Meditation and Pranayama: My journey and 5 benefits you can implement in your teaching
Meditation and Pranayama are powerful practices that enhance balance, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing. They help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, boost energy, and promote physical health. These techniques have had such a profound impact on my life that I now offer a comprehensive CPD course to help others integrate them into their teaching (and practice). In this blog, I’ll share how incorporating mindfulness and breathwork has impacted my life and explore the benefits of these practices for improving focus, vitality, and inner peace.
Understanding the breath
As someone who grew up with asthma, my journey with breathwork has been deeply personal and transformative.
I have been teaching yoga for 13 years, but it wasn’t until about six years ago that I truly learned the science of the breath and what an efficient breath should be. A well-balanced breath not only oxygenates our cells but also maintains healthy carbon dioxide levels—essential for regulating acidity, calming the mind, and supporting the breath during exercise. I am not sure why this isn’t taught in schools!
I hadn’t realised, though I had experienced it, just how much the brain is focused on the breath and even slightly alternating our breathing pattern can either be really helpful, bringing calm and clarity, or cause anxiety and agitation in the nervous system.
The breath is a sensitive matter for each individual and therefore it is important that breath practices are taught with care, recognising that everyone’s breathing patterns are unique. What works for one person may not work for another.
My Journey with Meditation
Meditation has been a practice for me even longer than yoga. My first course, 20 years ago, was with the Brahma Kumaris in London. At the time, I was looking for a way to manage the stress of congested tube journeys during rush hour and a tool to find peace of mind in everyday life.
One of the biggest benefits I’ve gained from practising mindfulness, is the ability to meet whatever is happening to me with openness and curiosity, rather than automatically slipping into a negative mindset—something our brains are wired to do. This shift has allowed me to accept what is happening and create space to consider the most helpful response.
A powerful example of this has been learning to manage chronic pain, something I have lived with on and off for the past 25 years. Rather than resisting or fearing it, mindfulness has given me tools to observe and work with it, reducing its impact on my daily life.
5 Benefits of the Meditation and Pranayama CPD Course
The Meditation and Pranayama CPD course that I offer brings together some of the most effective and accessible techniques I have learned over the years. Here are five key benefits you’ll gain from taking part to implement in your classes:
1. How to breathe efficiently – So that you can fuel your cells with oxygen, support your energy levels, and reduce breathlessness during cardio exercise.
2. Discover breath practices for respiratory conditions – I’ll talk you through techniques that can support those with asthma, COPD, and long COVID.
3. Balance and regulate your energy – Use the breath to lift, calm, and balance your energy safely; integrating these techniques into your yoga classes.
4. Develop mindfulness tools – Learn how to teach practices that focus and quieten the mind to cultivate greater clarity and calm – even if just for a few moments.
5. Implement your new skills with confidence – Throughout the course, you’ll practice teaching these techniques to real people in real time, helping you feel prepared to share them with others straight away.
If you’re a yoga teacher or practitioner looking to deepen your understanding of breathwork and mindfulness, join me for the Meditation and Pranayama CPD course coming up in May 16th-18th.
This will be a small-group training where we will have plenty of time to practise with each other and go through any questions you may have.
Article by: Louise Windsor
