Pranayama
Art of Breathing

Pranayama

Pranayam is derived from 'Prana' which stands for 'life force' and 'Ayama' which means
'to lengthen or to work on it'. Start it practicing to control your breath.

Dhayana Praveshika

Art of breathing a workshop which is designed to make you realize the importance of right way of breathing and to give you the experience of the positive results of right breathing. Through this program you will be able to understand how breathing can be used as the most powerful tool for achieving mental balance and stress management. Observe the breath when it goes from down to up and again as the breath comes from up to down. Observing this pattern regularly will take you closer to realizing the Self.

Through Art of Breathing, the doorway to evolution of consciousness opens and it takes the aspirants to higher levels of consciousness and spiritual experience.

Retreat Outline :

  • Philosophy of Pranayama.

  • Different forms of Pranayama and their effects on the body, mind & soul .

  • Balancing Breath.

  • Increasing the sensitivity and expand the awareness.

  • Breathing & Meditation.

  • Both theory and practice classes are provided to show the students how to set up an invigorating and healing breathing routine.

Benefits from the Retreat :

  • Philosophy of Pranayama.

  • Different forms of Pranayama and their effects on the body, mind & soul .

  • Balancing Breath.

  • Increasing the sensitivity and expand the awareness.

  • Breathing & Meditation.

  • Both theory and practice classes are provided to show the students how to set up an invigorating and healing breathing routine.

Retreat Schedule :

Art of Breathing Level 1 :

This 2 day retreat begins at 8 am on the day 1 and end at 5 pm next day. With Sukshma Kriyas (exercises for joints and glands), theory and practice of Pranayama through out the day, there are breaks for 3 meals and one hour discussion sessions.

Dhayana Praveshika

Art of Breathing Level 2 :

This 5 day retreat begins at 8 am on the day 1 and end at 2 pm on day 5. With Sukshma Kriyas (exercises for joints and glands), theory and practice of Pranayama through out the day, there are breaks for 3 meals and one hour discussion sessions.

Preparing for the Retreat :

In order to keep the atmosphere conducive to inner reflection and spiritual pursuit and to minimise distractions during the retreat, students on our residential retreats and retreats are asked to abide by our basic code of discipline listed below.

  • Silence is kept throughout the retreat, however during teaching sessions questions are welcomed and there will be a one hour discussion group on most days.

  • We may experience a lot of ups and downs during the retreat. Therefore, please be gentle in your behaviour and sensitive to fellow retreat participants and staff.

  • We have to keep an open mind. Many of the ideas presented may be new and different from one’s own beliefs, and we should be prepared to analyse and contemplate not only the teachings, but also our own beliefs.

  • We have to adjust to the schedule: all participants must attend all sessions of the retreat, come to sessions on time and not leave during the retreat.

Health :

You must be in good general health. If you have any conditions such as hypertension, heart surgery or any other type of surgery within the last 6 months, you are requested to inform us beforehand.

Complete all your outside communication and arrangements before your arrive.

In order to successfully participate in the retreat, you must be really free from all outside commitments for the entire period of the retreat. All phone calls, e-mails, letters, tickets, flight confirmations, money changing etc must be arranged and organised before the retreat begins. There is no way to do this during the retreat, so be sure to tell your family and friends that you won’t be in touch until after check-out on the last day of your retreat (after 1pm). Your phone has to be deposited with us for safe keeping during the retreat. Our Retreat Environment page explains why this discipline is important.

Guidelines for Behaviour :

  • Do not point your feet towards the teachers, the altar or any holy object.

  • Do not put prayer books, texts, or notebooks with on the floor, or sit or step over them.

  • No idle chit-chat in the lecture hall. (ie. You can ask the teacher questions during class, but do not talk with other students).

  • Respect all life: do not intentionally kill any living being, even small insects.

  • Respect others’ property: do not steal or take anything not freely given.

  • Be honest and straightforward: do not lie or intentionally deceive others. This is easy when observing silence!

  • Be celibate: no sexual activity. This also includes no holding hands, hugging, massages and other physical displays of affection.

  • Be alert and mindful: avoid intoxicants such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes (we encourage you to stop smoking while here).

  • Be considerate of others’ silence: keep silence in the appropriate areas and at all times during residential retreats, especially in the lecture hall and the residential complex. No singing or playing music and in general, maintain a quiet demeanor while on the property.

