Grof® Breathwork Retreat, Westfield, MA

Embark on a four-day, three-night immersion into deep self-exploration and healing through Grof® Breathwork, the transformative modality developed by Stan and Christina Grof. Through a carefully held blend of accelerated breathing, evocative music, and attuned bodywork, this workshop opens the doorway to holotropic states of consciousness—spaces where emotional and energetic patterns can unwind, insight can emerge, and a renewed sense of inner clarity can take root.

Held in the peaceful sanctuary of the Genesis Spiritual Life Center and supported by experienced facilitators, facilitator apprentices, and a compassionate circle of co-breathers, this retreat offers a grounded container for meaningful inner work.

Across the program, you’ll participate in four Grof® Breathwork sessions—two as a breather and two as a sitter—providing a balanced, embodied introduction to our practice and community. Whether you’re stepping into breathwork for the first time or deepening a long-term path, this residential retreat offers a safe, nurturing environment for transformation, integration, and authentic connection.

Schedule

Thursday, June 4, 3:30-9pm | Check-in begins at 2pm

Friday, June 5, 7:30am-9pm

Saturday, June 6, 7:30am - 9pm

Sunday, June 7, 8am - 12:00pm

An additional, optional integration session will take place via Zoom approximately one week after the workshop.

Facilitation Team

Jay Dufrechou

Jay Dufrechou, J.D., PhD is the Director of Grof Legacy Training USA, the United States branch of the international training organization founded in 2020 by Stanislav and Brigitte Grof. Along with Marianne Murray, Jay leads the teaching and facilitation team for Grof Breathwork training programs in the US.

In the mid-90s, while working as an attorney, experiences of “spiritual emergence” changed Jay’s understanding of the cosmos and led him to the doctoral program at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP), now Sofia University, to follow and integrate his experiences. Earning a Ph.D. in 2002 in Transpersonal Psychology, Jay has taught for various transpersonal-related schools and supervised dissertation research, often involving Stan Grof’s work.

Jay first experienced Stan Grof’s Breathwork in 1995, immediately realizing the power of the technique for personal growth and healing. He came back to breathwork in the mid-2000s and started the facilitator training path in 2009, receiving certification in 2015. He has worked as a holotropic breathwork and Grof Breathwork facilitator across the US, as well as in the UK, Europe, Canada, India and China.

When not traveling for work in Grof programs, Jay divides his time between Helena, Montana, and Panama City Beach, Florida, where he lives with his partner Rob Sharp. Jay is the proud father of three children and “papa” to three grandchildren.

Yulia Meshoyrer

Born in the South of Russia (Rostov-on-Don) and raised in Oymyakon, Siberia (coldest inhabited place on Earth), Yulia carries with her a profound sense of resilience and a lifelong curiosity about the human experience in all its extremes.

She earned her first Master degree in Psychology from Southern Federal University. In 1999, she moved to Moscow, where she expanded her academic and professional scope by completing another Master degree in Marketing and an MBA from the MIRBIS Institute. In 2005, she relocated to New York City with her husband, opening the door to a more integrative and somatic approach to healing. Between 2009 and 2011, she completed a Kundalini Yoga Therapy Training, grounding her practice in mind-body awareness and energy work.

Her path in transpersonal development deepened in 2011, when she began her Grof Transpersonal Training (GTT). She received her certification in 2014 in Spain and has been actively facilitating Holotropic Breathwork since 2016 in New York City and other locations. She also contributes to the Grof Legacy training process, offering support to trainees and helping guide the next generation of facilitators.

In 2018, she completed a Master degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, where she also earned a Dream Studies Certification, enriching her understanding of the unconscious and symbolic processes in healing. Her focus on non-ordinary states of consciousness further evolved through training with Emma Bragdon as a certified Spiritual Emergency Coach.

She is the founder of Holotropic Space, a platform devoted to deep inner work through Grof Breathwork. Alongside this, she also works extensively in the field of psychedelic integration and harm reduction, having received specialized certification from Fluence in 2020.

Sarah Slabaugh, DO (apprentice)

Sarah Slabaugh, DO (she/her) is a child and adolescent interventional psychiatrist. She has been serving Western Massachusetts since 2023.  

Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School- Baystate since 2023 where she consults in interventional psychiatry, integrated behavioral health, hospital medicine and emergency room settings.

She teaches pediatric and psychiatry trainees. She completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center where she served as clinical chief fellow. She completed adult psychiatry training at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth Texas where she served as House Staff President and was awarded for her teaching. She trained in a year of internal medicine where she was awarded for her time in emergency medicine. 

