Pranayama
Sacred breathing practices from the Vedic tradition.
Pranayama is the yogic science of breath control — techniques for directing prana (life force) through the body's energy channels. From simple calming breaths to advanced practices that alter consciousness, pranayama is one of yoga's most powerful tools.
Calming
Purifying
Balancing
Energizing
How-To Guides
Step-by-step guides to specific breathwork practices.
How to Do Bhramari (Bee Breath)
A 5-minute step-by-step guide to the humming bee breath — the calming pranayama that quiets the mind through low, sustained vibration on the exhale.
How to Do Box Breathing (Square Breath)
A 5-minute step-by-step guide to box breathing — the equal-ratio pranayama used by Navy SEALs, ER nurses, and yogis to find composure on demand.
How to Do Kapalabhati (Skull-Shining Breath)
A step-by-step guide to Kapalabhati, the forceful exhalation pranayama that energizes the body and clears the mind in 5 minutes.
How to Do Lion's Breath (Simhasana Pranayama)
A 3-minute step-by-step guide to Lion's Breath — the cathartic, tongue-out, lion-roar pranayama that releases jaw tension, throat congestion, and stuck emotion.
How to Do Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
A 5-minute step-by-step guide to alternate nostril breathing — the slow pranayama that calms the nervous system and steadies attention before sitting or sleep.
How to Do Sitali (Cooling Breath)
A 5-minute step-by-step guide to Sitali, the cooling pranayama that pulls heat out of the body through a curled tongue. Useful for hot flashes, anger, heartburn, and summer afternoons.
How to Do the 4-7-8 Breath
A 3-minute step-by-step guide to the 4-7-8 breath — the slow-exhale technique Dr. Andrew Weil calls a natural tranquilizer for the nervous system. Learn the tongue position, the count, and the four-cycle limit beginners need to know.
How to Do the Wim Hof Breathing Method
A 15-minute step-by-step guide to the Wim Hof breathing method — the controlled hyperventilation practice that floods the body with oxygen and triggers deep relaxation. Practice safely lying down, never near water.
How to Do Three-Part Breath (Dirga Pranayama)
A 5-minute step-by-step guide to Dirga Pranayama — the foundational three-part breath that teaches you to fill the belly, ribs, and upper chest in sequence. It is the first pranayama most teachers offer beginners because it builds the body awareness every other breath practice depends on.
How to Do Ujjayi (Victorious Breath)
A step-by-step guide to Ujjayi pranayama — the ocean-sounding breath that paces every Ashtanga and Vinyasa class. Learn the throat technique in five minutes.