Syllabus of Pranayama Teachers Training

Module 1: Introducing the respiratory system and healthy breathing

  • Anatomy and function of the respiratory system

  • What is healthy breathing

  • Assessing your breath

  • The mind-breath connection

  • The nasal cycle

  • How to sit comfortably when practising pranayama

  • When/ where to practise

  • Keeping a practice diary

Module 2: Harnessing the power of the breath              

  • Cleansing the respiratory system; kriyas including neti, kapalabhati

  • Alternate nostril breathing, anuloma viloma, nadi shuddhana

  • Asanas to enable you to sit more comfortably when doing pranayama

Module 3: preparing the body and mind for prānāyāma; understanding the yoga body       

  • The 3 bodies and 5 sheaths

  • Prana and nadis; Ida-Pingala-Sushumna

  • Swara yoga

  • Autonomic nervous system

  • Kosha meditation

Module 4: Deepening your practice

  • Tongue cleansing and bhujangi mudra

  • Bhramari pranayama

  • Humming and health

  • Regulating the breath by place of focus, time, number

  • Meditation: using your breath to overcome distractions

Module 5: elements and prāna-vayus

  • oil-pulling kriya

  • pancha mahā-bhutas (five ‘great’ elements)

  • the five prāna-vayus with focus on prāna and samāna

  • Surya-bheda

  • Meditation on the sound of the breath

Module 6: bandhas; advancing in prānāyāma

  • Jihva-bandha

  • Review prāna-vayus; focus on apāna, vyāna, udāna

  • Head-heart breathing

  • Pancha-mukhi Hanuman

Module 7: Introducing the chakras

  • Neck exercises

  • Ujjayi pranayama

  • Jalandhara bandha

  • Chakra awareness meditation

  • Chandra-bheda

    Module 8: Cooling breaths; mental cleansing; establishing a firm foundation for your practice

  • Mūla-bandha

  • Sitkari and Sheetali pranayamas

  • Shanmukhi mudra: tuning to silence

  • Samanu: mental cleanse

  • Meditation: grounding your practice: breathing into mūladhara chakra

    Module 9: breath observation

  • Bhastrikā

  • Observing your breath

  • Pratyāhāra

  • Uddiyana-bandha

  • Prāna as electricity

Module 10: Summation; putting the theory into practice

  • Nadānu-sandhana

  • Bibliography; additional study resources

  • Continuing on

  • Organising your courses

  • Mudras with pranayama

  • Nadānu-sandhana: mudras, mantra and pranayama

Total CPD hours: 70

Accreditation: this course meets the stringent requirements of accreditation set by Yoga Alliance Professionals. Our graduates are trained to the highest standard and are eligible to register with the Yoga Alliance Professionals having the specialty of ‘Pranayama and Breathwork Teacher'.

Terms and conditions of Pranayama Teachers Training

Cost: £459, includes an extensive notes and teaching aids

To register: non-refundable deposit of £150 - Please contact Sally regarding account details. The balance is due 3 weeks before the start of the course.

Classes are small, as the number of participants is limited. Please book as soon as possible.

Refunds and transfers: once payment has been made, there are no refunds. However, you may transfer to another session of the course, with a £100 transfer fee. You must complete the course within 3 years.

Attendance: students are expected to attend all classes via Zoom and be absent only with good reason. If you are unable to attend because of illness or other emergency, you must inform the tutor before the start of the class. Students are required to register a minimum of 80% attendance at live sessions– the first class cannot be missed. If a live class is missed, it is student's responsibility to make up the content by viewing the recorded sessions and doing additional homework.

Students who do not reach the required attendance will not receive their certificate until they have made up the time/practice and assignments and this may incur additional costs. If you miss more than two live classes, you will be expected to transfer to a subsequent session of the course, with payment of £100 transfer fee.

Homework is non-graded, however written assignments will be either 'pass’ or ‘refer'. If a piece of work is referred, it should be resubmitted when the necessary amendments have been made. The tutor will support and advise you through this process and detailed feedback will be given. Students must complete each assignment to the tutor’s satisfaction before going on to the next assignment.

As well as completing written assignments, students are expected to arrange their own teaching practice groups. This serves too enhance the student's knowledge and develop the skills needed to be a good teacher.

Students will received practice teaching assignments and must report on each session taught in writing by answering self-assessment questions.

Students will evaluate their own practice and progress through their own reflective self-assessment and are required to keep a practice diary showing learning progress.

Code of conduct: students and teachers are expected to act with mutual respect and kindness. Students are expected to wear loose comfortable clothing in class (no jeans) and to turn off their phones (not simply put them into silent mode). No eating in class please.

CPD 70 hours