Conscious Dying Institute

What Conscious Dying Institute does

Conscious Dying Institute is a Boulder, Colorado-based private wellness education company founded in 2013 by Tarron Estes. The institute trains Sacred Passage Doulas and soul midwives and supports individuals, caregivers, and the dying through end-of-life education, breathwork, ritual, coaching, and community-based programs. Its core product is the Sacred Passage Doula Certification—a five-month, $3,000 program comprising two in-person intensives (a three-day and a four-day retreat), three months of partner practice, faculty coaching, and community integration. This flagship is supplemented by a portfolio of recurring offerings: virtual seasonal breathwork ceremonies ($45 per 90-minute session), the Obituary as Art Legacy Workshop ($75 for five sessions), Threshold Companion Training, the At The Threshold immersive curriculum (co-delivered with Watson Caring Science Institute), grief and community healing circles, book clubs, life/death/threshold coaching, and a subscription Deepening Practice Mentorship for alumni. The company also operates a small e-commerce storefront selling ritual merchandise priced in euros, indicating international demand.

The institute's underlying methodology is a trauma-informed, spiritually grounded healing arts framework that integrates conscious dying philosophy, Watson's caring science, earth-honoring spirituality, and contemplative practice—delivered through somatic techniques, breathwork, ritual design, and embodied presence rather than through any technology platform. Distribution is fully direct-to-consumer via a Squarespace-hosted website, with email ([email protected]) as the primary sales and inquiry channel and in-person intensives held at partner venues such as the Watson Caring Science Institute in Deerfield Beach, FL. Customers span at least five segments: aspiring and practicing death doulas/soul midwives, healthcare and integrative health practitioners, clergy and spiritual directors, family caregivers, and individuals navigating grief or terminal illness. Revenue mechanics rely on certification tuition, workshop/ceremony fees, coaching engagements, recurring mentorship subscriptions, and merchandise—with no disclosed funding, no enterprise contracts, and a small faculty-led operating model in the 11–50 employee range.

Name

Conscious Dying Institute

Legal name

Conscious Dying Institute

Website

https://consciousdyinginstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conscious Dying Institute is a Boulder, Colorado-based private wellness education company that trains Sacred Passage Doulas and delivers breathwork, ritual, coaching, and community programs for individuals, caregivers, and practitioners navigating end-of-life and grief.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

End-of-Life Education and Death Doula Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI), Trauma-Informed Mindfulness & Somatic Mind-Body Practices (HSADAJAI), End-of-Life Emotional & Spiritual Support (Chaplaincy/Counseling) In-Home (HSABAFAH)

Keywords

• End-of-life education
• Death doula training
• Conscious dying services
• Grief support programs
• Sacred passage certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sacred Passage Doula Certification Program: Five-month comprehensive training program featuring two in-person intensives (3-day and 4-day retreats), monthly practices and teachings between gatherings, partner work, faculty coaching, and community support. Investment covers full container including both intensives, ongoing teachings, and practitioner community.
2. Breathwork Ceremonies and Sessions: Virtual breathwork ceremonies including seasonal solstice and equinox events (Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Autumnal Equinox) at $45 per 90-minute session with sliding scale pricing. Also includes regular breathwork sessions for grief and sorrow at no cost.
3. Obituary as Art Legacy Workshop: Five-session online workshop (75 minutes each) focused on writing, reflecting, and creating legacy artwork through writing, poetry, collage, song, or visual art. Priced at $75 for all five sessions.
4. Life, Death and Threshold Coaching: Presence-based support sessions for individuals navigating grief, serious illness, caregiving, spiritual inquiry, and life thresholds. Creates confidential space for exploring endings and emerging transitions.
5. Merchandise and Ritual Products: E-commerce storefront selling earth-themed products including Earth & Sky Planters (€25), Milk Dip Cups (€25), and Feast Sets (€25) as tangible items supporting the institute's aesthetic and mission.
6. Deepening Practice Mentorship: Ongoing mentorship program for practitioners who have completed foundational training, offering case consultation, ethical guidance, burnout prevention, and vocational discernment support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Conscious Dying Institute cultivates a community of Sacred Passage Doulas through a multi-phase certification program (3-day Intensive I, 3-month Partner Practice, 4-day Intensive II) priced at $3,000. It complements this core training with coaching, breathwork sessions, earth-centered rituals, grief circles, book clubs, mentorship, and specialized workshops targeting both aspiring practitioners and individuals navigating grief, caregiving, or their own mortality.

