Enquire now

Oliver Valentin

Vestas leadership forum 2025 closeup
Vestas leadership forum 2025 audience
Vestas leadership forum 2025 wideshot
Henrik Andersen, President & CEO at Vestas

Oliver – you are and were outstanding – pleasure to recommend you in all aspects. Hope we can stay connected and keep powering Vestas. All the best.

— Henrik Andersen, President & CEO at Vestas
  • 0x KARATE WORLD CHAMPION
  • 0y AS YOGA TEACHER
  • 0+ BREATHWORK SESSIONS
  • 0+ CLIENTS
  • 0y OF MY OWN PERSONAL PRACTICE
Get in touch
Let's discuss how I can help your organization.
Enquire now
0x
Higher likelihood of resignation due to burnout.
Employees who experience frequent burnout are 2.6× as likely to leave their employer. With replacement costs at 1.5–2× annual salary, breathwork is a crucial retention strategy.
Gallup Workplace Analytics
0%
Higher profitability in highly engaged teams.
A regulated nervous system is a prerequisite for engagement. Business units with the highest employee engagement achieve significantly higher profitability.
Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report
0%
say mental health support decides their next job.
The vast majority of workers now consider support for mental health non-negotiable when evaluating future employers. Professional breathwork signals a forward-thinking culture.
APA Work and Well-being Survey

Benefits of Breathwork

In high-pressure corporate environments, the body's “fight or flight” response (the sympathetic nervous system) is often chronically activated, leading to burnout. Breathwork acts as the “remote control” to immediately switch on the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” state). This stops the “autopilot” stress response, lowering cortisol levels and allowing you to recover quickly in the middle of a busy day.

The Proof

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that participants who engaged in a slow breathing intervention showed significantly reduced perceived stress levels and decreasing anxiety immediately after the session compared to a control group.

Frontiers in Psychology Study

Cognitive fatigue is the enemy of productivity. When the mind is racing toward future anxieties, presence is lost. Specific breathing techniques regulate levels of noradrenaline in the brain—a chemical vital for attention and focus. By controlling the breath, you clear mental fog, sharpen your concentration, and create the capacity for deep, complex work without distraction.

The Proof

Research from Trinity College Dublin showed that focused breathing affects levels of noradrenaline, which enhances the brain's ability to focus. The study concludes that “the way we breathe directly affects the chemistry of our brains in a way that can enhance our attention.”

Trinity College Dublin Institute of Neuroscience

When stress overwhelms the system, the brain's prefrontal cortex—responsible for executive functions, logic, and strategic planning—goes offline. You react rather than respond. Breathwork is a proven mechanism to maintain “executive control” during crises. By stabilizing your physiology, you ensure that critical decisions made under duress are based on clarity rather than reactive panic.

The Proof

Studies on high-stress professions (like military and law enforcement) show that “tactical breathing” techniques significantly reduce cognitive anxiety and improve performance on complex tasks during high-threat simulations.

Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology

Effective leadership requires “grounded presence,” the ability to sit with discomfort without projecting it onto the team. Your breathing pattern dictates your emotional state; shallow, fast breathing mirrors anxiety, while slow, deep breathing signals calm authority. Controlling your breath allows you to regulate your emotional responses in real-time during difficult negotiations or sensitive feedback sessions.

The Proof

A study on emotional regulation found that different breathing patterns are directly linked to specific emotions. Crucially, the study found that voluntarily adopting the breathing kinetics of a specific emotion can actually induce that emotional state—proving you can “breathe your way” into a state of calm authority.

National Institutes of Health (PubMed)

High performance is not about sprinting until you crash; it's about sustained energy management. Relying on caffeine or adrenaline to power through the day is unsustainable. Breathwork provides a natural mechanism to revitalize the system by optimizing oxygen delivery to the brain and body, building long-term resilience against the demands of a heavy workload and preventing chronic burnout.

The Proof

According to a Gallup report, 76% of employees experience burnout on the job at least sometimes. Clinical trials have shown that regular breathing practices significantly reduce the symptoms of occupational burnout and improve overall quality of life.

Gallup Burnout Report & NIH Clinical Trial on Burnout
Also

Enhanced creativity and complex problem-solving

Moving out of survival mode allows the brain to access higher-level creative thinking and connect disparate ideas.

Deeper restorative sleep

Learning to downregulate the nervous system before bed leads to higher quality rest, the foundation of next-day performance.

Improved team dynamics and patience

A grounded nervous system makes you less reactive to colleagues' stress, fostering better listening and more collaborative environments.

Physical tension release

Many professionals hold stress in their jaw, shoulders, and neck. Breathwork is a primary tool for releasing this stored physical armor.

Heightened intuition

Quieting mental noise provides clearer access to essential gut feelings and sharpens your intuitive strategic sense for better judgment.

Greater poise in high-stakes communication

Controlling the breath under pressure eliminates anxiety’s "shaky voice," enabling you to speak with authority and calmness during critical presentations and negotiations.

How it works

Whether you're seeking personal growth or looking to elevate your team, the path is simple.

For individuals

  1. 01
    Reach out

    Share what you're looking for — breathwork, yoga, personal coaching, or something else entirely.

  2. 02
    Discovery conversation

    A short call to understand your goals, challenges, and what resonates with you.

  3. 03
    Tailored approach

    I design a plan around your needs — whether it's a single deep session or an ongoing practice.

