13-Daagse 100-Uur Durende Pranayama-Lerarenopleiding in Rishikesh, India

Certifications

The course/hours count as Continuing Education hours for Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®) only.

About the training

One of the most crucial branches of Ashtanga yoga is pranayama, the process of control and extension of life force operating through breath. This training is primarily designed to help students establish a good personal practice in learning the skills in which they will be able to guide others.

In approx. 13 intense days, the students will be introduced to a variety of classical Pranayama techniques such as Nadi Shodhana, Bhastrika, Kapalabhati, Ujjayi, Sheetali and Brahmari and bandhas (energy locks) and kriyas (cleansings) .

The course explores both the theoretical and experiential sides of breathwork from such perspectives as the subtle energy system (prana, nadis, chakras), yogic physiology, breath-mind connection, and breathing patterns’ influence on emotional and mental state. For daily sessions, things include guided practice, breath awareness, meditation, mantra chanting, and teaching methodology.

Akshi Yogashala in Rishikesh is located in a calm surrounding, which provides the perfect environment to assimilate and incorporate this practice. Students also get some ashram-type accommodation, sattvic vegetarian food, and a fellowship of sincere seekers.

On completion participants qualify for a 100-hour certification (qualified for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education hours – YACEP). Whether you’re a teacher who is looking to add one more powerful tool into your teaching toolkit or a practitioner who wants the journey that lasts, this training is a life-changing journey into the art of conscious breathing.

Why choose pranayama

Pranayama, the yogic science of conscious breathing, is more than just breath control — it’s the gateway to mastering your energy, emotions, and inner awareness. Ancient yogis believed that by controlling the breath, we can influence the mind and access higher states of consciousness. Modern science supports this too: studies show that regular breathwork improves lung function, reduces anxiety, balances the nervous system, and enhances mental focus.

You’ll also practice supportive yogic disciplines such as gentle asanas, guided meditation, yogic cleansing (shatkarma) and Ayurveda basics to enrich your understanding and experience.

Who Is This Course For?

Whether you're a beginner exploring breathwork, an experienced yogi wanting to deepen your practice, or a teacher seeking certification, this course will help you harness the power of the breath for personal transformation and to help others.

A Breath of Change

By the end of this 100-hour pranayama TTC in Rishikesh, you won’t just breathe differently—you’ll live differently. With greater calm, energy, and presence, you’ll feel confident to share pranayama in classes, workshops, or simply integrate it more fully into your own life.

Come join this course in the sacred land of Rishikesh and begin your journey into the healing and awakening power of breath.

The 100-hour pranayama TTC in Rishikesh is ideal for

Yoga Practitioners and Enthusiasts

If you already have a yoga practice and want to go beyond asanas to explore the subtle dimensions of yoga, this training will give you a strong foundation in breathwork, energy control, and inner stillness.

Certified Yoga Teachers (RYT 200/300/500)

Teachers looking to enhance their teaching skills and offer pranayama classes or integrate breathwork into their existing sessions will benefit greatly from this in-depth study. It also counts toward Yoga Alliance Continuing Education (YACEP) hours.

Meditation Practitioners

If you meditate but struggle with mental restlessness, pranayama can prepare your mind and body for deeper meditation. This course will introduce techniques that support focus, calmness, and emotional regulation.

Holistic Health & Wellness Coaches

Wellness professionals, therapists, and coaches can use these breath techniques to support clients with stress management, anxiety relief, energy balance, and mental clarity.

Spiritual Seekers

Those on a spiritual journey who wish to go beyond physical yoga and tap into the subtler aspects of the self will find this course deeply enriching and enlightening.

Anyone Seeking Balance & Inner Peace

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected, pranayama offers simple yet powerful tools to bring clarity, calm, and joy into everyday life.

Curriculum

The Essence of Prana

Prana is the life force that sustains your body, mind, and spirit. It moves through subtle energy pathways known as nadis and energy hubs called chakras. A strong, smooth flow of Prana brings clarity, emotional stability, and vibrant health. In this course, you will learn how to understand and regulate this life force through breathing techniques, connecting it with the doshas, chakras, and inner balance.

Exploring the Five Koshas (Panchakosha)

Your true nature is layered within five sheaths or koshas:

• Annamaya – the physical body
• Pranamaya – the energy body
• Manomaya – the mental/emotional body
• Vijnanamaya – the intellectual body
• Anandamaya – the blissful body

You'll explore each of these layers in depth and learn practices that guide you inward—towards self-realization and connection with your higher self (Atman).

Prana and the Chakras

Chakras are vital energy centers, and prana is their fuel. When prana flows freely, it activates these centers, enhancing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. You'll learn techniques to awaken and balance your chakras using specific pranayama practices.

Nadis – The Energy Channels

Nadis are subtle channels through which prana flows. Though invisible, they affect every aspect of our being. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how prana travels through the Nadis, how they connect to the chakras, and how to cleanse and harmonize these channels.

Mantra and Breath

Mantras are powerful sound vibrations that influence the flow of energy. When combined with breathwork, they amplify the effects of pranayama. In this training, you'll explore how sound, pitch, and vibration connect with Prana and learn sacred chants that support healing and inner awakening.

Supporting Practices: Mudras, Bandhas & Asanas

You’ll be introduced to key preparatory practices including:

• Mudras – symbolic hand gestures and internal attitudes
• Bandhas – energetic locks that direct Prana
• Asanas – postures that prepare the body for breathwork
• Nada Meditation – sound-based inner practices
• Shatkarma – yogic cleansing techniques

These tools deepen your Pranayama practice and enhance energetic flow.

The Three Pillars of Pranayama

You will master the foundational breathing techniques:

• Puraka – inhalation
• Kumbhaka – retention of breath
• Rechaka – exhalation

Each has unique effects on body and mind, and you'll learn how to safely and progressively develop them in your own practice and for teaching others.

The Physiology Behind Breathwork

Understand how breath influences the nervous system, mind, and subtle energies. You'll study how Pranayama soothes mental fluctuations, recharges energy centers, and promotes emotional balance.

Teaching Methodology and Practice Guidelines

Learn:

• The correct postures and techniques for safe pranayama
• How to avoid common mistakes and fatigue
• Ways to maintain focus and energy during sessions
• The skills needed to confidently guide others

By the end of the course, you'll be prepared not only to deepen your own practice but also to share this powerful science as a qualified pranayama teacher.

Sample schedule

• 05:00 Wake up
• 05:30 - 06:00 Ginger / herbal tea
• 06:00 - 07:30 Hatha yoga
• 07:45 - 08:45 Pranayama – Breathing practices
• 09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast
• 10:30 - 11:30 Yoga anatomy
• 11:45 - 12:45 Pranayama theory
• 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
• 14:00 - 15:00 Rest
• 15:00 - 16:00 Self study
• 16:15 - 17:45 Dynamic Vinyasa
• 18:15 - 19:15 Meditation
• 19:30 - 20:30 Dinner
• 20:30 - 22:00 Self study
• 22:00 Light off

Pre-Course Recommended Reading Material

• Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• Yoga Anatomy - Leslie Kaminoff
• Yoga Mala - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Swami Muktibodhananda