She completed certifications in Psychedelic Treatments and Research from California Institute of Integral Studies and MDMA-assisted therapy from the Multi-Disciplinary Association of Psychedelics Studies. She is currently studying Grof Holotropic Breathwork Facilitation with Grof Legacy Training USA. She has completed additional training in ketamine, cannabis and cranial osteopathy. 

Sarah's clinical interests are working with transitional-aged youth, adults patients with treatment resistant depression, parents of children with identified psychiatric diagnosis who are seeking a change in symptoms, wellness and strengthening relationships through interventional psychiatric treatments and comprehensive wellness planning.

She is passionate about supporting individuals in community and cognitive liberty as they seek to deconstruct shame, embody wisdom, strengthen inner resources, and ground in relationships and nature.

Zachary Herrmann, DO (apprentice)

Zachary Herrmann, DO is an adult psychiatrist who since August 2023 has practiced at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is Medical Director of the Psychiatric Neurotherapuetics sevice (ECT, TMS, esketamine) and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School - Baystate. 

Prior to Baystate, he worked as an inpatient psychiatrist at the New Hampshire State Hospital and was a Clinical Assistant Professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. 

Zachary completed a general psychiatry residency at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. He completed a year of family medicine at South Nassau Community Hospital. During residency he won multiple awards for his teaching and scholarship.

Zachary completed the Certificate in Psychedelic Treatments and Research at the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2021 and a certificate in MDMA-Assisted Therapy through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in 2022. He is an apprentice Grof Breathwork facilitator and has completed ketamine medical training through Polaris Insight Center / Rainfall Medicine. Zachary's clinical interest includes the application of emerging experiential treatments such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for the treatment of certain mental health disorders. He is passionate about understanding their potential risks and ability to improve wellbeing, aid in psychospiritual healing, and foster connection to onself and others. He strongly believes in a person’s autonomy and the ability of a relationship and a community to both support and nurture a person's journey of self-discovery.

He has authored and spoken in the areas of prescriber psychedelic use and experiential scales used in psychedelic research.

SungLim Shin (apprentice)

SungLim Shin, Ph.D. is a Grof® Breathwork Level 2 Apprentice Facilitator through the Grof® Legacy Training. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Cambridge, MA. After many years in a university counseling and personal development center, she pivoted and trained in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy through the Ketamine Training Center (2019); completed the CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies) Certificate in Psychedelic Treatment and Research (CPTR, 2020); and certified in MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies) MDMA therapy (2022). She had the honor of working with study participants in a Boston-based clinical research study of MAPS MDMA assisted psychotherapy for PTSD.

Her long-standing and grounding practice in Zen– which includes 25+ years of silent retreats– animated the shift to exploring and learning deep experiential modalities for healing and growth. Zen continues to provide grounding for Grof® Breathwork, KAP, and MDMA-Assisted Therapy (when this becomes legally available beyond research settings).  As an immigrant from Korea, she is interested in introducing, sharing, and supporting these transformational pathways to reduce suffering and heal self, family, and community. She has a particular interest in connecting with underserved and underrecognized communities. 

Cost Inclusions

Prices for residential options include 4-days, 3-nights lodging and three meals a day, with only dinner on arrival day and breakfast on departure day. Non-residential workshop attendance* price includes Thursday night dinner, lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday breakfast.

*Note: we encourage residential attendance for immersion in the group and the additional safety of being on site after breathwork experiences, especially if your commute is greater than 30 minutes.

Contraindications

Grof® Breathwork is a transformative experience designed to facilitate deep self-exploration and healing. Due to the intense physical and emotional nature of the practice, certain health conditions may pose risks during breathwork sessions. To ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, please review our health considerations before registering for a workshop. You may also view our health questionnaire prior to registration.

Travel Information

Air: The closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT, and is a 30 minute drive to The Genesis Spiritual Center.

Train: The nearest Amtrak stop is Union Station in Springfield, MA, and is about a 25 minute drive to The Genesis Spiritual Center.

Bus: The closest bus stop is Court / High Street, which is a half mile walk, about 10 minutes, from The Genesis Spiritual Center.

Payment Options

We offer Afterpay and Klarna options at checkout, allowing you to split your payment into manageable monthly installments. If you choose one of these options, you'll be redirected to their site after registering to set up your payment plan.

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We strive to create a welcome and inclusive community that engenders a sense of belonging, respect, openness, and safety in order to facilitate a personally meaningful process for each participant.  Our intent is to support all participants in their work of self-exploration and discovery while sustaining the integrity of our offering. To support this, we have a limited number of partial scholarships available through an application process. f you feel called to this work but require financial assistance, please inquire directly with Gianna at gianna@grof-legacy-training-usa.com. Applications are due by May 1, 2026.