Through a straightforward step-by-step approach, you will gain a well-rounded understanding of breathwork and pranayama by learning from science-based theories. You will also get the opportunity to practice and build up your breathwork skills with around twelve different breath techniques.

At the end of the course, a handout will be supplied to outline the subjects that have been covered. In the handout, you will find useful exercises and sequences to help you build your personal practice and gain the most possible from this introductory workshop.

During this course, Laurent will of course be available to answer questions and support your self-practice by providing advice from his long years of teaching breathwork.

Practising breathwork and pranayama can heal, energise and calm our body and mind, as well as create space to change old patterns and cultivate vitality. Furthermore, it is essential to remember that breathwork and pranayama are the fourth limb in Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga and are thus a vital part of an authentic and genuine yoga practice.

The benefits of breathwork and pranayama techniques are many and varied:

• Indispensable tools that help us build a safe and robust physical practice.
• Develops body awareness, concentration, mindfulness, focus, and stamina.
• Decreases feelings of stress and tension.
• Supports mental and physical health.
• Soothes the nervous system.
• Aids muscle relaxation and pain management.
• Helps oxidise the blood and the respiratory system.
• Slows down the heart rate and lowers and stabilises blood pressure.
• Increases energy levels.
• Helps the fight against insomnia and sleeping disorders.

Themes covered in the course:

• The anatomy of the breath: the respiratory structures and system.
• Preparing the body and mind for a breathwork and pranayama session: warming and energising breathing techniques.
• Learning how to connect with breath and the respiratory structures.
• Learning about and conditioning the diaphragm: different diaphragmatic breathing techniques.
• Connecting with our lungs and developing ‘deep and full’ breathing:
  • 3-part breathing + yogic breathing
  • 9-part breathing + sectional breathing
• Rhythmic breathing techniques and the science behind retention.
• The nose and an introduction to nostril breathing techniques.
• How to design simple sequences and how to practice or teach them.
• Breathwork leads to a steady mind: using breathing techniques to enhance and support meditation.

Bring your yoga mat, a blanket (makes a great prop or bolster) and your water bottle.

About Laurent Roure :

The course tutor, Laurent Roure, is a senior yoga and pranayama teacher and has been practising and studying pranayama in the style of Dr. Gitananda Saraswati’s yoga system for many years. He advocates the Gitananda system due to its strong emphasis on physical therapeutics.

Laurent’s approach to breathwork utilises breathing techniques from outside the traditional yogic system and seamlessly embeds them into his practice and teaching. Laurent’s approach is thus finely tuned to be relevant and applicable to our twenty-first-century lives.

Practical Stuff :

Bring your yoga mat. We have blankets and bolsters at the studio or if you prefer, you’re welcome to bring your own. Wear warm layers and bring your water bottle.