Join The Academy of Breath® for a 7-day breathwork certification retreat at Playa Viva, a Michelin Star rated retreat center in Mexico.
This experience is designed for the woman ready to lead with nervous system mastery, grounded confidence, and a mission that creates real impact. It is for those who know they are meant for more than coaching skills alone — more than helping others heal — and are ready to hold space with integrity, lead from embodiment, and build a life aligned with their truth.
The Academy of Breath® has become a leading name in the breathwork and coaching space. Since launching its Level One training, the program has certified more than 800 teachers worldwide, with a mission to bring breathwork and body-based practices into more industries and communities across the globe. At its core, the certification emphasizes personal mastery and embodied leadership as the foundation for thriving in relationships, intuition, career, and self.
This is not simply another certification. It is an invitation to reclaim your calling and step into the next level of your work. If you are ready to expand your offerings, lead retreats, and grow into a recognized authority in your field, this training was created for you.
Ava Johanna & Alexis Rodriguez Smith
CEO/Founder and Chief Program Director of The Academy of Breath®
Ava Johanna is a globally recognized breathwork mentor, speaker, and best-selling author known for her direct, high-energy approach to building a legacy brand. With more than a decade of facilitation experience and over 800 graduates worldwide, she brings both embodiment and strategy to every space she leads, supporting facilitators in creating successful wellness businesses.
Alexis Rodriguez Smith is a trauma-informed practitioner, somatic guide, and lead teacher with over four years inside the Academy. Her expertise in subconscious reprogramming, somatics, and nervous system regulation supports deep inner transformation. She blends science, soul, and safety in every session, creating a space that feels both powerful and grounded.
Together, Ava and Alexis have created transformational retreat and teacher training containers where inner mastery meets outer expression. Their work helps your voice become clearer, your mission stronger, and your future as a sought-after facilitator feel inevitable.
Your certification includes in-person training in conscious connected breathing and two-part breath through The SHIFT Method, along with breathwork and somatic healing ceremonies, voice and expression workshops, nervous system mastery for facilitators, two months of online mentorship after the retreat, and oceanfront lodging with chef-curated meals at Playa Viva.
Not included: flights, optional extracurricular activities, and alcoholic beverages.
Over the one-week retreat and two months of mentorship, you will explore eight science-backed breathwork techniques for healing, regulation, and nervous system activation; meditation methods including mindfulness, somatic, Vedic, and visualization practices; trauma-informed NLP coaching tools; sequencing for 1:1, group, and workshop sessions; and the neuroscience of breath, stress, and performance.
You will also receive 2x/month integration and mentorship calls, ongoing mentorship in a mastermind-style space, private group chat access between sessions, and training in seven breathwork styles plus three meditation techniques. Practice teaching, continuing education credits through Yoga Alliance, and recognition from the International Breathwork Foundation are also part of the experience.
7 DAY RETREAT: FEBRUARY 6-13, 2027 AT PLAYA VIVA IN MEXICO
As a bonus, you will receive instant access to the 12-week online curriculum and live calls with Ava and Lexi, valued at $2,497, so you can begin the material right away.
The investment to join this certification starts at $3,997 and includes lodging, meals, certification tuition, instant access to the online community, and two months of mentorship with Ava and Lexi after the retreat.
Associations recognizing The Academy of Breath™:
Designed for guests who want both space and privacy, this suite offers sweeping, unobstructed ocean views that create a calm and uplifting backdrop throughout your stay. The layout combines a Deluxe Suite with a Studio, making it an excellent option for families or friends traveling together while still enjoying their own comfortable areas.
Each room includes a private bath, adding an extra level of convenience and ease. With the thoughtful separation of spaces, guests can relax independently, gather together when they wish, and enjoy a restful coastal escape with plenty of room to unwind. The setting is ideal for those who value comfort, flexibility, and a beautiful sea-facing atmosphere.
Set high in the tower above the Common Area, this suite offers some of the most spectacular views on the property. Designed for guests who want both comfort and a sense of escape, it features a welcoming living room with two day beds/couches, along with a deck furnished with two comfortable chairs and sweeping panoramic views of the beach.
The main bedroom includes a king bed that can also be separated into two singles, as with all king beds at the resort, making the space flexible for different travel needs. One of the suite’s most memorable highlights is the expansive second deck, where a large copper outdoor bathtub creates a truly special setting for relaxing under the stars. As the only room at Playa Viva with a bathtub, it adds an especially distinctive touch.
Thoughtful details continue in the shower and W/C enclosures, which are crafted from bamboo baskets, giving the suite a magical and one-of-a-kind atmosphere. The Tower Suite sleeps up to 4 guests.
The Private Casita is a fully self-contained little house designed for guests seeking extra privacy and comfort. As the most secluded casita on the property, it features a spacious bathroom, a dressing area, and a private balcony furnished with a couch, table, and chairs—an inviting spot to relax while taking in the unobstructed ocean view.
With its romantic atmosphere, this casita is especially well suited for a honeymoon suite, an anniversary stay, or any special occasion. Inside, you’ll find a King Bed along with a trundle bed that can accommodate two additional guests, making it a practical choice for families traveling with children. The king bed can also be split into two individual beds, arranged as a day bed with a trundle. If needed, the room is large enough to add one more single bed.
The Deluxe Suite offers a generous, comfortable setting designed for a relaxed coastal stay. Each suite features a King bed that can be separated into two single beds, along with a trundle bed that sleeps two additional guests, making it a flexible option for couples, friends, or small groups. A private bathroom adds convenience and privacy, while the unobstructed ocean view creates a calm and uplifting atmosphere throughout the day.
These suites are located within a 4-Bedroom Casita, a single larger structure made up of two Deluxe Suites, each connected to an adjoining Studio. The Studios are booked separately, or they can be combined with a Deluxe Suite to create a Two-Bedroom Suite.
Guests staying in the two Deluxe Suites also share a spacious balcony that functions as an inviting outdoor living room, complete with a couch, chairs, and a table — an ideal place to unwind and enjoy the sea air.
Ava Johanna
Alexis Rodriguez Smith
Sat, Feb 6 – Sat, Feb 13