Foundations of Balance
Next Foundations of Balance events coming up:
Please click on these links to register:
23rd September 2026: Sheffield- FULLY BOOKED
8th October 2026: London- last few spots remaining
9th December 2026: Sheffield- FULLY BOOKED
Where The Breath Doctors started : Our flagship event for doctors.
Overview
‘Foundations of Balance’ is a restorative wellbeing day designed by doctors, for doctors. It combines evidence-based teaching sessions and workshops with immersive, guided practical experiences in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
The day introduces several approaches to stress regulation and recovery, including breathwork, cognitive techniques, yoga, and guided heat and cold exposure. The emphasis is on down-regulation, recovery, and sustainable wellbeing, alongside practical tools that can be integrated into both clinical and everyday life.
Doctors are often highly skilled at looking after others but less skilled at creating space for recovery. This day is intended to address that imbalance in a calm, accessible way. There will also be plenty of time for reflection and connection within a perfect sized group of people who have come together with similar aims.
Example Programme
08:30 - 09:00: Arrival and registration
09:00 - 09:30: Welcome, introductions and settling in to the space: Dr Tim Hughes
09:30 - 10:30: 'Breathwork: Our most accessible tool for regulation, recovery and performance': Dr Tim Hughes
10:30 - 10:45: Break
10:45 - 11:30: Downregulating yoga: ‘yin’ or ‘bliss’
11:30 - 11:45: Break
11:45 - 12:30: ‘Wellbeing: Getting the balance right’: Dr James Brunning
12:30 - 13:30: Lunch - provided
13:30 – 14:00: ‘Heat & Cold exposure: learning the science and benefits’: Dr Tim Hughes
The Afternoon Journey: 14:00 - 16:00
The afternoon is structured as a gentle, progressive journey, moving from settling the nervous system, into embodied experience and finally into reflection.
Guided breathwork: focuses on calm, safety and recovery using simple, accessible breathing techniques that can be taken back into everyday work and life. A meditative experience, starting to learn to listen to the breath and the body.
The guided sauna is then inspired by continental and Scandinavian sauna traditions, including saunagüs and aufguss-style rituals, using music, aromatherapy, guided meditation and breath awareness, all within the sauna environment.
Cold exposure is entirely optional, with plunges available at a range of temperatures, allowing individual choice and control throughout. These will be fully guided, with appropriate support and use of breathing techniques for those who would like it.
16:00 - 17:00: Finish with reflection, connection and snacks, before leaving for a restful evening and a wonderful night’s sleep.
The emphasis is on support and regulation rather than endurance or challenge.