Boost Your HRV with Healthy Breathing Techniques – An AAPB Co-Sponsored Webinar

Co-sponsored by AAPB

Presented by Inna Khazan, PhD and Matt Bennett

Thursday, April 17, 2025

• 1 pm to 3 pm Eastern

• 12 pm to 2 pm Central

• 11 am to 1 pm Mountain

• 10 am to 12 pm Pacific

  
  

Format: Live virtual session (Recording available for those unable to attend live - unfortunately, we can not offer CE Credits for those purchasing the recording)

Respiration is crucial for human physiology and daily functioning. Proper breathing supports the autonomic nervous system and biofeedback training, while misconceptions can lead to dysfunction and reduced biofeedback benefits.

This 2-hour webinar explores the physiology and anatomy of healthy breathing, emphasizing the role of airway structures. Participants will understand respiration mechanics and the importance of proper techniques. The webinar addresses breathing dysfunctions, like over-breathing and oral breathing, and their impact on health and HRV biofeedback. Attendees will learn to identify these issues and their physiological effects.

We will demonstrate evidence-based breathing techniques to enhance respiratory efficiency and support heart rate variability biofeedback, providing actionable strategies for improved health and well-being.

Learning Objectives:

This workshop is designed to help you:

1. Describe the key anatomical structures and physiological functions of the respiratory system and their role in healthy breathing.

2. Differentiate between healthy and dysfunctional breathing patterns, including over-breathing and oral breathing, and explain their impact on physiological function and performance.

3. Demonstrate practical breathing exercises to improve respiratory efficiency.

4. Integrate learned breathing techniques into heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback practices to enhance training outcomes.

Risks/Utility: All interventions discussed in this webinar are empirically supported (see references). Minimal risks, such as feelings of lightheadedness while breathing, exist for HRV-based interventions and will be addressed during the webinar.

Location: Live virtual session (Recording available for those unable to attend live - unfortunately, we can not offer CE Credits for those purchasing the recording)

Flexible Pricing Options:

• $100 – Registration with Continuing Education Credit (must attend the live delivery of the entire session to qualify for CE credits . CE credits not available for watching the recording.

• $75 – Registration without CE credit (Live or Recorded)

• $50 – Student Registration (Live or Recorded)

  
  

Note for registration:

• If you require Continuing Education Credits, please provide your degree, state, and license number during registration.

• Can’t make it live? No problem! Indicate your preference for the recording during registration to ensure access to the workshop materials.

Level: INTRODUCTORY 

Content is designed for psychologists who may have little to no background in a specialized skill or content area. Through this level of programming, the learner can become acquainted with the theoretical underpinnings, principles, methods, and perspectives of a content area. An introductory level program also may serve as the foundation for subsequent intermediate and advanced learning. Introductory level programming may also be related to an emerging area of knowledge or practice. Although this content can be used as a foundation for more advanced learning, an introductory level program may simply focus on breadth, enrichment, or general knowledge. For those psychologists using the modality of biofeedback and interested in efficacy, science, and latest clinical applications. This conference (1) presents research relevant to psychological practice, education, and science; (2) it is our intention to host an offering to help psychologists to keep up with the most current scientific evidence regarding assessment, intervention, and education; and (3) we believe that this program would allow psychologists to increase competencies in order to improve services to patients. This conference is IN NO WAY a substitute for the basic academic education and training needed for entry into the field of psychology.

Target Audience: Whether you are a healthcare professional, a wellness coach, or simply someone interested in the science of the human body, this webinar offers valuable insights that can enhance your knowledge and practice. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge that can be applied to improve personal health and support others in achieving better health outcomes.

CE Credits:  2 CE credits for remainder of series total live participation

*Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession’s standards.

About the Presenters:

Dr. Inna Khazan, PHD, is the Chief Science Officer with Optimal HRV and a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in biofeedback and mindfulness-based approaches to optimizing health and performance. Inna is a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, where she teaches and supervises trainees. She has over 20 years of clinical experience helping people overcome various personal and professional challenges. Recognized as a pioneer in mindfulness-based biofeedback, Inna is a popular speaker at national and international conferences on biofeedback and mindfulness.

Matt Bennett is a co-founder of Optimal HRV. Matt’s passion manifests in his books, including his most recent publications, Heart Rate Variability: The Future of Trauma-Informed Care, The Heart(beat) of Business, and his Heart Rate Variability Podcast. Matt combines his master’s degrees in psychology and business administration with his practical experience as a therapist and leader to develop research-based solutions and training to improve the health of individuals, staff, organizations, and systems.

