Liability Waiver
Breathwork Participation Agreement, Informed Consent & Safety Disclaimer
Version 2.0 – July 2026
By registering for or participating in any breathwork session, workshop, retreat, training, or event organized by Inner Space Breath, Toyah Sitz, Gerjet Efken, or any collaborating facilitators, assistants, contractors, volunteers, or venue partners (collectively, the “Organizers”), you acknowledge that you have carefully read, understood, and voluntarily agree to the following terms.
1. Nature of Breathwork
High-ventilation breathwork is an intensive breathing practice involving sustained, accelerated breathing, often accompanied by music, guided facilitation, periods of rest, and optional supportive touch.
The practice may produce significant physical, emotional, and psychological experiences, including altered states of consciousness.
Breathwork is an educational and experiential wellness practice. It is not medical care, psychotherapy, psychological treatment, or a substitute for professional healthcare. The Organizers do not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition, nor do they provide medical advice.
Participation is entirely voluntary.
2. Eligibility
By participating, you confirm that:
You are at least 18 years of age.
You are participating voluntarily.
To the best of your knowledge, you are physically and mentally capable of participating safely.
You have had sufficient opportunity to ask questions before participating.
You understand and voluntarily accept the potential risks described in this Agreement.
3. Possible Effects and Risks
High-ventilation breathwork can produce a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological responses.
These may include, but are not limited to:
tingling or numbness
dizziness or light-headedness
muscle tension or cramping
changes in breathing
elevated heart rate
shaking or spontaneous body movement
emotional release, including crying, laughter, sadness or anger
anxiety or nervousness
temporary confusion or disorientation
vivid memories or resurfacing of emotionally difficult experiences
altered perception or changes in awareness
Less commonly, participants may experience:
fainting
shortness of breath
panic reactions
significant psychological distress
memory disturbances
seizures or other serious medical events
Some effects may occur during the breathing practice, while others may arise later during the integration period following the session.
Even where no contraindications are present, adverse reactions may still occur. The complete safety profile of intensive breathwork is not yet fully understood.
You may pause, modify, or stop the practice and leave the session at any time.
4. Contraindications
Participation is not appropriate if, to the best of your knowledge, any of the following currently apply:
Mental health
Psychosis
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Dissociative disorders
Acute psychiatric illness
Recent psychiatric hospitalization
Acute suicidal thoughts or severe psychological instability
Cardiovascular conditions
Recent heart attack
Significant heart disease
Serious cardiac arrhythmias
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Known aneurysm
Neurological conditions
Epilepsy
Seizure disorders
Previous stroke
Other serious neurological disorders
Respiratory conditions
COPD
Severe or uncontrolled asthma
Other severe respiratory diseases
Other medical conditions
Pregnancy
Recent surgery
Significant physical injury
Osteoporosis where strong muscle contractions may present a risk
Acute infection or fever
Severe migraine with aura
Current intoxication through alcohol or recreational drugs
Use of prescription blood-thinning medication unless medically cleared
If you experience PTSD, have asthma, take psychiatric medication, regularly take prescription medication, or have any other medical or psychological condition that could affect participation, you agree to consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before attending.
If you are uncertain whether participation is appropriate, you agree not to participate until obtaining appropriate medical advice.
You are responsible for providing truthful and complete information regarding any health conditions that may affect your participation.
5. Personal Responsibility
You remain solely responsible for your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being before, during, and after the session.
You agree to:
follow all facilitator instructions;
immediately inform a facilitator if you feel unsafe or unwell;
immediately report symptoms such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, severe psychological distress, or any other symptoms causing concern;
participate only while in good health and free from contagious illness;
bring any required medication (such as an asthma inhaler) with you if applicable;
discontinue participation immediately if instructed to do so by a facilitator.
The Organizers reserve the right to refuse or discontinue participation at any time if they reasonably believe this is necessary to protect your safety or the safety of others.
6. Supportive Touch
Some sessions may include optional supportive touch.
Supportive touch will only occur after your explicit consent.
You may decline or withdraw your consent at any time, for any reason, without explanation. Declining supportive touch will not affect your ability to participate.
7. Confidentiality
Participants may voluntarily share personal experiences during sessions.
The Organizers will generally treat personal information shared during sessions with respect and discretion.
However:
the Organizers are not subject to medical or psychotherapeutic confidentiality obligations;
confidentiality may be limited where disclosure is reasonably necessary to prevent imminent serious harm to yourself or another person, or where disclosure is otherwise required by applicable law.
Participants are expected to respect the privacy and confidentiality of fellow participants.
8. Recording and Conduct
To help create a safe environment, you agree to:
treat all participants respectfully;
maintain the confidentiality of others’ experiences;
refrain from taking photographs, video recordings, or audio recordings without explicit permission from both the Organizers and the individuals involved;
behave responsibly throughout the event.
9. Medical Disclaimer
You understand and acknowledge that:
the Organizers are not acting as physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, or licensed healthcare providers;
no medical diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic intervention is being provided;
breathwork should never replace appropriate medical or mental healthcare;
you remain solely responsible for decisions regarding your health and medical care.
10. Emergency Medical Assistance
If the Organizers reasonably believe that emergency medical assistance is necessary, you authorize them to contact emergency medical services on your behalf.
You remain solely responsible for any medical costs, transportation costs, or related expenses incurred.
11. Assumption of Risk
You acknowledge that participation in breathwork involves inherent physical, emotional, and psychological risks, including risks that may not yet be fully understood by current scientific knowledge.
By participating, you knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks associated with your participation, whether known or unknown, foreseeable or unforeseeable, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
12. Release of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you release and discharge the Organizers, facilitators, assistants, contractors, volunteers, venue owners, venue staff, and affiliated personnel from claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, or liabilities arising from your voluntary participation.
Nothing in this Agreement excludes or limits liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or any liability that cannot legally be excluded under applicable law.
Where permitted by law, you further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Organizers against claims arising directly from your own actions or omissions.
13. Personal Property
The Organizers are not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal belongings.
14. Privacy
Any personal information or health-related information you voluntarily provide will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws and the Organizers’ Privacy Policy.
15. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.
To the extent legally permissible, the courts of Germany shall have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from this Agreement.
16. Future Participation
Unless replaced by a newer version, this Agreement applies to all future breathwork sessions, workshops, retreats, trainings, and events organized by the Organizers.
17. Acknowledgement and Consent
By registering for or participating in any session, you confirm that:
you have carefully read this Agreement in its entirety;
you understand its contents;
you have had sufficient opportunity to ask questions;
all information you provide is truthful and complete to the best of your knowledge;
you voluntarily consent to participate;
you knowingly accept the risks described above;
you accept full responsibility for your participation and your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
Contact
Inner Space Breath
🌐 https://innerspacebreath.com
This Agreement is intended to promote informed participation and a safe practice environment. If you have any doubts about whether breathwork is appropriate for you, please consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before participating.