct 23-25
The SYSTM is a trademark of its owner. Liquid Breathwork is not affiliated with it. Updated October 25, 2026.
Quick answer: The SYSTM trains Breathwork facilitators over five days in San Diego for $3,500, or self-paced online for $2,500. Liquid Breathwork trains you live with two teachers, near Phoenix or online.
| Compared | Liquid Breathwork | The SYSTM |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Ryan McBurney and Shelby Von Oepen, RN, teach every cohort together | Summer ValentinoThrough The SYSTM LLC, a California company. |
| Format | Live training, in person or on online group calls | In person, or self-paced online |
| In person in the US | Yes. Phoenix area, plus seven more US cities in 2027. | Yes. San Diego, January 20 to 24, 2027.Limited to 50 seats. Travel and stay not included. |
| Duration | 3 days in person, or 12 weeks online | 5 days in personOnline hours not published. |
| Price | $1,497Online.$1,997In person, 2027 early bird, then $2,497. | $3,500San Diego, or 4 payments of $875 until December 2, 2026.$2,500Online, self-paced. |
| Focus | Conscious connected Breathwork and surrender, with history and a wide technique range | Trauma-informed facilitation and nervous system science |
The SYSTM figures from the-systm.com, checked October 25, 2026. Their certifications page lists in person at $4,500. Prices change, so confirm on their site.
The safety work is real. The application includes a health screen, and a full day covers contraindications, consent and scope. Price, payment plan and refunds are published up front.
What to weigh: one teacher for up to 50 people, one date, and travel on top of tuition. Refunds drop to zero from December 16.
To learn live with two teachers, see our Breathwork certification, or try one of our Breathwork classes first.
These lessons cover the same safety ground The SYSTM is known for.
What we don't teach: The SYSTM's four nervous system types or its nervous system blueprints, and we don't certify their method. If you need those, train with them.
Three days in person or twelve weeks online. The same surrender-based method and mentorship from Ryan and Shelby either way.
October 2026
Three days in person in Phoenix, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Phoenix is home base for Liquid Breathwork.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add.
See the full in-person details →Phoenix, AZ
October 23-25
$1,997
November 2026
Three days in person in Phoenix, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. The next Phoenix-area weekend after October.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add.
See the full in-person details →Phoenix, AZ
November 6-8
$1,997
February 2027
Three days in person in Scottsdale, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. The next Phoenix-area weekend after November.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add.
See the full in-person details →Scottsdale, AZ
February 5-7
$2,497 $1,997
1 early-bird spot left
12 Weeks, Live
Twelve weeks of live small group calls from home, with the same surrender-based method and mentorship.
Live weekly group calls, the complete course materials and business curriculum, and the same private graduate community as our in-person students.
See the full online cohort details →12-Week Online
Starts March 9
$1,797 $1,497
5 early-bird spots left
March 2027
Three days in person in Atlanta, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only Southeast training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Atlanta, GA
March 19-21
$2,497 $1,997
4 early-bird spots left
April 2027
Three days in person in Salt Lake City, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only Mountain West training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Salt Lake City, UT
April 30 - May 2
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
May 2027
Three days in person in Washington, D.C., with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only Mid-Atlantic training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Washington, D.C.
May 21-23
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
July 2027
Three days in person in South Lake Tahoe, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only California training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →South Lake Tahoe, CA
July 23-25
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
August 2027
Three days in person in Seattle, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only Pacific Northwest training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Seattle, WA
August 27-29
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
September 2027
Three days in person in Milwaukee, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. Our only Midwest training in 2027.
Live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. The address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Milwaukee, WI
September 17-19
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
November 2027
Three days in person in Phoenix, with Ryan and Shelby in the room. The next Phoenix-area weekend after February.
Three days of live, hands-on facilitation practice, plus the same private graduate community as our other students. The 12-week online cohort is a separate training you can add. Dates are being settled now; the address goes out by email before the training.
Your deposit transfers to another training date. Refunds are handled case by case.
See the full in-person details →Phoenix area (Mesa or Scottsdale), AZ
November 2027
$2,497 $1,997
5 early-bird spots left
Not sure yet? Share your info and we will reach out or Book a Clarity Call.
Summer Valentino runs it through The SYSTM LLC, a California company. She lists herself as a Trauma Informed Breathwork Facilitator, Nervous System Specialist and Touch & Somatic Practitioner. Her site publishes the curriculum, price, health screen and refund policy, but not where she trained or for how long.
The San Diego training (January 20 to 24, 2027) is $3,500, or 4 payments of $875 until December 2, 2026, plus travel. Their certifications page lists online at $2,500 and in person at $4,500. Checked October 25, 2026.
Their site does not list a third-party accreditation. It calls the program a professional certification and awards a Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator Certification on completion. No license is required to enroll.
The SYSTM is five days in San Diego with Summer Valentino, or self-paced online. We teach live with Ryan McBurney and Shelby Von Oepen, RN, near Phoenix or on online group calls, and we don't teach their method.
Still comparing? Read our roundup of the best Breathwork certifications, or the Pause Breathwork alternative comparison.