Continuing Education Statement

Psychologists: The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

Psychologists (APA) Coverage & Reciprocity:

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Counselors: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MO, NC, ND, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY 

MI: No CE requirements

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY (outstate held), OK*, OR, SC, UT, WA, WI, WY 

* OK accepts APA credit for live, in-person activities. For all ethics and/or online courses, an application is required.

MA / MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review.

The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Social Workers: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, ME, MN, MO, NE, NH, NM, OR, PA, VT, WI, WY

Financial Disclosures:

There is known commercial support for this program.

The webinars in this series will be free of any commercial bias. Our presenters have financial interest to disclose. Dr. Khazan (Chief Science Officer), and Matt Bennett (Cofounder of Optimal HRV) are affiliated with Optimal HRV. Optimal HRV produces in-app biofeedback training modules. The presenters may potentially benefit financially from the research findings on in-app biofeedback training modules presented herein. This webinar will be presented free of commercial basis.

Other Information

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) STATEMENT: ADA accommodations will be made in accordance with the law. If you require ADA accommodation, please indicate what your needs are at the time of registration. We cannot ensure the availability of appropriate accommodations without prior notification.

GRIEVANCE POLICY: The Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists. AAPB will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the Education Chair in consultation with the members of the continuing education committee, the AAPB Ethics Chairperson, Continuing Education (CE) Committee Chairperson, Program Planning Committee Chairperson, and/or the Conference Chairperson. While AAPB goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues which come to the attention of the convention staff which require intervention and/or action on the part of the convention staff or an officer of AAPB. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances. 1. When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken. If the person toward whom the grievance is directed is also the instructor or a chair of any of the above-mentioned committees, the AAPB Board of Directors will appoint a Board representative to oversee the resolution of any of the participant complaints, in an effort to avoid any and all conflicts of interest. If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The CE Chair will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual. 2. If the grievance concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the convention chair will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the convention chair will: a) attempt to move the participant to another workshop or b) provide a credit for a subsequent year's workshop or c) provide a partial or full refund of the workshop fee. Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.  3. If the grievance concerns an AAPB CE program, in a specific regard, the CE Chair will attempt to arbitrate.

Contact name(s)*: Leslie Shivers, AAPB Executive Director

Email: info@aapb.org

Telephone: 800-477-8892 or +1 303-422-8436

Address: PO Box 461797, Aurora, CO 80046-1797 

Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. If participants have special needs, we will make every attempt to accommodate them in compliance with the ADA.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: Please Contact OptimalHRV at Support@OptimalHRV.com for cancellation. Cancellations received by OptimalHRV at least 2 weeks prior to the event will be refunded minus a $10 processing fee. Cancellations within 2 weeks prior to the event will not be refunded but can be credited for future events. Fees cannot be refunded for registrations cancelled after the presentation begins.

REFERENCES: Tavel, M. E. (2017). Hyperventilation syndrome: a diagnosis usually unrecognized. J Intern Med Prim Healthcare, 1(006).

Teplitsky, E., Khedekar, M., McMahon, R., & Landeen, C. (2023). OVERBREATHING IS SO BASIC, BUT DISMANTLING BIAS ISN'T: SEVERE RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS DUE TO POST-COVID HYPERVENTILATION SYNDROME AND THE UNCONSCIOUS BARRIERS TO ITS DIAGNOSIS. Chest, 164(4), A5807-A5808.

Lehtinen, P., & Martin, M. (2018). Imbalanced breathing in connection with health problems. In Breathing as a Tool for Self-Regulation and Self-Reflection (pp. 63-97). Routledge.

Brems, C. (2024). Understanding the Physiology of Breath and Breathing. In Therapeutic Breathwork: Clinical Science and Practice in Healthcare and Yoga (pp. 99-126). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Khazan, I. (2024). Breathing, Heart Rate Variability, and their Application in Psychotherapy. In Steffen, P. and Moss, D. (Eds), Integrating Psychophysiology and Psychotherapy. Oxford University Press.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Those who attend this conference in full and complete the appropriate sign-in and evaluation forms will receive CE credits. Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time or leaving before a given conference activity is completed will not receive CE credit.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best in the field and deepen your understanding of the relationship between healthy breathing and heart rate variability. Join us and take the first step towards mastering the science of HRV . Register today!