Correct breathing technique has never been more important, for our physical health, our immunity, and our ability to remain calm and relaxed in the face of stress and challenge. Breathwork is an ancient technique which ensures we breathe deeply and consciously, in order to maximise the flow of life force energy (prana) through our body, for optimal wellbeing. Applying pranayama practice to your daily life puts you in charge of your emotions and your health once more.

what is pranayama

Pranayama is one of the fundamental aspects of yoga, along with asana (postures), meditation and other practices such as sacred sound, devotional practice, and karma yoga. However, because breathing is a non-negotiable part of our existence, learning to master the breath can be the simplest and most powerful way to bring mastery into your own life.

The breath and the mind are inextricably intertwined, so if our mind is racing and we are struggling to calm it, the most direct route is to stop fighting or getting frustrated with the mind, and switch our focus to the breath. By breathing mindfully, slowing each breath and even adding breathhold, the mind has no choice but to calm down and begin to move in rhythm with the breath.

The breath is the master key to our higher levels of consciousness, as well as better health - and it is as simple as sitting and breathing consciously for a few minutes each day.

About Breath of Life Pranayama

This Breath of Life Pranayama course is a five-week programme designed to impart and deepen an understanding of the fundamental techniques of correct breathing, by introducing new aspects of how to extend and control the breath week-by-week. It also covers the subtle use of bhandas, and correct ratios for a deeper, more attuned practice with personalised guidance according to your natural breath, health and experience. By the end of the programme each student will be proficient in a range of classical pranayama exercises to help them energise, calm or balance themselves, according to their needs. It is in the application of daily personal practice that deep transformation can be achieved.

Sara brings her unique combination of experience, training and personal practice to these teachings, uniting the power of her 17 years of Kundalini practice, her studies with O P Tiwari (Jacque Mayol’s pranayama teacher) in Classical Pranayama, and her adventures into deep breathhold through her freediving. She also brings her many years of intuitive personal coaching to guide students through the emotional and mental obstacles that may arise as sensitivity and awareness is heightened through practice.

SPECIAL OFFER

course structure

dates

The Breath of Life sessions will be held each Sunday morning at 8:00am CET/Egypt time, starting Sunday 3rd May and finishing Sunday 31st May.

optional week six

For those of you who are really serious about starting a personal practice and wish to have a personal consultation with me at the end, I am offering this one to one session (normally charged at £100 as part of a three-part programme) for just £75. Over 90 minutes we will discuss your habits, challenges, and goals and design a daily pranyama practice that supports your individual needs and lifestyle. To sign up for this additional personal consultation, please email me directly at any stage during the Breath of Life programme, or within two weeks of completing, to organise your session.

Daily personal practice is part of the course and will greatly help your progress and support you to create a regular discipline of breathwork to keep you healthy and balanced in body, mind and spirit throughout the Corona crisis and beyond. As we will learn new techniques each week it is important that you do your best to attend each week of practice, or at the very least ensure you watch the video of any missed sessions before attending the next one.

how to join breath of life

This five-week course will be offered online, for access from home wherever you live. In order to participate you simply need a home internet connection, and a calm, quiet space in your house where you can practice undisturbed. Most people prefer to sit on the floor as for meditation, but you can also practice sitting in a chair if this helps you to stay comfortable and relaxed. To sign up simply click below to register for yourself, add your friend, and pay.

Classes will be held at 8am CET/Egypt time each Sunday via Zoom. The link will be shared with you via email ahead of each call. To join using a laptop or desktop you simply need to click and join; if joining via a mobile device you will need to ensure you have downloaded the Zoom.us app to your device before we start - it is free.

Recordings of each class will be sent to you via email the day after each session to support your daily practice..

Bring a friend for free!!!

As a special offer to celebrate the launch of this new online Breath of Life course I am excited to introduce this BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE deal!

• Is there someone that you’d love to connect with once a week and share this practice with?

• Perhaps you would benefit from having a practice buddy to help you stay motivated and who keeps you accountable to your daily practice?

• Maybe someone you know is feeling super-stressed and would really love to have this quiet hour each Sunday morning to connect with their breath and the DYD conscious community?

If so, when you sign up, we’ll ask you to introduce your friend to us and they will be in alongside you. Let’s share the spirit of giving and supporting others through this crisis - it’s a great feeling!

Everyone is Welcome

Pranayama is probably one of the most accessible forms of spiritual practice - even if you are ill and in bed you can still work with conscious breath. In fact, it is one of the best ways to help heal from a range of illnesses as well as shifting negative moods, heaviness, lack of focus, or feeling unsettled.

During Coronavirus is quite possibly the best time to pick up conscious breathwork, not only to keep your lungs healthy and strong, but to help you manage the immense emotional and mental stress of this unprecedented situation.

In the spirit of sharing and supporting the community, we really hope to welcome as many people as possible to this course, as well as your friends, colleagues, neighbours and family members.

How do online sessions work

As we will each be practicing from the comfort of our own home, you need to ensure your space is set up to support your practice. Here are some tips to help you get ready:

• Ensure you have a quiet, calm place in your home where you feel comfortable and won’t be distracted during practice. Ideally you will practice in the same place every day

• Set up your sitting space - either a yoga mat with a cushion on the floor, or if you are unable to sit comfortably on the floor, then arrange a chair where you can sit perched on the front edge (ie not reclining against any cushions), and your feet planted on the ground. You can you watch this video below for more options to tweak your sitting position to support your physiology

• You should always practice on an empty stomach. Have a glass of water before class and keep a glass with you to sip during practice

• If you feel blocked or constipated, drink a few large cups of warm-to-hot water (maybe infused with fresh ginger and a squeeze of lemon) half an hour before practice to stimulate your elimination

• Set up your laptop, phone or iPad so that you can see the screen clearly without straining your eyes or neck

• If using a laptop or desktop you can simply click on the link to join. If using a mobile device to join the sessions, you will need to download the Zoom.us app before our first session - it’s free. Please make sure this is set up at least the evening before the course starts so you don’t miss anything, or start the course stressed out by technology issues

• You will receive the private link to join each session via email on Saturday evening, as well as a reminder email 30 minutes before practice starts

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email here. We very much look forward to sharing this wonderful practice with you and to helping you share it with your loved ones too.

Namaste