  • Dress respectfully (please no shorts above the knee, tank-top shirts or tight and revealing clothing)

What to Bring :

  • A photocopy of your passport and current Indian visa for check-in (non-Indian citizens only).

  • Personal toiletries, towel, torch/flashlight, watch/clock (you cannot use your mobile phone for this, or as an alarm), refillable water bottle.

Course Fees:

  • Art of Breathing Level 1 - 150USD – including accommodation and food

  • Art of Breathing Level 2 – 400USD– including accommodation and food

  • * Please contact for course fees without accommodation and food.

Guidelines for Behaviour

It is only possible to stay at Ashram if you are taking one of our residential courses/retreats or are an established Buddhist practitioner doing your own formal Buddhist retreat of a minimum of 10 days duration.

Since Ashram is a semi-monastic meditation centre and not a guesthouse, we ask all of our retreatants and visitors to observe the following rules of discipline in order to maintain an atmosphere conducive to inner reflection and meditation:

  • Respect all life: do not intentionally kill any living being, even small insects.

  • Respect others’ property: do not steal or take anything not freely given.

  • Be honest and straightforward: do not lie or intentionally deceive others. This is easy when observing silence!

  • Be celibate: no sexual activity. This also includes no holding hands, hugging, massages and other physical displays of affection.

  • Be alert and mindful: avoid intoxicants such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes (we encourage you to stop smoking while here, but if this is impossible, one can smoke at a designated place within the centre boundary).

  • Be considerate of others’ silence: keep silence in the appropriate areas and at all times during residential courses, especially in the Gompa and the dormitories. No singing or playing music and in general, maintain a quiet demeanor while on the property.

  • Be considerate of the monks and nuns: dress respectfully (please no shorts above the knee, tank-top shirts or tight and revealing clothing).

In order to keep the atmosphere conducive to inner reflection and spiritual pursuit and to minimise distractions during the course, students on our residential courses and retreats are asked to abide by our basic code of discipline listed below.

  • Please settle all outside communication before the course begins. Telling friends and family that you will be out of contact for the duration of the course and sticking by that decision significantly reduces distraction from investigation into the workings of your own mind! Likewise, please settle your travel arrangements etc before you come to here!

  • You are expected to observe silence (no talking at all) from the evening of the first day until the end of the course.

  • Do not leave here for the entire course.

  • Participants must attend all sessions of the course and come to sessions on time.

  • Please put all communication / entertainment devices (laptop / mobile phones /cameras / MP3/CD players) etc into our safe at check-in.

  • Please be gentle in your behaviour and sensitive to fellow group members.

“Gompa” is a Tibetan word which we use for Meditation Hall. Because a Gompa is the location of study, meditation and devotional practices, Buddhists consider them to be holy places. In this tradition, the following modes of behaviour are considered respectful in a Gompa and we ask you to follow them while here:

  • Do not point your feet towards the teachers, the altar or any holy object.

  • Do not put Dharma materials – prayer books, texts, Dharma books or notebooks with Dharma in them – on the floor, or sit or step over them.

  • Do not lie down or do any yoga exercises in the Gompa at any time.

  • No idle chit-chat in the Gompa (ie. You can ask the teacher questions during class, but do not talk with other students).

Choose Your Timing Schedule

Our Classes Timetable

Time Schedule
1:00pm Check-in
2:30pm Welcome and Introduction Talk
3:30 – 4:30pm Teaching Session 1
5:00 – 6:00pm Teaching Session 2
6pm Dinner
7:30 – 8:15pm Guided Meditation
Time Schedule
6:45 – 7:30 am Guided Meditation
7:30am Breakfast
9:00 – 10:00am Teaching Session 1
10:00 – 10:30am Break
10:30 – 11:45am Teaching Session 2
11:45am Lunch
2:00 – 3:00pm Teaching Session 3
3:00 – 3:30pm Tea Break
3:30 – 4:45pm Teaching Session 4
4:45 – 5:15pm Break
5:15 – 6:00pm Guided Meditation
6:00pm Dinner
7:30 – 8:15pm Guided Meditation
Time Schedule
6:45 – 7:30am Guided Meditation
7:30am Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45am What comes next ? Talk
10:00 am Advice for further study/practice and Feedback session
12:00 – 1:00pm Picnic Lunch
1:00 – 3:00pm Check-Out
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