Essentials of Yogic Breathing

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Course Outline

1hr to complete

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Section 1

  • Download your ebook: Essentials of Yogic Breathing

  • Jim introduces the course and outlines what lies ahead.
  • Jim answers questions about pranayama that are frequently asked by beginners.
  • Jim explains the concept of ratio fundamentals, which includes lengthening the inhalations, exhalations, and the spaces between.
  • In this short asana practice, you’ll sync your movements and your breath to prepare for pranayama.
Section 2
  • Jim discusses and demonstrates the breathing techniques that you will practice during this course.
  • Jim will walk you through the steps it takes to practice ujjayi pranayama and he'll explain when and why this breath is practiced.
  • Jim explains the importance of kapalabhati, mentions its contraindications, and provides you with a step-by-step guided practice.
  • Jim guides you through this lesser known breathing technique and offers tips for practicing it.
  • Jim discusses how nadi shodhana works, demonstrates this technique, and offers a guided practice.
  • Jim demonstrates and guides you through the practice of each of these breathing techniques.
  • Jim wraps up the course by sharing some key concepts and best practices for each technique that you've learned.

Course Overview

Why practice pranayama?

Tantric vinyasa yoga teacher Jim Bennitt explains that when you can learn to control the breath, you can learn to control the mind. Prana means "vital life force" and yama means "to constrain or control." The practice of pranayama is about modifying the breath to control the life force which in turn helps to control the mind.

When you work with prana in this way, you are inviting the opportunity to connect with a deeper aspect of yourself—the part of yourself that’s deeper than the body and even deeper than the mind. Consistent breathwork can show up in your daily life as finding more peace and clarity in the moments that you need them most.

This workshop is excellent for beginners, teachers who want a refresher on how to teach a variety of breathing techniques, and the experienced practitioner who wants to be guided through their pranayama practice.

Learn pranayama that you can use to energize, calm, or cool yourself, and to get centered. After completing each breath practice, take the time to feel the effects it had on your nervous system and your mind.

For example, you may discover that energizing breaths are best to practice in the morning and can prepare you for more active yoga classes, and that the calming breaths are better to practice in the evening and can prepare you for restorative classes. By taking inventory at the end of each pranayama practice, you can become more attuned to the needs of your body and the quality of your thoughts.

Take this workshop to explore:

  • The following breathing techniques: ujjayi (victorious breath), nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing), kapalabhati (skull shining breath), bhramari (bumble bee breath), sitali (cooling breath) and sitkari (hissing breath).

  • The answers to frequently asked questions about pranayama.

  • The use of ratio fundamentals, which include breath retention and lengthening the inhales and exhales to create an energizing or calming effect.

  • A short and sweet asana sequence to prepare you for the pranayama practices.

  • How to use your throat and nose as valves to extend your breath.

  • An in-depth description of each practice and how it relates to asana.

Feel confident while practicing pranayama and start integrating more breath into your yoga practice.

Meet Your Teacher

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Jim Bennitt
Jim Bennitt—a former wrestler, massage therapist, and clerk at the Chicago Board of Trade—began his studies... Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely, you can include this course in your Yoga Alliance training hours, with each hour equivalent to one continuing education credit.
This course is entirely self- paced, allowing you to learn at your convenience.There are no imposed deadlines or time constraints for Course completion.
No prerequisites are required; this course is open to anyone interested in deepening their knowledge and practice.
No, the course is accessible to all individuals interested in enriching their understanding and practice of yoga.Yoga teaching certification is not a prerequisite.