Pranayama practice
The day's practice, guided as a group: the techniques of your course in sequence, with the bandhas, mudras and bija mantras.
Rishikesh · Advanced Pranayama & Yoga Philosophy
Advanced Pranayama & Yoga Philosophy in Rishikesh
The most advanced pranayama and philosophy training in Rishikesh
- Kumbhaka with the bandhas from the first week
- Nadi and chakra pranayamas
- Mudras and bija mantras with the breath
- Corrections every teaching day
A course in pranayama and its philosophy, in Lower Tapovan near the Ganga. Choose 7, 15 or 30 days; all three begin together at the start of the month. Tuition from $149.
Next start
The 1st is a Sunday, so this cycle begins on Monday the 2nd.
- 5.0 on Google119 reviews
- Small groups
- Tuition from $149
- A new start every month
The course
One course, three depths
Every course begins on the same day with the same foundations. Stay for one week, for half the month, or for the whole cycle.
7-Day Pranayama Course
The foundations, with kumbhaka and the bandhas from the first week.
$149₹13,000Tuition only
A first serious pranayama course, or one week in Rishikesh.Every course begins with:
- Kapalabhati
- Bhastrika
- Yogic breath
- Agnisara
- Ujjayi pranayama
- Bandhas: Mula, Uddiyana and Jalandhara bandha
- Nadi Shodhana with Chandra nadi and Surya nadi bhedana
- Kumbhaka with bandhas: Antar kumbhaka and Bahya kumbhaka
15-Day Pranayama Course
The foundations, then pranayama joined to the bandhas.
$229₹20,000Tuition only
Students with some practice who want to work with the bandhas in depth.Everything in the 7-day course, plus:
- Kapalabhati with Mula bandha and Uddiyana bandha
- Bhastrika with Maha bandha
- Deep breaths with Maha bandha
- Ujjayi pranayama with Mula bandha and Uddiyana bandha
- Nadi Shodhana with Muladhara and Ida & Pingala nadi stimulation
- Nadi (energy-channel) pranayamas
- Kumbhakas
30-Day Pranayama Course
The whole month: every practice, through to the chakra pranayamas.
$349₹30,000Tuition only
Students who want the full progression, with time for each stage to settle.Everything in the 15-day course, plus:
- Advanced pranayama practices
- Chakra pranayamas
All courses start on the 1st of the month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday). Sunday is a rest day.
Schedule
How the month works
One cycle a month, two sessions a day, Sunday at rest.
One monthly cycle, three depths
All three courses begin on the same day and share the same first week. The 7-day course ends after seven days, the 15-day course at mid-month, and the 30-day course runs the whole cycle.
- 7-day course: the first 7 days ·
- 15-day course: the first 15 days ·
- 30-day course: the whole cycle ·
- Sunday: rest day
Corrections, science & philosophy
Corrections and further practice, then the science and philosophy of pranayama: how the practices work, and how classical yoga texts describe the breath and the mind.
Sunday is a rest day, with no classes.
Starts on the 1st of every month (Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday).Dates & fees
The practice
What makes it advanced
Advanced, here, means specific: named practices, joined to the bandhas, taught in a set order, with a session every teaching day to correct them.
Kumbhaka with the bandhas
Antar and Bahya kumbhaka, the breath held in and held out, are practised with the bandhas from the first week.
Pranayama joined to the locks
In the second week, Kapalabhati and Ujjayi are joined to Mula and Uddiyana bandha, and Bhastrika and deep breathing to Maha bandha.
Nadi and chakra pranayamas
Practices for the energy channels from the second week; chakra pranayamas in the second half of the month.
Corrections every teaching day
The late-morning session includes corrections, so that errors do not settle into habit.
What you learn to observe
In every course, students observe how each practice influences four areas, and how mudras and bija mantras change it.
I
Mind
Attention, mood and the movement of thought: the psychology of each practice.
Is attention steadier, or more scattered?
II
Nervous system
Signs of activation and of settling: heartbeat, warmth, alertness, calm.
Do you feel more alert, or more at rest?
III
Body
Posture, the diaphragm and abdomen, and the felt effect of each bandha.
Where does the breath move, and where is it held?
IV
Energy
Prana as yoga describes it: sensations of flow, heat, lightness or stillness.
What moves, and where, while the breath is held?
Mudras & bija mantras
Mudras (hand gestures) and bija mantras (seed syllables) are coordinated with the practices, and you observe their influence in the same four areas.
