I just finished teaching a lecture on our 200hr Teacher Training in Bali, exploring the Categories of Pranayama and how we can learn to use Breathwork as a powerful system to control the nervous system. I have been fortunate to have been well trained in this system and have lectured about it on many occasions, and this lecture next fails to impress.
(I'm not sure how impressive I am, but the lecture content is truly incredible.)
The students on the current course felt the same as most of my students feel when they receive this information - which is the same way that I felt when I was first instructed in this system;
Amazed, Inspired and Empowered!
I remember when I was first introduced to Polyvagal Theory whilst working with the incredible team of practitioners at The Health Lodge in Byron. Dr Marcus Hewitson, a fantastic functional MD gave me a low down on the theory (this was 5 years ago and Polyvagal Theory had only just been explained to the world.) What he explained to me and I soon realised, was that as a Breathwork, Meditation and Yoga teacher I was uniquely well placed to take advantage of this theory, and provide real world solutions for people seeking to balance their nervous system and heal trauma. Whilst the Doctors and Psychs have the theory down pat, we as yogis and breathwork practitioners have the TOOLS to support the journey of wellbeing and healing supported through self awareness and breath.
In simple terms as breathwork practitioners, we learn how to effect the nervous system through controlling the breath. Through understanding a system of techniques we learn how to effect the body in a definitive way, we can intentionally and quickly do a whole bunch of really cool things, through breathwork we can learn to;
🔥 Activate the metabolism
💓Slow the heart rate
⚡️ Balance the nadis / nervous system
👁️ Improve concentration
☺️ RELAX..!
🫃🏻 Improve metabolism and digestion
🥰 Warm the body
✨ Release nitric oxide and improve vasodilation
❤️🩹 Heal trauma
What I've realised through reviewing a lot of meditation training curriculums in the last few years, is that very few cover this incredible science appropriately, and few have grasped the incredible potential of marrying together polyvagal theory and pranayama. We created our Breathwork and Meditation TTC to bridge the gap for yoga teacher trainees seeking something more, as well as medical profesionals wanting PD as well as practitioner of yoga and meditation seeking to enrich and expand their personal practice.
Here is what I consider Must Know list for understanding how to effectively guide and practice Breathwork & Pranayama;
✅ Essentials of Polyvagal Theory
✅ Categories of Pranayama (Sensitising, Balancing, Vitalising, Tranquilising)
✅ Ratios of Breathing (extended inhales / exhales and breath ratios for specific affects)
✅ How to stage practices to make them accessible and available for all levels and backgrounds
Once you grasp the fundamentals here, you will be empowered with an impressive toolkit. Skilled breathwork practitioners learn how to intentionally regulate the emotions and mental states, it's an incredible system, and the best bit - it is already yours and it's completely free.
Once you understand the essential theory and a few of the techniques, there are no ongoing commitment or payments, the tools are yours to use whenever and however you wish. There are no pills to take or external therapies needed (bad news for Big Pharma). When it comes to breath-work, everything that you need is already there. We are all breathing anyway, all we need to do is learn the simple system of how to control it.
We cover this in depth thoughout our teacher training program - if you would like to know more, check out our course prospectus or contact us for program dates.
