Learning how to guide Pranayama or breathing exercises is a great skill for yoga instructors and all sorts of teachers. Several breathing techniques have been proven to help with anxiety. It has been shown that there is an almost immediate drop in heart rate in many breathing practices, triggering the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest nervous system). So bring it into your yoga studio if you teach there, into the classroom if you teach there, into your practice if you are in the medical field, or into meetings if you work in the corporate world!
With all things in life and yoga, you can only start teaching other people once you practice something yourself first. Now, by no means do you need to master it, but if you are not practicing a particular breathing technique, you should wait to teach it until you are comfortable doing it on your own. If you aren’t, then start practicing daily or several times a week! Start trying out different breathwork and see which ones resonate with you.
If you have a favorite breathing exercise and would love to share it with friends, family, or your students, follow the guidelines below to lead them in a breath practice safely. It will take a few times for it to feel natural, but even when it feels odd, keep at it, knowing the benefits it will bring to those with whom you share it.
How to guide a Pranayama Experience
- Introduce the Pranayama Breath Technique (say the name or what it is)
- Share the benefits and effects of the experience
- Demonstrate the technique with words and actions
- Share the effects of the experience
- Share any contraindications or any precautions (then offer alternatives)
- Ask students if they have questions
- Start the practice and guide students through 3-5 rounds of breath
- Bring students back to natural breathing and have them sit with sensation to reintegrate
- Listen and respond to the student’s experience
