What is Prānāyāma? An overview of its history, etymology, and context within the broader Yoga practice.

Introduction to the classical Hatha Yoga texts, and the breathing & purifying techniques that are included.

A roadmap of the course ahead and guest teachers.

Opening prānāyāma practice.

Ānāpāna (breath awareness), Ujjāyī (victorious breath), Sama Vritti (equal breath), and Vishama Vritti (unequal breath).

The physical & energetic impact of changing the length or ratio of the breath

Why Ujjāyī became so popular within the modern Āsana practice.

Anatomy of the respiratory system.

How regulating the breath regulates the nervous system.

Nerding out about gas exchanges and the Bohr effect.

How posture and movement affect the quality of breath.

Guided breath exploration with Nicole.

Nādī Śodhana (alternate nostril breathing), Sūrya Bhedana (solar breathing), and Chandra Bhedana (lunar breathing).

An introduction to idā, pingalā, and the relationship between the nostrils and nādīs (energy channels) in Hatha Yoga.

The theory behind Katonah Yoga’s approach to Prānāyāma, which incorporates elements of Kundalini, metaphor, imagination, and traditional techniques.

Energetic practice with Ty, a masterful Katonah Yoga® teacher.

Kapālabhāti (skull-shining breath) and Bhastrikā (bellows breath) as invigorating and purifying techniques.

Śītalī (cooling breath), Sītkārī (hissing breath), and Bhrāmarī (humming bee breath) as soothing and down-regulating techniques.

Discuss how to establish and sustain a prānāyāma and meditation practice, as well as the benefits of daily practice.

Review the Yoga Sūtras’ description of pranayama: A practice to destroy the veil that covers our inner light, and to reveal who we truly are.

Guided practice with J.

Viloma (interrupted breath), Antara Kumbhaka (retention after inhaling), and Bāhya Kumbhaka (retention after exhaling).

The bandhas and their relationship to Kumbhaka.

Closing practice ❤️