28/09/2026
BREATHWORK VS PRANAYAMA✨
Breathwork is not the same as pranayama.
I think it’s important that we start talking about the difference.
Pranayama comes from a long-standing yogic tradition. It isn’t about making an experience as intense, emotional or dramatic as possible.
It can be incredibly simple.
Slow breathing.
Controlled breathing.
Different ratios.
Breath retention.
Working with the breath deliberately and progressively.
There is scientific research supporting the benefits of a number of traditional breathing practices.
Compare that with some of the modern “breathwork” experiences being offered:
🎧 Headphones blasting instructions and music
🙌 Someone touching you without clear consent
😮💨 Forceful, heavy mouth breathing
🔥 Creating increasingly intense physical sensations
😭 Encouraging emotional release as though it has to happen for the practice to “work”
For some people, those things may feel powerful.
For others, they can feel overwhelming and heavy, rapid breathing can produce sensations that resemble or trigger panic, particularly in people who are already prone to anxiety or panic.
You don’t need to hyperventilate to breathe better.
You don’t need headphones, dramatic music, someone touching you, or an intense emotional experience to work with your breath.
Sometimes the most effective practice is also the simplest.
There is a reason yoga has been working with the breath for thousands of years.
Pranayama isn’t a performance.
It isn’t a spectacle.
And it isn’t about chasing an altered state.
It’s practice.
Please do your research if you are planning on attending a breathwork event. Ensure the breathwork facilitator is properly trained, and be aware of what you might be entering into. 🤗
And…
Keep an eye out for a Pranayama and Mudra workshop coming soon to The Yoga Collab.
Deb 🙏
