Pranayama Breathing Practice

Surya Bhedana is a more activating and stimulating pranayama, with a stronger effect on your energy.

It is always suggested to balance the heating effect of Surya Bhedana with Sitali or Sitkari. This is a complete class that starts with Surya Bhedana and finishes with Sitali.

Contraindications: if you are pregnant or on your cycle, do not practise Surya Bhedana.

Sitkari is a practice for people who cannot do Sitali, but it is a good practice for anyone, with its own benefits.

Its effects are similar to Sitali, and it belongs to the same family of cooling, calming pranayamas. Give it a try in this short class.

One of the foundations of pranayama is breathing in set ratios between the inhale, the exhale and holding the breath. The ratios work on the nervous system and, in the yoga tradition, on our energy.

This class helps you get familiar with the base: an exhale twice the length of the inhale.

Good if you are new to pranayama, and a nice class for anyone who wants to relax the mind and connect to their inner world.

Chandra Bhedana is one of the most nourishing and soothing pranayamas. It translates as moon channel piercing, and in the yoga tradition it activates Ida nadi, the calming, nourishing, feminine side of the body's energy system.

A simple practice, and good if you feel stressed, overworked, overstimulated or have trouble relaxing.

Tune in and chill out.

Uddiyana Bandha Kriya can take time to master. In this class we simplify the technique and build it up from the preparatory stages.

Relaxation is a big part of it, and the class makes Uddiyana Bandha Kriya accessible to anyone.

Contraindications: if you are pregnant or on your cycle, do not practise Uddiyana Bandha Kriya.

Surya Bhedana translates as sun channel piercing. In the yoga tradition it is more activating to our inner energy and starts to have an effect on Kundalini.

Ideally, spend some time with the other pranayama techniques before you come to this one. The class finishes with some Sitali to balance the effects.

Contraindications: if you are pregnant or on your cycle, do not practise Surya Bhedana.

Bhramari means something like the sound of the bee, and that is what we create: the humming sound of a bee with our breath.

It calms busy thoughts and gently brings the mind to a quieter place. Easy, and less technical than some other pranayamas.

Recitation of OM is traditionally called Pranava Japa. It works well after pranayama, or as a practice in its own right.

The emphasis is on the vibration. We use it to still the mind and bring us to a deeper connection within.

Simple and profound.

Ujjayi translates as victorious. It helps settle restlessness in the body and the mind, and brings a sense of calm and balance.

One of the features of Ujjayi is breathing with a soft sound. I describe how to do this in the tutorial video. Beginners can practise without it.

Mula Bandha is one of the most fundamental parts of physical yoga, for both asana and pranayama. For many of us it is hard to connect to.

This class guides you through different techniques to find and build a relationship with your Mula Bandha, your pelvic floor.

One of the building blocks of yoga.

If your exhale is good and you feel ready to start working with kumbhaka, this class is a good start.

It is for those already familiar with pranayama, and it introduces breath holding. We work with the first stage of holding the breath in pranayama, so that you become familiar with it.

Once you are familiar with working with your breath and used to a double length exhale, the next step is to hold the breath.

In pranayama there is a specific way of doing this, with the bandhas. This short tutorial outlines the basic points.

Nadi Shodhana translates as clearing of the channels. Another name for it is Anuloma Viloma, and in English we call it alternate nostril breathing.

A fundamental pranayama that, in the yoga tradition, brings the energy channels and the nervous system into balance. A good breath practice to prepare the mind for meditation.

The foundation of pranayama.

In this pranayama practice we become aware of our normal breath and slowly build up to yogic breathing. We practise the abdominal, thoracic and clavicular breath one by one, then combine them into a full yogic breath.

Then we practise alternate nostril breathing, which in the yoga tradition balances the energetic body. By the end you breathe more deeply, with a calmer mind and more ease in the body.

A short five minute talk about what pranayama is and how it works.

A good place to start before you try your first pranayama class.

Suitable for everyone. Use this class to begin your relationship with your breath.

We start lying down for simple pranayama breathing, and close the class with a seated practice. Level 1, no props needed.

This short pranayama class packs a lot in. The first exercises work on the belly, letting go of tension in the abdomen.

We practise kriyas and breathing techniques like Uddiyana bandha Kriya, Agni Sara and Anuloma Viloma, alternate nostril breathing, one of the most fundamental pranayamas. The class finishes with a calming Bhramari pranayama.

Inspired by freediving. We do simple stretches with the breath held.

The stretches work on the mobility of the rib cage and the expansion of the chest, and you practise holding the breath with more ease. Level 1, no props needed. A good morning practice.

In the yoga tradition, pranayama brings the body's inner energies into balance. Put simply, we can understand this as bringing the nervous system into balance.

Some pranayamas are more soothing and calming. In this class we use the ones that soothe an overworked nervous system: Chandra Bhedana, Sitali (Sitkari) and Ujjayi.

Take some time with this ancient art. Breathing practice can support, but not replace, care from a doctor or therapist.

A simple 15 minute pranayama class, accessible for anyone. We begin by developing the connection to the exhale, the most grounding and calming part of the breath.

Once connected, the traditional pranayama begins with Sitali, calming and soothing.

Calm down and connect to your deeper self.

The purpose of this class is real, deep relaxation, to rest your nervous system and replenish your energy.

We use a mix of simple meditation and Hatha yoga techniques, including some kriyas, the classical preparation practices.

When we work with the body with intelligence and an understanding of the nervous system, we can all bring ourselves to deep relaxation.