Prana is the universal principle of energy or force. It is a vital, all pervading force. It may be either in a static or dynamic state. It is found in all forms, from the highest to the lowest, from the ant to the elephant, from the unicellular amoeba to man, from the elementary form of plant life to the developed of animal life. Prana is force on every plane of being, from the highest to the lowest. Whatever moves or works or has life is but an expression or manifestation of Prana. It is Prana that shines in your eyes. It is through the power of Prana that the ears hear, the eyes see, the skin feels, the tongue tastes, the nose smells and the brain and the intellect perform their functions. The smile of a young lady, the melody in music, the power in the emphatic words of an orator, the charm in the speech of one’s beloved, are all due to Prana. Fire burns and the wind blows through Prana. Rivers flow and planes move in the air through Prana. The steam engines work and trains and cars move through Prana. Radio waves travel through Prana. Prana is electron, force, magnetism and electricity. It is Prana that pumps the blood from the heart to the arteries or blood vessels. Prana does digestion, excretion and secretion. It is expended in thinking, willing, acting, moving, talking and writing. A healthy, strong man has an abundance of Prana or nerve-force or vitality. It is supplied by food, water, air, solar energy, etc. The supply of Prana is taken up by the nervous system. It is absorbed in the process of breathing. The excess is stored in the brain and nerve centers. When the seminal energy is sublimated or transformed, it supplies an abundance of Prana to the system. It is stored up in the brain in the form of spiritual energy.

One of the most common issues clients face is lack of energy, vitality or prana and this book presents a simple yet revolutionary breathing approach to restore balance. Grounded in the yogic teachings, this text introduces the Buteyko breathing method as a more contemporary way of understanding the original intention of pranayama. Through extensive research, Robin Rothenberg establishes that as with Dr. Buteyko's breath retraining technique, the ancient yogis prescribed breathing less not more. Vedic science and physiology are broken down and explained in accessible ways. The book presents a new understanding and application of breathing to address a wide range of ailments, including COPD, asthma, hay-fever, autoimmune disorders, anxiety, sleep apnoea and neurological conditions.

Increase energy, relieve stress, find balance-yogic breathing for every level Pranayama, translated as the extension of one's life force, can help you improve focus, relieve stress, and deepen your yoga practice-simply through breathing. Essential pranayama offers clear, approachable breath techniques and exercises for all levels of practitioner. Whether you're experienced with yoga and breathwork or just beginning to explore, this guide will help you quickly feel the benefits of pranayama techniques. Here is a preview of what you'll learn... What you need to know before beginning Adham pranayama (abdominal breath) Nadhi sodhana pranayama (alternate nostril breath) Surya and chandra bedhana pranayama (sun and moon piercing breath) Ujjayi pranayama (victorious or conquering breath) Kapalbhati and bhastrika pranayama (shining skull and bellows breath) Bhramari pranayama (humming bee breath) Sitali and sitkari pranayama (cooling and sipping or hissing breath) Much, much more! This book teaches you the fundamentals of pranayama, as taught in a traditional ashram, with clear emphasis on the needs of westerners, who are not familiar with this important aspect of hindu religion. You will not only learn the basics of pranayama, but you can also teach others by simply following the daily practice programs, as taught in this manual. Pranayama, though it concerns the breath, gives good exercise to the various internal organs and the whole body.

For serious students of yoga who have an established pranayama practice, this book is a follow-up to Rosen’s previous book, The Yoga of Breath. Here he picks up where he left off, offering a selection of traditional yogic techniques for those who wish to deepen their practice of pranayama and their understanding of the ancient wisdom of yoga. Rosen skillfully puts forward an array of awareness disciplines, breathing practices, mudras, and seals, interspersed with anecdotes and quotes from ancient texts. A free audio program available online offers a variety of guided practices so that listeners can create their own pranayama series, with guidance from the author in the appendix. (Download instructions available in the book.)

In his third book Gregor Maehle aims at bringing about a renaissance of pranayama, the yogic school of breathing. For millennia pranayama was considered to be the quintessential yogic limb, yoga's main motor for spiritual evolution. To show pranayama's importance Maehle supports his findings at every turn with hundreds of quotations from yogic scripture. With unprecedented detail the author shows how pranayama is used to connect posture practice to yogic meditation and why it will accelerate your progress in both. Also covered are: - how pranayama creates health and its use in therapeutic application - mental and spiritual benefits of pranayama - the function of prana and the effects of pranayama - effect of pranayama on brain hemisphericity and balance of the nervous system - purpose of breath retentions and their precise technical application - in depth guidelines for the practice of pranayama - illustrations of the major pranayama and kriya techniques - the use of mantra and digital counting during pranayama - the appropriate diet and postures for pranayama - the importance and use of bandhas and kriyas before and during pranayama - how to set free your breathing pattern through exercising breath waves - descriptions of the classical pranayamas such as Nadi Shodhana, Bhastrika, Surya Bhedana with never before seen detail - how pranayama relates to raising Kundalini - a workable order in which techniques are to be learned and put into sequence with other yogic limbs - pranayama as it relates to the stages of life Gregor Maehle is practising and researching all aspects of yoga since 1982. He lived for several years in India studying with a variety of yogic masters and sadhus. He has previously published Ashtanga Yoga Practice and Philosophy and Ashtanga Yoga The Intermediate Series, which have been translated into several languages.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF YOGA: Discover the history and philosophy of yoga—plus tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, planning and sequencing your yoga classes, and much more. “Will help [yoga] instructors fine-tune their classroom skills and empower their personal practice.” —Yoga + Joyful Living Drawing on a wide spectrum of perspectives and featuring more than 150 photographs and illustrations, Teaching Yoga covers the fundamental topics of yoga for new and experienced yoga teachers. Inside, you’ll find: • A foundational overview of yoga philosophy and history • Presentations of yoga classics like Vedas; Upanishads; Bhagavad Gita; Yoga Sutras of Patanjali • Profiles of the 11 styles of contemporary yoga, including their history and distinguishing elements • Support and tools for teaching 108 yoga poses, breathing techniques, and meditations • Practical advice for classroom setup, and planning and sequencing yoga classes • Guidance through the process of starting and sustaining a career as a yoga teacher • Over 200 bibliographic sources and a comprehensive index • A useful appendix listing associations, institutes, organizations, and professional resources Addressing 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance—the world’s leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools—Teaching Yoga is the perfect resource for experienced yoga teachers, teachers in training, and anyone interesed in deepening their understanding of their yoga practice.

The bestselling guide for yoga teachers and trainers, revised and updated—a comprehensive Yoga Alliance-aligned manual of asanas, breathing techniques, yogic foundations, and more. Revised and updated, Teaching Yoga by yoga expert Mark Stephens is one of the most popular resources for new and experienced teachers, and has been a trusted guide since its publication in 2010. This classic resource covers fundamental topics of yoga history and philosophy, as well as each of the 11 major styles of contemporary yoga. There is also practical advice for every stage of the teaching process, including tools for teaching 108 yoga poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation. The 2nd edition—adapted to meet the needs of the modern yoga teacher—features: Updated sections on yoga history and philosophy Discussions of trauma-sensitive yoga Coverage of cultural appropriation, racism, and sexism in yoga An inclusive approach that expands beyond the traditional vinyasa flow style New photos and illustrations 1-page summaries after each chapter An extended list of references for further learning Developed to meet 100% of the teacher training curriculum standards set by Yoga Alliance, the world’s leading registry and accreditation source for yoga teachers and schools, Teaching Yoga is ideal for use as a core textbook in yoga teacher training programs.