estherbenwell.com
Philosophy
Transform your daily breathing into a powerful tool for wellness and performance. We teach you how to optimize every breath for lasting impact.
01
The Power of Breath
Every breath is an opportunity to reset, refocus, and reconnect with your body's innate wisdom. Through structured breath coaching practices, we unlock performance potential, reduce stress, and cultivate mental clarity.
02
Our Approach
Combining ancient breathing techniques with modern science, each session is tailored to your specific goals, whether that's extending dive times, enhancing athletic performance, managing workplace stress, or deepening your yoga practice.

The Process
Structured progression for sustainable results.
01
Assess
Understanding your baseline CO2 tolerance, breathing mechanics and relationship with your breath.
02
Integrate
Daily protocols designed to fit your lifestyle and training schedule.
03
Optimise
Advanced techniques to push boundaries and enhance performance.
Client Testimonials
"I’ve come away from Esther’s Functional Breathing Workshop with a far greater understanding on how all of our breaths affect every part of our lives, how to visualise it and how I personally can incorporate breathing exercises to adequately prepare my mind, body and nervous system to achieve a far more relaxed state before Freediving."

Freediver
Jan 10, 2026
"Esther is very knowledgeable in the content she teaches; I learned a lot about the impact of breath on the circulatory system and nervous system. We practised useful techniques to improve CO2 tolerance that can be incorporated into daily routine so that ultimately we can improve dive techniques. She is calm and personable and good at recognising how to tailor to individual experiences. "

Freediver
Feb 21, 2026
"Esther is the most amazing yoga teacher. She melds technique with intuition perfectly, so that every class is powerful and perfectly suited to the mood that day. She focuses on strength and breath and makes the day ahead seem full of joy and infinite possibility. "

Kate B , Book Editor
Mar 1, 2026
"I have been practicing yoga with Esther for the past five years, and she is truly one of the most exceptional teachers I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Her knowledge is extensive, and her teaching style sets her apart in the most inspiring way. Esther seamlessly combines her deep understanding of yoga, anatomy, and breathwork with an intuitive ability to read the room and adapt each posture to suit all levels and individual needs. Her classes offer so much more than a physical practice, they provide tools, insight, and wisdom that support strength, focus, and overall wellbeing both on and off the mat."

Max
Mar 3, 2026
"Eye opening! I knew so little of the mechanics of basic breathing. I’ve learnt a lot on this course. The most beneficial for me being the simple recovery exercises after training and the stressors to improve co2 tolerance have been so helpful for running and freediving. I get into cold water so much easier now just by focusing on and being in control of my breath. I also feel I am much more in tune with myself just from learning different aspects of breathing. Would recommend this course to everyone, it covers a lot of information and there’s something for everyone here. "

Rachel, Runner and Freediver
Mar 17, 2026
"Over the past two years, Esther has enabled me to deepen my practice. Her postural observations, combined with her deep knowledge of breathwork, has enabled me to feel into the asanas rather than force my body into them. Looking forward to continuing the journey. "

James V, Architect
Feb 15, 2026
"Esther is an incredibly experienced and knowledgeable yoga teacher. Her classes strike the perfect balance between a strong, energising workout and mindful yoga practice. She has an impressive understanding of anatomy and physiology, which shines through in her clear instructions and thoughtful adjustments. This ensures everyone gets the most out of each posture in a safe and effective way. Esther’s classes are welcoming and inclusive, making them accessible to all levels. Breathwork is a central part of her teaching, and the techniques she shares are invaluable — I find myself using them not only during exercise, but also throughout the day to stay calm and focused. I highly recommend her classes to anyone looking to build strength, improve flexibility, and deepen their understanding of yoga."

Poppy K , Massage Therapist
Feb 23, 2026
Certifications & Affiliations



Certified Advanced Breath Coach with Oxygen Advantage and Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, bringing together modern breath science and traditional yoga wisdom.
Esther Benwell
A little bit about me and how I came to be doing this work.
I've been a Yoga teacher for 15 years, but my journey wasn't pretty. At age 39, I was diagnosed with CPTSD. This was actually a blessing as it explained a lot. This diagnosis led me to my nervous system and took me on a deep dive into self-regulation and healing.
My breath was the one thing I had struggled to connect with in my Yoga teaching/Practice. I couldn't work out what was wrong with me and why the practices didn't work. The Pranayama techniques that were meant to bring about calm just made me anxious, and the ones that were meant to boost energy made me crash. Following the teacher's breathing cues was just impossible!
Functional Breath Coaching (Oxygen Advantage) explained why. The Nervous System and the Breath are directly linked.
Disregulated Nervous System = Dysfunctional Breathing.
It took me back to the basics of Functional Breathing and understanding how the Nervous System works.
I went on to take up Spearfishing as a hobby, but once again was confronted with my breath holding me back. I had healed my nervous system in the sense that I was no longer stuck in fight/flight, but in doing so, I had created a "safe" bubble where nothing triggered me, and I was stuck in safety mode. I was living what I call a half-life. It was safe, it was nice, but it wasn't fun, exciting or helping my personal growth.
So, I started Freediving, a safe environment to confront my fears and help train my nervous system. Breath Coaching out of the water is a big part of this training. Using stronger breath holds to create controlled stress in my body allowed it to adapt. It helped me train my body and nervous system to deal with stress, not just avoid it. It's just like lifting weights, but for your breath and nervous system instead of your muscles.
Regardless of what you do for a living or what your hobbies are, avoiding stress in life isn’t possible. What is possible is training your body/mind to handle it better.
We don’t want a nervous system that’s stuck repeating old patterns. We want one that adapts accordingly to the pressures we face.
That's a little glimpse into my story.....Now lets talk about yours?

Core Values

