Foundations of Balance
A day to step back, combining medical understanding with guided breathwork, yoga, sauna and cold exposure. Space to experience these practices for yourself, connect with other doctors and explore what you can carry into everyday life.
Upcoming dates — select an available date to register:
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 sauna 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.
What doctors say about the day
“Best study day ever!”
“The full sensory sauna session was an outstanding experience- my highlight.”
“A transformative experience, well done and thank you!”
“I really found the breathwork techniques helpful and it was great to then put them into practice in the sauna/cold”
“This was a wonderful day thank you. I expected it to be good but not this good.”
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
Breathwork, sauna & cold exposure: 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 fully guided, with plunges available at a range of temperatures and individual choice and control throughout. We offer support and breathing guidance so you can explore the experience at your own pace.
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.