An honest explanation of a profession that does not yet have a protected title. What a breath coach does, what it costs, how to recognise a good one, and what you need after the session to hold on to it.
A breath coach teaches you to breathe consciously, so you gain influence over something that normally happens by itself. That sounds smaller than it is. Your breathing is the only function of your autonomic nervous system that you can steer both automatically and consciously. Through that entry point you can influence your heart rate, your tension and your alertness.
In practice a breath coach does three things. They look at how you breathe now, because most adults breathe high and short without realising it. They teach you techniques that suit what you need, because the exercise for better sleep is different from the one for staying sharp under pressure. And they guide you through sessions in which you go further than you would dare on your own.
A breath coach is not a therapist, not a psychologist and not a doctor. Breathwork complements care; it does not replace it. With serious mental health problems, heart rhythm disorders, epilepsy or pregnancy, you should check with a doctor or therapist first. A good coach tells you that unprompted.
Nor is it a belief system. You do not have to believe in anything to notice that a longer out-breath brings your heart rate down. That happens whether you like the idea or not.
Look out for four things. Do they ask about your health and your medication before you start? Do they explain what happens physiologically, in plain language? Do they promise results nobody can guarantee? And most importantly: what happens after the session?
That last one makes the biggest difference. A session gives you an experience and a technique. The gain lies in holding on to it, and for that it helps if something carries on: an exercise that comes back on an ordinary working day, so it becomes a pattern rather than a one-off experience. So ask a coach what happens after the session.
In the Netherlands, a single session with an independent breath coach usually costs between €90 and €175, depending on the length and the region. Group sessions are cheaper per person, usually between €20 and €45. Programmes of several sessions are often offered as a package.
At De Adempauze a single 1-on-1 session costs €149, in English or Dutch. That includes a twenty-minute online call beforehand and a breathing technique for home. Daily guidance via WhatsApp costs €19 a month or €190 a year. The first two weeks cost nothing and you do not leave any payment details in advance.
Most Dutch health insurers do not cover breathwork, because it is not a registered form of care. Employers do regularly reimburse it from a wellbeing or training budget. That is worth asking.
I am Sjoerd Righolt, certified breathwork coach and NLP Master Practitioner. I give sessions in English and Dutch in Zandvoort, Haarlem and Amsterdam, and online. My story is on about me.
Our answer to that fourth question above, about what happens after the session, is Ada. She sends you a short exercise every day via WhatsApp, tuned to what is going on for you and to your progress. Ada is an AI, you know that from day one. I build the method and the exercises, do the sessions, and read along. Ada only speaks Dutch for now, but will be speaking English soon.
Want to try something yourself first, without a conversation? Then start in the knowledge base, for example with breathing exercises or box breathing.
A breath coach teaches you to breathe consciously to gain influence over your nervous system. They look at how you breathe now, teach you techniques that suit your situation, and guide you through sessions in which you go further than you would on your own. The aim is that you can use those techniques independently in daily life.
A single session usually costs between €90 and €175, depending on length and region. Group sessions are between €20 and €45 per person. At De Adempauze a 1-on-1 session costs €149, including a twenty-minute call beforehand.
No. A breath coach is not a therapist, psychologist or doctor, and breathwork does not replace medical or mental health care. It is a complement. With serious symptoms, heart rhythm disorders, epilepsy or pregnancy, check with a doctor or therapist first.
Usually not, because breathwork is not a registered form of care. Employers do regularly reimburse it from a wellbeing or training budget, and for teams in the Netherlands it counts under the Working Conditions Act as a measure against psychosocial workload.
Check whether they ask about your health and medication before you start, whether they explain in plain language what happens physiologically, whether they avoid promising results nobody can guarantee, and above all: whether something carries on after the session. That last point decides whether a session stays an experience or becomes a change.
You often feel the calming effect of a longer out-breath within a few minutes. For a lasting difference in sleep, stress response and focus you need two to four weeks of daily practice, because your nervous system learns through repetition.
Before you choose a coach, you can simply experience it. A 1-on-1 session in English, in Zandvoort, Haarlem or Amsterdam. Or start with a free twenty-minute introductory call.
Or try daily breathing with Ada for two weeks, free. Ada only speaks Dutch for now, but will be speaking English soon.
Do your first breathing session now