Now On Demand
A foundation in basic breath technique is a vital element in our tool kit for living in the 21st century. Everyone should be equipped with breathing skills which demonstrably lower heart rate, boost energy and improve self-management in stressful situations. Even more, centering breath awareness forms the universal core of meditation methods practiced throughout the globe. With the right understanding, a simple breath easily unlocks the door to the ecstasy of spiritual liberation.
In this course you will survey the posture, physiology, psychology and spiritual significance of breath and breath practices with insights drawn from contemporary science as well as from the world’s wisdom traditions. Each session includes practical instruction in natural breath-centered meditation supported by both sacred and secular textual sources.
Improve breathing habits for wellness, energy and mood management
Develop best postural alignments for breath practices
Use breath in action to establish present moment awareness
Experience the spiritual ecstasy of Tantric teachings on breath awareness
In module one we will take a look at “bottom up” neuro-messaging with postural alignments for increasing oxygen intake and sending calming messages to the brain and nervous system. We will explore a variety of breath practices to effectively maintain peaceful social- emotional equilibrium and healthy vagal tone. We will survey various yogic breath practices and the metaphysics of breath or prana derived from the origin myths of diverse cultures.
Module 2 will provide a review of the fascinating philosophy and practice of ‘pranayama’ (breath practice used for self-inquiry) from the yoga canon, and an experiential survey of Zen, Vipassana and Tibetan Buddhist teachings on breath awareness. Recap the basic principles of breathing for mindfulness and stress regulation, and practice to make meditation more accessible and enjoyable.
In module three we encounter the enlightening breath-centered methods described in sacred Tantric contemplative teachings. An introduction to the poets, seers and texts of Kashmiri Shaivism, such as the Shiva Sutras and Shree Vijnana Bhairava, yields a treasury of simple yet profound gestures of attention which draw the practitioner into the experiential contact with the infinite known as non-dual consciousness.
A deep dive into a specific text, the “Kularnava Tantra” which offers breath technique as the means to meditative non-dual awareness. We will look at a map of the “pranic sheath” and the breath-arising mantra, “Ham-Sah” (or So’ham) will be the centerpiece of this final module.
Mary Reilly Nichols is the Director of Nalanda Institute’s Yoga, Mind & Spirit and has been teaching yoga for over 30 years. She offers teachings through the lens of non-duality in the Upanishads, Advaita Vedanta, as well as in the Tantric methods of Kashmiri Shaivism and Kundalini Yoga. She holds a BA in anthropology from Harvard University, and completed five years of residency in the ashrams of Swami Muktananda both in India and in the US. In addition to workshops, weekly classes, corporate and teacher-trainings, Nichols teaches stress management in psychiatric settings and is involved in ongoing research on the mind/body benefits of yoga and meditation.
PER MONTH
This Course, plus:
Unlimited Access to Over 40 On-Demand Courses
2+ New Courses Every Month
Access to EPTV: Over 200 Hours of On-Demand Video Content
New weekly talk curated from our most recent live event
New Yoga Seminar talk every month
New MindBody Seminar talk every month
***Minimum 3-Month Commitment
AUTO-DEBITED EVERY 3 MONTHS
This Course, plus:
Unlimited Access to Over 40 On-Demand Courses
2+ New Courses Every Month
Access to EPTV: Over 200 Hours of On-Demand Video Content
New weekly talk curated from our most recent live event
New Yoga Seminar talk every month
New MindBody Seminar talk every month
*** SAVE 15% OFF the Monthly Option
50% Complete
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.