As we prepare for the Holy Yoga 100/200hr Instructor Training starting September 17th, one highlight is our focus on Christ-centered breath-work. This transformative component of our training offers deep benefits for both your personal practice and your teaching approach.
Breath-work, or pranayama, is an integral part of yoga that involves techniques to regulate and harness breath for overall well-being. Our training infuses these techniques with a Christ-centered approach to deepen your practice.
Understanding Breath-Work
Breath-work is a practice that involves using conscious, controlling breathing techniques to improve physical, emotional and mental well-being. In Holy Yoga, breath-work is integrated into the practice to deepen your spiritual connection, enhance mindfulness, and promote overall balance. By aligning your breath with movement and intention, breath-work helps to harmonize your body, mind, and spirit, fostering a more profound and holistic experience.
In our training, you will explore over seven different breath work practices, including:
– Diaphragmatic Breathing: Enhances relaxation and mental clarity through deep, mindful breaths that engage the diaphragm.
How to Do It: Sit or lie comfortably. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your abdomen to rise while keeping your chest relatively still. Exhale slowly through your mouth.
– Alternate Nostril Breathing: breathing in through one nostril while keeping the other closed, then switching nostrils and repeating. This technique balances energy channels in the body and promotes mental focus. It can help reduce stress and improve health of the heart, lungs, and brain.
How to Do It: Sit comfortably with your spine straight. Using your right thumb, close off your right nostril. Inhale deeply and slowly through your left nostril. Close the left nostril with your right ring finger, and release the right nostril. Exhale slowly through the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril, then close it and exhale through the left.
– Victorious Breath (Ujjayi Breath): Uses deep, controlled breaths to foster calm, empowerment, and mental clarity.
How to Do It: Sit or stand comfortably. Inhale deeply through your nose while slightly constricting the back of your throat, creating a soft, whispering sound. Exhale slowly through your nose, maintaining the same constriction.
* Plus 4 More Practices: Experience a total of seven breath-work techniques, each designed to elevate your yoga practice and connection with God.
Connecting Breath to Christ
“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
“And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
In Holy Yoga, breath-work is more than a technique—it’s a spiritual practice. You’ll learn to invite Christ into each breath, transforming every inhale and exhale into an act of worship. This alignment with biblical teachings helps deepen your spiritual awareness, making breath-work a powerful aspect of your practice.
Expanding Beyond Breath Work
While pranayama is a significant component of our training, it’s just one facet of our comprehensive 200-hour instructor training curriculum. Our program covers a broad range of topics to enrich your teaching and personal practice, including in-depth:
- Bible study
- Meditation Practices
- The History and Philosophy of Yoga
- The Eight Limbs of Yoga
- Energy and Postures
- And More!
This holistic approach ensures that you gain a well-rounded understanding of yoga, integrating spiritual, physical, and philosophical elements into your practice and teaching.
Why This Matters
Integrating Christ-centered breath-work into your yoga practice transforms it from a physical routine into a deeply spiritual journey. This approach helps you cultivate a richer connection with Christ, turning each breath into a moment of worship and reflection. Additionally, mastering these techniques will enable you to guide your students with greater confidence and compassion, providing a practice that is both spiritually enriching and physically beneficial.
Ready to Transform Your Practice and Your Life?
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your spiritual, mental, emotional and physical practice. Sign up today for our Holy Yoga 100/200hr Instructor Training and embark on a journey that merges faith with yoga.
We look forward to welcoming you and supporting you on this transformative path.
