Pranayama Fundamentals, Purpose and Effects
This course explains how body and mind are connected via the pranic strata and that body, breath and mind can be likened to the solid, liquid and gaseous states of water. Prana, as the liquid state mediates between the two others. It is shown why a yoga practice that contains only asana and meditation still falls short of yogas potential and that only the adding of pranayama optimizes and connects both. The five sheaths (panchakoshas) of the Taittiriya Upanishad are then explained in detail, their connection to the Yoga Sutra is shown and how this applies to pranayama. The various purposes and benefits of pranayama are then discussed, together with quotations from many shastras (scriptures). We then delve into the rationale and benefits of alternate nostril breathing.
2 CPD points will be automatically allocated to your dashboard on completion of this course.
In this course we will learn why pranayama is so important as the connection limb between asana and meditation, and why it is essential for succeeding with yoga. We will trace the sources of pranayama in the Yoga Sutra, the Gita, the Upanishads and many other texts. We will then look into the manifold benefits of alternate nostril breathing and why we must be established in it before progressing to breath retentions.
NOTE: In the videos there is reference to PDFs. This information is included in the lesson content and not as a separate document.
About the Teacher
Gregor Maehle began his yogic practices 45 years ago. In the mid-1980s he commenced annual travels to India, where he studied with various yogic and tantric masters, traditional Indian sadhus and ascetics. He spent fourteen months in Mysore, and in 1997 was authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by K. Pattabhi Jois. Since then, he has branched out into researching the anatomical alignment of postures and the higher limbs of yoga.
In India Gregor also received eight months of mostly one-on-one instruction in scripture and the higher limbs of Yoga through B.N.S. Iyengar, a student of T. Krishnamacharya, and he studied Sanskrit under Professor Narayanachar and Dr Chandrasekhar. Gregor’s internationally acclaimed textbook series consisting of Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series, Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga, Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom, Samadhi The Great Freedom, How to Find Your Life’s Divine Purpose, Chakras, Drugs & Evolution and Mudras: Seals of Yoga – have sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide and have been translated into eight foreign languages. Additional volumes currently prepared are Tantric Meditation and Bhakti: Yoga of Love.
Gregor has been invited to many countries to teach and has contributed to and been interviewed by numerous yoga magazines. On Gregor’s blog page chintamaniyoga.com/blog/ you will find over 300 articles, videos and podcasts on all aspects of yoga, which Gregor has authored together with his wife Monica.
Today, Gregor teaches an anatomically sophisticated interpretation of traditional vinyasa yoga, integrated into the practice of the higher limbs in the spirit of Patanjali and T. Krishnamacharya. His zany sense of humour, his manifold personal experiences, and his vast and deep knowledge of scripture, Indian philosophies and yogic techniques combine to make his teachings applicable, relevant and easily accessible to all his students.
Read more about Gregor Maehle here.
CPD Course Content
About Instructor
CPD Course Includes
- 4 Lessons
- 1 Quiz
- CPD Course Certificate
