Pranayama practice
The day's practice, guided as a group: the techniques of your course in sequence, with the bandhas, mudras and bija mantras.
Breathwork course · Rishikesh
A Breathwork Course Rooted in Classical Pranayama
Breathwork, studied as yoga teaches it: as pranayama. Kumbhaka with the bandhas, nadi and chakra pranayamas, mudras and bija mantras, in two sessions a day, Monday to Saturday, in Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh, beside the Ganga.
Tuition from$149₹13,000
7, 15 or 30 days · A new start every month · Taught in English
The course
7, 15 or 30 days of pranayama
All three courses begin on the same day and share the same first week. The 7-day course ends after seven days, the 15-day course at mid-month, and the 30-day course runs the whole cycle.
7 days
7-Day Pranayama Course
The foundations, with kumbhaka and the bandhas from the first week.
$149₹13,000tuition only
Every course begins with these practices:
- Kapalabhati
- Bhastrika
- Yogic breath
- Agnisara
- Ujjayi pranayama
- Bandhas: Mula, Uddiyana and Jalandhara bandha
- Nadi Shodhana with Chandra nadi and Surya nadi bhedana
- Kumbhaka with bandhas: Antar kumbhaka and Bahya kumbhaka
15 days
15-Day Pranayama Course
The foundations, then pranayama joined to the bandhas.
$229₹20,000tuition only
Everything in the 7-day course, plus:
- Kapalabhati with Mula bandha and Uddiyana bandha
- Bhastrika with Maha bandha
- Deep breaths with Maha bandha
- Ujjayi pranayama with Mula bandha and Uddiyana bandha
- Nadi Shodhana with Muladhara and Ida & Pingala nadi stimulation
- Nadi (energy-channel) pranayamas
- Kumbhakas
30 days
30-Day Pranayama Course
The whole month: every practice, through to the chakra pranayamas.
$349₹30,000tuition only
Everything in the 15-day course, plus:
- Advanced pranayama practices
- Chakra pranayamas
Starts on the 1st of every month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday). Sunday is a rest day, with no classes. 20% deposit online; the balance is paid on arrival.
How to choose
Not sure? Tell us about your practice when you enquire, and we will suggest a course.
7-Day Pranayama Course
Choose 7 days if this is your first serious pranayama course, or if you have one week in Rishikesh. You learn the full foundation, including kumbhaka with the bandhas.
15-Day Pranayama Course
Choose 15 days if you already practise yoga or breathing and want to work with the bandhas in depth. The second week joins the practices to the locks.
30-Day Pranayama Course
Choose 30 days if you want the whole progression, through to the chakra pranayamas, with time for each stage to settle.
Daily schedule
Two sessions a day, Monday to Saturday
Starts on the 1st of every month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday).
Corrections, science & philosophy
Corrections and further practice, then the science and philosophy of pranayama: how the practices work, and how classical yoga texts describe the breath and the mind.
Sunday is a rest day, with no classes. Afternoons are free for rest, reading and quiet practice of your own.
What every course includes
Whichever course you choose, the practice is also a study. In all three courses, students observe how each practice influences four areas, and learn to read those changes over the days.
I
Mind
Attention, mood and the movement of thought: the psychology of each practice.II
Nervous system
Signs of activation and of settling: heartbeat, warmth, alertness, calm.III
Body
Posture, the diaphragm and abdomen, and the felt effect of each bandha.IV
Energy
Prana as yoga describes it: sensations of flow, heat, lightness or stillness.
Mudras & bija mantras
Mudras (hand gestures) and bija mantras (seed syllables) are coordinated with the practices, and you observe their influence in the same four areas.
Breathwork, rooted in pranayama
Breathwork is a broad modern term for any deliberate breathing practice. Pranayama is yoga's own discipline of the breath: precise techniques, nostril patterns, retentions and bandhas, practised within yoga's understanding of prana and the mind. This course teaches pranayama.
If you know breathwork from box breathing or connected breathing, the course goes into classical pranayama: precise techniques, nostril patterns, retentions and bandhas, with a session for corrections every teaching day.
Fees & what's included
Fees at Anantadrishti Yoga cover tuition only: $149 (₹13,000) for 7 days, $229 (₹20,000) for 15 days and $349 (₹30,000) for 30 days. Accommodation and meals are not included, but we help you find a room nearby in Tapovan.
Included
- Both daily sessions, Monday to Saturday, for the length of your course
- Corrections every teaching day
- The science and philosophy of pranayama
- Mudras and bija mantras with the practices
Not included
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Travel to Rishikesh
Accommodation can be arranged nearby in Tapovan. Tell us your dates and budget when you enquire, and we will help you find a room.
Before you enquire
Do I need experience? Can beginners join?
Some prior yoga or breathing practice helps. Healthy, sincere beginners can join the 7-day course. Tell us about your experience when you enquire, and we will help you choose.
Is kumbhaka (breath retention) safe? Who should be careful?
Kumbhaka is taught with the bandhas, starting with short, comfortable holds, and is never forced. It is not suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant, or have high blood pressure, a heart condition, recent surgery, glaucoma or raised eye pressure, epilepsy, or a serious psychiatric condition, consult your doctor before booking and tell the teacher. The course is not medical treatment.
Is this a pranayama teacher training?
No. It is an in-depth practitioner course: it teaches pranayama, the bandhas, mudras, bija mantras and the philosophy behind them for your own practice. It is not a yoga teacher training and does not lead to a teaching qualification.
Can I join a course midway through the month?
No. All three courses start together on the 1st of the month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday), and the curriculum is cumulative: each stage builds on the one before. Joining a 15-day or 30-day course midway is not offered.
Prefer a shorter stay? See our retreats in Rishikesh.
Advanced Pranayama & Yoga Philosophy Course
Enquire about the next start
Starts on the 1st of every month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday). Tell us which course and month you have in mind; we reply by email with dates, practical details and help finding a room.
Next start· 7, 15 or 30 days