Philosophy
Philosophy, woven into the practice
The philosophy of pranayama is taught every teaching day, in the late-morning session (11:30–13:00), alongside corrections and practice.
You read how classical yoga texts, such as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describe the breath and the mind, then test what they say against your own practice.
चले वाते चलं चित्तं निश्चले निश्चलं भवेत् । योगी स्थाणुत्वमाप्नोति ततो वायुं निरोधयेत् ॥
cale vāte calaṃ cittaṃ niścale niścalaṃ bhavet | yogī sthāṇutvam āpnoti tato vāyuṃ nirodhayet ||
When the breath moves, the mind moves. When the breath is still, the mind becomes still, and the yogi attains steadiness. Therefore one should restrain the breath.
Your teacher
Meet your teacher
Somashekar
Head Teacher · Yoga, Philosophy & Vedic Chanting
Somashekar has devoted more than fifteen years to the study of yoga, its philosophy and the foundations of dharma.
A scholar of the Vedas, he is known for his Vedic chanting, and for teaching that is precise, disciplined and rooted in traditional practice.
Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh
Practise where the Ganga leaves the Himalaya
The shala is in Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh, beside the Ganga and a short walk from Laxman Jhula. Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport is about 22 km away.
Pranayama on the banks of the Ganga, Rishikesh
Voices
What students say
5.0 on Google, from 119 reviews
Read all reviews on GoogleIn their own words
Questions about the course
Short answers to what students ask most. Anything else, ask us.
What is the Advanced Pranayama & Yoga Philosophy Course?
An in-person pranayama course at Anantadrishti Yoga in Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh, taught in English. It runs for 7, 15 or 30 days, with two sessions a day: pranayama practice, then corrections and the science and philosophy of pranayama. Tuition is $149, $229 or $349.
When does the next course start?
All three courses start together on the 1st of every month, or on Monday the 2nd when the 1st is a Sunday. The next start is 2 November 2026. Sunday is a rest day.
What is the daily schedule?
Monday to Saturday: pranayama practice, 07:30–09:00; then corrections, further practice and the science and philosophy of pranayama, 11:30–13:00. Sunday is a rest day.
Should I choose 7, 15 or 30 days?
Seven days gives you the full foundation, including kumbhaka with the bandhas. Fifteen days adds a week of pranayama joined to the bandhas, and the nadi pranayamas. Thirty days adds the advanced practices and the chakra pranayamas, with time for each stage to settle. Tell us about your practice and we will suggest one.
Do I need experience? Can beginners join?
Some prior yoga or breathing practice helps. Healthy, sincere beginners can join the 7-day course. Tell us about your experience when you enquire, and we will help you choose.
Is accommodation included?
No. Fees cover tuition only. Accommodation can be arranged nearby in Tapovan, and we help you find a room when you enquire.
Is this a pranayama teacher training?
No. It is an in-depth practitioner course: it teaches pranayama, the bandhas, mudras, bija mantras and the philosophy behind them for your own practice. It is not a yoga teacher training and does not lead to a teaching qualification.
Is there a separate yoga philosophy course?
No. Philosophy is woven into the pranayama course: the daily late-morning session covers the science and philosophy of pranayama, alongside corrections and practice.
Enquire
Ask about a start date
Tell us which course and month you have in mind. We reply by email with dates, practical details and help finding a room. Enquiring is free and commits you to nothing.
Prefer to talk? Message us on WhatsApp.
Message us on WhatsAppAlready decided? Hold your place online with a 20% deposit, charged in rupees.
Reserve your seat (20% deposit)Find us in Lower Tapovan
Accommodation can be arranged nearby, and we help you find a room.
- Address
- Anantadrishti Yoga,
Near Moktan Coffee Shop, Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh,
Uttarakhand 249192, India - Phone
- +91 8979095535
Also at the school
Retreats
Looking for a retreat rather than a course? Our shorter yoga and pranayama retreats in Rishikesh run separately from the course.
See all retreats
Learn the techniques
Free guides to practices you will meet in the course.
- KapalbhatiThe skull-shining breath, step by step.
- BhastrikaThe bellows breath, step by step.
- UjjayiThe victorious breath and its soft, even sound.
- Nadi ShodhanaAlternate-nostril breathing, explained.
- KumbhakaBreath retention, inside and out, with the bandhas.
- BandhasMula, Uddiyana, Jalandhara and Maha bandha.