Pranayama: Breathwork for Emotional Stability
Yoga is a tool for transformation, and at the heart of the practice lies the breath. Through the breath, we connect with and influence our prana, or life force. Pranayama techniques teach us how to balance and harness this inner power, enabling us to prevent illness, regain confidence and clarity, and find emotional and mental stability.
This series covers pranayama techniques and breath adaptation in asana. You will learn cleansing breaths (kriyas), energizing breath techniques, and how to increase lung capacity. You’ll explore modalities to ease anxiety, balance the nervous system, promote digestion, cool an overheated body, and more. As a bonus, you’ll discover how adding sacred sound (mantra) to breathwork can deepen focus and intention.
This course provides tools for your personal growth and understanding, while also teaching you how to integrate breathwork into yoga classes, workshops, and retreats. It’s ideal for yoga teachers, therapists, energy workers, or anyone interested in exploring the power of breath for physical well-being and spiritual progress.
You will study:
- The Power of Deep Belly Breathing
- Bhastrika: A cleansing breath to shift blocked energy, with appropriate arm movements to enhance its effects.
- Ujjayi Breath: Calm the mind and balance the nervous system. Activate the vagus nerve, increase lung capacity, and get grounded with this powerful daily breath meditation that slowly increases breath threshold.
- Breath Threshold: Explore the healing wisdom of finding your capacity through deep, conscious breathing.
- Segmentation of the Exhale: A grounding breath practice used to calm the parasympathetic nervous system, aiding sleep and easing anxiety. This technique involves breath segmentation and suspension to foster relaxation.
- Segmentation of the Inhale: A stimulating breath practice that activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing focus, clarity, and energy. Breath retention and segmented inhalations enhance this energizing effect.
- Breath of Joy: An energizing breath practice to awaken energy. Conclude with breath retention to sharpen focus and motivation, clear emotional blockages, and calm a restless mind.
- Kriya Breathwork: Introduction to Kapalbhati and Bhastrika—breath practices that clear emotional blockages. Learn how to combine Bhastrika with extended Ujjayi exhalation for deeper parasympathetic effects.
- Digestive Health: Use breath and kriyas to support digestive health. Kapalbhati (skull-shining breath) and twisting kriya movements stimulate digestive fire, paired with seated twists and grounding postures to encourage elimination.
- Asymmetry in the Body: Explore how asymmetrical imbalances affect well-being with Viloma Pranayama, an inhalation technique that balances and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.
- Anuloma Pranayama: An exhalation technique that balances and calms the sympathetic nervous system. It promotes better sleep and soothes anxiety and restlessness.
- Cooling Breath Techniques: Excessive heat in the body leads to anger and frustration. Learn cooling breaths like Shitali, paired with Lion’s Breath, to release pent-up heat and anger.
- Nadi Shodhana: The complete balancing breath through alternate nostril breathing, harmonizing energy flow.
Sound and Movement: Release built-up emotions with vocalizations and movement. Explore the power of mantra, breath, and movement to empower and strengthen both mind and body.