  4. 04
    Begin your practice

    Start with your first session and experience the shift firsthand.

For organizations

  1. 01
    Get in touch

    Tell me about your team, upcoming event, or wellbeing initiative.

  2. 02
    Needs assessment

    We discuss your goals, group size, timeline, and the outcomes you're looking for.

  3. 03
    Custom program design

    I create a tailored experience — from a single conference session to a full leadership program.

  4. 04
    Delivery & follow-up

    I facilitate the sessions and provide resources so the impact lasts well beyond the room.

Try a micro-break
Take a deep breath
Now, exhale slowly
box breathing is a simple way to calm your nervous system.
inhale

My background

My work is rooted in a simple idea: your breath is a remote control for your nervous system. With the right switches, you can downshift stress, sharpen focus and reset in the middle of a busy day. Drawing on two decades of practice as an athlete, yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator, I help leaders notice the body's signals, regulate their state and lead from clarity, presence and calm authority instead of autopilot stress.

Early years

Growing up in Buddhist temple

My childhood was shaped by mindfulness, meditation and community. These foundations still inform my work today.

2008

Circus school

I trained in acrobatics and performance arts, learning discipline, body awareness and the art of presence on stage.

2012

Acting school

I studied acting and storytelling, tools that I later merged with breathwork and facilitation in leadership programmes.

2014 · 2016

2× Karate world champion

I became world champion in karate twice. Mental focus, breath control and resilience under pressure became second nature.

2016 · 2022

Yoga teacher

I became a certified yoga teacher, deepening my practice in breath, movement and guiding others, a bridge to breathwork and coaching.

2022

Breathwork coach & facilitator

I combine decades of practice into breathwork coaching and facilitation for leaders and organizations worldwide.

Testimonials

Oliver is, without a doubt, the most passionate and knowledgeable yoga and breathwork teacher I have ever encountered! I have attended various classes with him, and his warm, kind presence, combined with the creativity and challenge of his flows, has made him my favorite yoga teacher. His classes have elevated my yoga practices, making me as a student feel seen and appreciated while encouraging me to challenge myself and grow. I can highly recommend Oliver, as you will not encounter someone with more passion and wisdom for his field!

Alice Boss Yoga Teacher

When I first came to Copenhagen, it was difficult for me to find a yoga teacher that I really liked. Then I discovered Oliver's class, which quickly became my favorite. He not only teaches unique flows but also starts each class with breathwork exercises that improve my alignment during yoga. Some poses are quite challenging, but I love them because I know they help me grow and improve.

Chrysti Luckynelly Co-founder, The Self Hug

I attended a breath workshop with Oliver last year, and it left a lasting impression on me. It's incredible what "the breath can do, once its power is unlocked." Oliver was one of my teachers during my initial yoga training, and I highly recommend him. His classes are filled with calmness, body awareness, and great energy, always incorporating pranayama.

Faye Lella Yoga Teacher

Oliver is one of the best Rocket teachers i've practiced with in Denmark. He's attentive, offers good guidance, and connects breathwork and yoga to create an experience that brings you out of the everyday stress and into your body. Furthermore, he's a kind and great guy who creates a healthy atmosphere where you're able to push yourself in a safe environment

Jesper Theil Thomsen CEO & Co-founder, SOUNDBOKS

Oliver's in-depth knowledge of the body, play and movement, combined with his exquisite sensitivity and empathy for each individual participant's ability, motivation and potential, means that I hereby give my absolute best and warmest recommendations of Oliver to any employer who wants to give its citizens or employees a healthy, developing and well-being-promoting development course.

Lars Emil Andersen LE Psyc. Practice – Occupational psychology and therapy

Oliver is a fantastic yoga teacher who draws on his experience from martial arts, circus and acting to create a fun and challenging yoga practice. He works very well with both executives in smaller groups and large diverse groups.

Mads Veggerby Lausten Corporate Vice President, Novo Nordisk

Oliver's yoga classes are a delight! I always leave feeling energized and refreshed. The sessions feature a well-balanced flow of poses. Oliver's positive and funny demeanor creates an enjoyable and uplifting atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Mikhail Sukhov Agile Coach, Pandora

It is clear that Oliver has a well-developed ability to read the individual participant's level, energy and mood and adjust his instruction so that it precisely helps the individual to get the best out of the lesson. His instructions are clear and easy to understand and you really feel in safe hands.

Peter Klange Business Psychologist, Executive Coach MSc, Psychology

Oliver's yoga class is great because of his great personality and atmosphere he makes for yoga class. When I started yoga I was not sure how to move my body as I was beginner but now I'm getting into yoga more and more thanks to his precise and quite understandable instruction for yoga practice. Highly recommended!

Taiki Yamasaki Restaurant chef

I've attended Oliver's breathwork workshop as well as being part of his yoga classes no doubt he is a very high value teacher! The breathwork workshop was well-organized and helped me feel calm and clear by the end. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to connect better with their breath and improve their well-being. His yoga classes have helped me reach incredible results in my flexibility and mobility.

Get in touch

Who are you contacting as?

What brings you here today?

Tell me a bit more about what you're looking for

What's your name?

What's your email?

What's your organization's name?

What type of support are you looking for?

How many people would this be for?

Tell me more about your organization's needs

What's your name?

What's your role?

What's your email?

Success!

Your message is on its way.
I’ll get back to you by email soon.