the school
Hybrid PRANAYAMA Teacher Training
MARCH – OCTOBER 2025
INFO SESSION on February 16, 7 pm. Register here.
Pranayama is among the earliest recorded forms of yogic practice. Yet, it is often given too little space in yoga classes and TTCs. This course focuses entirely on pranayama, and is open to all yoga and breath enthusiasts who wish to deepen their practical and theoretical knowledge of the yogic art of breathing through our comprehensive program.
The course takes place over a period of 7 months, from March to October 2025, for a total of 100 in-class hours including a 3-week online morning intensive, 4 online weekends and one 7-day immersive retreat.
In addition to the collective sessions, the training includes 2 hours/month of 1:1 coaching, focused on practice and/or teaching depending on each student’s needs and intention for joining the training.
Next to the training hours, a strong commitment to regular practice and study is needed to take the best out of the course and integrate its teachings into your life.
The training is structured in 4 phases:
PHASE 1 – PLANTING THE SEED OF CHANGE
March 10-28, Mo-Fr 9-10 am
ONLINE, recorded
Participation to the 3-week Spring Pranayama Intensive (see program here).
We start off with an intensive and purely practical program to experience the effects of regular practice and nourish the commitment to it, a key element to make the training a truly transformative experience.
PHASE 2 – THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE
4 weekends, once/month, Sa-Su, 9am-1pm
April 12-13, May 10-11, June 7-8, July 5-6
ONLINE, recorded
Blending practice and theory, the 4 intensive weekends of this phase constitute the core of the training. We will explore in depth the techniques introduced during the morning intensive, add layers of theoretical understanding, discuss effects and contraindications, and introduce new practices that constitute variations, alternatives or options for the advanced practitioner.
The training weekends will include an alternation of practice, explanations, time for questions and sharing. This phase features 4 modules:
Module 01 – SENSE, EASE, EXPAND
12-13 April 2025 (Sa-Su, 9am-1pm)
Dedicated to foundational practices and pranayamas that bring presence, softness, and spaciousness into the breathing body.
Module 02: DEEPEN and GROW
10-11 May 2025 (Sa-Su, 9am-1pm)
We continue the process started in the first module and add the in-depth exploration of three bandhas.
Module 03 – PURIFY and ENERGIZE
7-8 June 2025 (Sa-Su, 9am-1pm)
Dedicated to dynamic and activating pranayamas, and their safe practice.
Module 04 – BALANCE and SILENCE
5-6 July 2025 (Sa-Su, 9am-1pm)
Dedicated to meditative and subtle pranayamas involving breath retention and the practice of the three bandhas.
Between training weekends regular practice and study will be supported through:
+ Homework assignments that will involve individual and group work
+ 1:1 coaching on practice and/or teaching, the focus will depend on your needs and intention for joining the training (2h/month)
+ Handouts and additional reading materials and resources
+ Pre-recorded theory classes that synthesise and deepen the elements introduced in class
PHASE 3 – INTEGRATION
The summer months will be dedicated to integration.This phase will involve personal practice and study, 1:1 coaching, collective learning through group homework, Q&A sessions and preparation for the final exams.
PHASE 4 – DEEP DIVE
1-week RETREAT / Odenwald
October 1-8
RESIDENTIAL, no online participation possible, no recordings
The last phase will bring us back to the power of daily collective practice, but at a much deeper level. 7 days of immersive advanced pranayama practice, cleansing diet, meditation, labs and lectures, and the celebration of your creativity and embodied wisdom as pranayama teachers.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Practice:
+ Preparing for pranayama: preparatory exercises and asanas to relax, tone and open the breathing body
+ The art of sitting: exercises for a comfortable seated posture
+ Breath awareness and practices of self-inquiry
+ Shatkarman: cleansing techniques
+ Practices to locate, sense, massage, stretch, and strengthen the breathing muscles
+ Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha, Tribandha, and connected practices
+ Mudras for Pranayama
+ Fundamentals: abdominal, thoracic, clavicular breathing, full yogic breath
+ Dynamic pranayamas specific of the Pranayoga Method (ranging from meditative to energising)
+ A vast variety of seated pranayama
+ Hands-on practices for students and teachers
+ How to integrate Pranayama, Bandhas and breath retention in the Asana Practice
(here you can find many examples of practices included in the Pranayama TT)
Theory:
+ In-depth anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
+ Neurophysiology of breathing: pranayama and the nervous system
+ Effects of breathing on digestive, cardio-vascular, lymphatic system
+ Pranayama in the history of yoga
+ Safety and inclusivity:
1. benefits and contraindications
2. use of variations and alternative
3. the role of skilful sequencing
TRAINING FEE
The training fee is 1560 EUR or 312 EUR at registration + 8 monthly instalments of 156 EUR
This includes all classes, 1:1 sessions, Q&As, learning materials, support for individual and collective homework and final exams.
Only food and accommodation at the retreat are not included, and will be paid directly at the venue.
Retreat venue: Yellow Yoga Gebhardshütte, Odenwald
Nearest Train Station: Beerfelden Hetzbach
Accommodation costs:
130€ – own tent (shared bathroom)
165€ – own caravan (shared bathroom)
270€ – 3-bedroom with balcony and bathroom
305€ – double room with a sink (shared bathroom)
375€ – single room with a sink (shared bathroom)
+ 45€/day for food (breakfast, snack, brunch and dinner)
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
You can join the INFO EVENING on Sunday, FEBRUARY 16 at 19:00. Register here.
or write me an email: amanda@thisisyoga.org
TO APPLY FOR THE TRAINING:
you can fill the Enrolment Form online or write at amanda@thisisyoga.org if you prefer to get the form via email.