The Open Path Apprenticeship

A One-Year Apprenticeship in Breath, Thermal Facilitation & Deep Trance Hypnosis

Beginning October 2026 — House of HIRA

There are many ways to learn a practice.

The Open Path is about learning to live it first.


Our Philosophy

You cannot safely guide another person somewhere you have never learned to go yourself.

The Open Path Apprenticeship is designed as a progression.

We begin with ourselves.

We learn to breathe, regulate, listen and become more present in our own bodies.

From there, we learn how to create safe, restorative spaces where others can slow down, reconnect and explore.

Only then do we enter the deeper art of trance and hypnosis.

This apprenticeship is for people who are curious about the connection between body, breath, consciousness and transformation.

You may be beginning an entirely new chapter. You may already work in wellness, movement, coaching, teaching or healing spaces and want to deepen what you offer. You may be approaching retirement and wondering what comes next. Or perhaps this work is calling you for no professional reason at all.

You don't need to know exactly where it will lead.

That's part of the path.


Our Approach to The Open Path

The Open Path is both professional training and personal apprenticeship.

Over one year, you will be coached, guided and given plenty of opportunity to experience the practices yourself before learning to facilitate them for others.

Some apprentices may use the training to develop a new practice or expand an existing one.

Others may come simply because they want to understand themselves more deeply, explore consciousness and bring these practices into their everyday lives.

Both paths are welcome.

Over the year, we move through four areas:

BREATHE — Breath & Regulation
Build a foundation in functional breathing, nervous-system regulation, somatic awareness and presence.

GATHER — Thermal Facilitation
Learn the traditions, science and artistry of sauna, contrast, ritual and creating meaningful group experiences.

SEE A RED BIRD — Deep Trance Hypnosis
Explore imagination, altered states, symbolic language and the art of facilitating deep trance experiences.

PRACTICE & LAUNCH — Integration
Move from learning into experience through supervised practice, mentorship and support in bringing your work into the world.

This isn't about collecting another certificate.

It's about becoming someone who can embody the work, understand the work and confidently share the work.


Immersion One

October 2–4, 2026

Breathe

The Foundation

We begin with the practice that is always with us.

The breath.

This opening weekend introduces the philosophy of The Open Path while creating a strong foundation in breathing, regulation and presence.

Together we explore:

Expect practice, conversation, curiosity and a few wonderful aha moments as you begin noticing something you've been doing your entire life in an entirely new way.

You leave with a personal daily breath practice and the foundation to begin sharing simple breath practices with others.


Term One

October – January

Weekly Open Path Circle

Learning doesn't end when we leave HIRA.

Throughout the months between immersions, we gather online every Monday evening to continue practicing together.

These circles create momentum through live mentorship, breath sessions, partner practice, discussion, reflection and community.

Questions arise.

Life happens.

Practice deepens.

And we keep walking together.


Immersion Two

January 15–17, 2027

Gather

Thermal Facilitation & Creating Transformational Spaces

Now we add heat, cold, rhythm, scent, sound and community.

This weekend explores both the traditions and science of thermal practice—and the beautiful art of turning a sauna session into a meaningful human experience.

Together we explore:

Through hands-on practice, apprentices experience and learn to facilitate Aufguss, Banya and SORA sauna ceremonies, developing the confidence to create thermal experiences that are safe, intentional, restorative and uniquely their own.


Term Two

January – May

The practice continues.

Through weekly mentorship, personal exploration and guided practice, apprentices begin integrating breath and thermal facilitation into their personal and professional lives.

This is where information becomes experience.

And where confidence begins to grow.


Immersion Three

May 14–16, 2027

See a Red Bird

Deep Trance Hypnosis

If I asked you to see a red bird, could you see one?

By this point, you've spent months cultivating presence, learning to regulate yourself and practicing how to hold space for another person.

Now we open another doorway.

The imagination.

Together we explore:

This is where the work becomes deeply personal.

There can be insight, curiosity, unexpected connections and those beautiful moments when something suddenly makes sense in an entirely new way.

By the end of the immersion, apprentices are prepared to begin supervised practicum sessions.


Summer Practicum

June – September 2027

Practice

The summer becomes your season of experience.

You've learned.

You've practiced together.

Now you begin working with real people.

Supported by ongoing mentorship, apprentices begin facilitating sessions while receiving guidance, reflection and feedback along the way.

Practicum includes:

You are not simply sent out to “figure it out.”

You remain supported and coached as your own facilitation style begins to emerge.

Knowledge becomes experience.

Experience becomes confidence.


Immersion Four

October 1–3, 2027

Launch

The Beginning of Your Practice

This gathering marks the completion of our year together.

But it isn't really an ending.

It's the moment we ask:

What will you do with everything you've learned?

Together we celebrate the year, reflect on our growth and create greater clarity around how each apprentice wants to carry this work forward.

Topics include:

For those wishing to create a professional offering, we begin translating your skills into something tangible and uniquely yours.

For those who came primarily for personal growth, we explore how the practices continue to live within your own life.

You leave not only with new skills.

You leave knowing how you want to use them.


Weekly Open Path Circle

Monday Evenings
5:00–7:00 PM Eastern — Online via Zoom

Throughout the apprenticeship, our online gatherings provide:

This is where the learning is integrated into everyday life.

You are coached and guided throughout the year—not simply during the weekends at HIRA.


Investment

Immersive Weekends

$888 per weekend

Weekly Open Path Circle

$177 per month

Payment options available.


The Founding Cohort

The first Open Path cohort is intentionally limited to 12 apprentices.

A small group allows us to know one another.

To practice together.

To ask questions.

To make mistakes.

To laugh.

To discover.

And to create the kind of community where deep learning can actually happen.

You do not need to arrive knowing exactly who you are going to become.

You simply need to be curious enough to begin.


The Path Through the Year

AUTUMN — BREATHE
Build your foundation.

WINTER — GATHER
Learn to create warmth, ritual and community through thermal practice.

SPRING — SEE A RED BIRD
Open the doorway into imagination and deep trance.

SUMMER — PRACTICE
Walk the path with real people.

AUTUMN — LAUNCH
Return to the circle, celebrate and step into whatever comes next.