How to best use this course

Navigation

I hope you find this platform easy to navigate. Depending on whether you are on a desktop, or using the iOS app, the screen may differ. If you can't see your full curriculum to the left, you may click on the 'list' icon to bring it to view.

If you want to work in lecture order then clicking 'Complete & Next' at the top of each page will take you to the next lecture.

However, I there are appendices you may wish to dip in and out of during the course.

For student guides see here for any problems logging in, navigating or billing.

Structure

Each module could represent a week for you, or longer. We each have our own pace and time available to study. I estimate this as a 30 hour course, however it depends how deeply you go into the references for example.

Modules 1 - 3 Understanding the respiratory system

In order to introduce safe breath retention we need a good understanding of breathing science. I've condensed what I consider to be the essentials of respiratory biology to support what you have already learnt in your Yoga Teacher Trainings. I do this both from a Western (medical) viewpoint and an Eastern (yoga) perspective. Much of what we know about breath retention comes from studying freedivers, or those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

I want you to feel how some of the scientific concepts act within the body, so in the first lecture I invite you on a guided journey through your breath. During these modules you may wish to dip into Appendix 1, which explains how breath retention and other pranayama can help respiratory disorders and conditions linked to dysfunctional breathing.

Module 4 - Breath retention techniques

Here we meet the simple framework (D.I.V.E) I've put together to identify how best to introduce and advance kumbhaka to student groups or individual clients. This takes into account what your client wants, how they breathe, and any contraindications, to determine what the right breathwork is to meet their needs. A range of kumbhakas are demonstrated with easy, moderate and advanced levels. Broadly these are categorised into practices that calm and increase vagal tone (i.e. the parasympathetic nervous system), those that balance the nervous system and those that energize and transform (sympathetic).

Module 5 - Overcoming the obstacles

There are two main barriers to bringing kumbhaka into more classes. Firstly most people don't breathe well; and therefore they find breath-holding unpleasant and scary. This is an opportunity for you to explore your own barriers to breath-retention through the yoga principles of klesha.

We also look at how posture affects our ability to breathe, and why asana practice is recommended prior to a student beginning breathwork.

Here I encourage you to explore the Appendices which provide the essential science on a range of respiratory and other medical conditions, so as to inform the best choice of practice for individual clients. This includes not only what to avoid, but also how to sensitively support the practice of those reliving, or releasing, trauma.

App 1 - conditions relating to dysfunctional breathing

App 2 - contraindications to breathwork

App 3 - potential beneficial applications of intermittent hypoxia

Module 6 - Summary and Further Resources

There's been a lot to learn in terms of knowledge and understanding of ourselves during this course. You may also wish to explore certain aspects of this further and will be guided by a range of books and practices to consider.

Check in App 4 for suggested answers to each module quiz.

You'll also receive your completion certification!

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