Product overview

The Conscious Dying Institute offers a comprehensive suite of educational and wellness services centered on death doula training, conscious dying education, and end-of-life support. The core offering is the Sacred Passage Doula Certification—a multi-phase program consisting of Intensive I (3-day immersion), Partner Practice (3-month integration period), and Intensive II (4-day immersion). This training is complemented by coaching services, breathwork sessions, sacred rituals and ceremonies, grief and community circles, book clubs, deepening practice mentorship, and specialized workshops like Threshold Companion Training and the At The Threshold immersive curriculum. The institute also operates a ritual merchandise store. All offerings are designed to support individuals at life's thresholds—from death doulas seeking certification to individuals navigating grief, caregiving, or spiritual inquiry—creating an integrated ecosystem of conscious dying education and compassionate end-of-life care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sacred Passage Doula Certification A five-month transformational training program that prepares participants to accompany others through death as Sacred Passage Doulas, consisting of Intensive I (3-day immersion), Partner Practice (3-month integration), and Intensive II (4-day immersion). Priced at $3,000 with payment plans. Designed for aspiring death doulas, soul midwives, and conscious companions across all faiths, beliefs, and cultures.
• Life, Death and Threshold Coaching Compassionate, presence-based coaching support for individuals navigating grief, serious illness, caregiving, spiritual inquiry, and life's most meaningful thresholds. Delivered as one-on-one professional services creating confidential space for exploring endings and emerging transitions.
• Ceremonies for Life's Transitions Personalized, earth-centered rituals created through deep listening and attunement to support individuals, families, and communities through life's thresholds including death, dying, grief, illness, endings, beginnings, and ancestral remembrance. Honors spiritual diversity and cultural sensitivity.
• Breathwork Sessions Trauma-informed, spiritually grounded breathwork sessions for emotional release, grief processing, nervous system regulation, and spiritual connection. Offered as both individual and group sessions, with seasonal ceremonies priced at $45 per 90-minute session on a sliding scale and regular Breathwork for Grief and Sorrow sessions offered at no cost.
• Sacred Space & Community Circles Trauma-informed grief and community circles creating compassionate space for sharing, listening, and healing around grief, loss, caregiving, spiritual inquiry, and life transitions. Held primarily online as accessible sacred space for connection and shared presence.
• Book Clubs Online book clubs exploring themes of death, dying, grief, spirituality, and embodied wisdom, providing an accessible entry point into conscious dying work. Current featured book is 'Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life' by Sharon Blackie.
• Deepening Practice Mentorship Ongoing mentorship program for death doulas and practitioners who have completed foundational training, offering case consultation, ethical guidance, burnout prevention, vocational discernment support, and integration of personal experiences with death and grief.
• Threshold Companion Training Workshop preparing participants to walk alongside someone through the dying journey, teaching the arc of dying physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Targets family caregivers and aspiring practitioners seeking foundational comfort care skills.
• At The Threshold Workshop Two-day immersive curriculum grounded in Watson's Caring Science and Theory of Human Caring combined with the Principles of Conscious Dying, integrating contemplative practice, ritual, and reflective inquiry for Certified Caritas Coaches and Caritas Leaders.
• Obituary as Art: A Legacy Workshop Five-session online workshop (75 minutes each Tuesday evening) guiding participants to create obituary or legacy art through writing, poetry, collage, song, or visual art. Priced at $75 for all five sessions.
• Ritual Merchandise Store Online store offering ritual-related merchandise including Earth & Sky Planter, Milk Dip Cup, Feast Set, and Breathwork Ceremony registrations. Items priced at €25 per unit, supporting the institute's aesthetic and mission.

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Watson Caring Science InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the 'At The Threshold' workshop combining Watson's Caring Science and Theory of Human Caring with the Principles of Conscious Dying. The two-day immersive event (October 17-18, 2026) is hosted at the Watson Caring Science Institute facility in Deerfield Beach, FL, integrating contemplative practice, ritual, and reflective inquiry for Certified Caritas Coaches and Caritas Leaders.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zen Caregiving Project: Zen Caregiving Project delivers mindfulness-based caregiver training and end-of-life care programs rooted in contemplative practice — closely aligned with CDI's integration of contemplative practice, ritual, and end-of-life support.
• Going with Grace: Going with Grace is an end-of-life doula training and coaching practice that offers certification programs, grief support, and contemplative preparation for dying — highly comparable to CDI's blend of doula training, coaching, and conscious dying education.
• DoulaGivers: DoulaGivers provides end-of-life doula training and family caregiver education across multiple levels, with a comparable certification-driven model serving both aspiring practitioners and families — overlapping with CDI on the practitioner training segment.
• The Dying Year: The Dying Year is an end-of-life doula training organization offering foundational and advanced doula programs, sharing CDI's focus on structured practitioner formation and conscious dying philosophy.
• International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA): INELDA is one of the most established end-of-life doula training and certification organizations in the US, offering comparable practitioner training programs, community membership, and public education on conscious dying — directly competitive with CDI's Sacred Passage Doula Certification.
• Upaya Zen Center (Being with Dying): Upaya's Being with Dying program is a long-running contemplative end-of-life care training that combines contemplative practice, clinical exposure, and direct service — a spiritual-practice-rooted peer to CDI's Sacred Passage Doula intensive.
• Quality of Life Care: Quality of Life Care offers end-of-life doula training and certification programs for aspiring and active practitioners, with curriculum and practitioner-development overlap with CDI's certification offerings.

Broad incumbents

• University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine (End-of-Life Doula Certificate): UVM's medical school offers an academic End-of-Life Doula Certificate through a university setting, competing with CDI at a more institutional, credentialed level rather than a boutique spiritual-practice approach.
• Hospice Foundation of America: Hospice Foundation of America is a national nonprofit providing end-of-life education, caregiver resources, and professional training — a broader incumbent that overlaps with CDI on public-facing death education and grief support content.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization: NHPCO is the largest US membership organization for hospice and palliative care providers, setting professional standards and offering training that competes with — and could potentially accredit — programs like CDI's Sacred Passage Doula Certification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conscious Dying Institute