Pranayama breathing refers to controlling the vital energy that fills the human body. Pranayama is a critical process of purification needed for deeper meditation toward the goal of Raja Yoga -- the control of the heart.

Acquiring and then developing this skill requires a routine of practice and perseverance while maintaining calmness. This process is facilitated by building our trust in each other and by sharing experiences over a course period of up to 18 weeks. The course theme is “harmony”. Through Pranayama and Meditation, we seek to generate a harmony that resonates between the body and the mind, within and between people, and between each individual and the broader universe.

This course is intended not only to transfer knowledge, but also to integrate that knowledge within each student’s individual practice. We begin gradually, by accustoming our bodies to the process.

Course Curriculum:

It is said that in yoga, anything that has a form has four stages that repeat in a cycle: 1.Latency, 2.Occurrence, 3.Sustaining & Changing, 4.Extinction. According to this law of nature, we divide this course into four sections, including a lecture, practice sessions, and sufficient time to share the experiences…

Month 1: Preparation period (Existence Term) 5 weeks

Building on the foundation of our body, we purify the Nadi (passage for prana) through the asana and breathing, learning to rest both the body and the mind.

• Week 1
  - Lecture on Pranayama and the Nadi
  - Sunsalutation focusing on the Nadi
  - Quiet asana focusing on the Nadi
• Week 2
  - 3 types of breathing system
  - Warm-up (sunsalutation / asana)
  - Kriya (Kapala Bhati)
• Week 3
  - Practice from the previous week
  - Pranayama (Anuloma Viloma)
• Week 4
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, practice with increased frequency
• Week 5
  - Practicing the basic sequence with increased frequency
  - Sharing the experience

Month 2: Brahma period (Generating Term) 4 weeks

Beginning with the accumulation of Prana, we practice Pranayama breathing and breath retention to expand capacity. We then meditate, by using our senses.

• Week 1
  - Lecture on Kumbhaka and Jnyana Indriya
  - Adding Kumbhaka on the basic sequence from Month 1
• Week 2
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, actual practice
  - Meditation by using our sense of sight
• Week 3
  - Practicing the basic sequence with increased frequency
  - Meditation by using our sense of sight
• Week 4
  - Practicing the basic sequence
  - Sharing the experience

Month 3: Vishnu period (Observing Term) 4 weeks

We further expand our capacity in order to make the transition to advanced pranayama. Making the transition introduces us to meditation detached from the senses.

• Week 1
  - Lecture on 3 categories of breathing and Bandha
  - Adding Bandha on the basic sequence from Month 2
  - Adding advanced Pranayama
  - Savasana and meditation detached from the senses
• Week 2
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, actual practice
  - Adding advanced Pranayama
• Week 3
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, actual practice
  - Adding advanced Pranayama
• Week 4
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, actual practice
  - Sharing the experience

Month 4: Siva period (Dissolution Term) 5 weeks

Bringing together all practices up until now, we purify the Nadi through a reliance on mental powers, extending the duration of meditation.

• Week 1
  - Lecture on Samannu
  - Using the basic sequence from Month 3, actual practice with increased frequency and refined quality
  - Adding Samannu
• Week 2
  - Using practice from the previous week as the basic sequence, actual practice with refined quality
• Week 3
  - Practicing the basic sequence with refined quality
• Week 4
  - Back to basics (Kapala Bhati, Anuloma Viloma) with increased frequency
  - Meditation
  - Sharing the experience
• Week 5
  - Kapala Bhati and Anuloma Viloma with increased frequency
  - Deepening the meditation