Advanced Pranayama
Transform Yourself with the Power of Energy Control
Dates: Nov 6 – 13, 2026
A Powerful Week of Pranayama Practice
Are you looking to deepen your meditation practice or enhance your yoga teaching skills? Pranayama is the key to a deep experience of yoga postures and meditation. More than just breathwork, pranayama teaches us how to take control of our energy.
In this course students will learn the anatomy and physiology of breath on the physical and subtle levels and how to teach advanced pranayama or energy control techniques, bandhas and mudras. We will go deeper into understanding how the astral body relates to energy control.
Welcoming All Meditators, Yoga Practitioners and Yoga Teachers!
7-Day In-Person Immersive Workshop
Cost: $799 + accommodations
Location: The Expanding Light Retreat, CA
- 40+ hours of live classes & workshops
- 3+ hours of pre-recorded content
- 35 Yoga Alliance CE Hours
- 2x/day yoga & meditation
- Your private or shared accommodations
- 3 delicious vegetarian meals/day
- Personal feedback from faculty
Free Zoom Info Session
Wednesday, Sept 9 at 5:30 PM Pacific Time
Register to learn more about this program and meet the instructors.
What You'll Learn
This is a 7-day course which includes a combination of lecture, discussion, and experiential pranayama/asana workshops and teaching practicums.
- Extensive practice of advanced breathwork techniques, bandhas, mudras, and hybrid techniques
- How to integrate asana, pranayama, and meditation
- A deeper understanding of the anatomy & physiology of breathing
- How to work with students who have respiratory problems due to asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, cardiac disease or obesity
- How to correct breathing irregularities, such as reverse breathing, uneven breathing, rapid breathing, chest breathing, and more
Meet Your Instructors
Darshana, E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT became interested in meditation and found the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda in 2009. Since then, she has been applying them in her own life and sharing them with others.
Darshana moved to Ananda Village in 2011 and graduated from Ananda Yoga Teacher Training and Ananda Meditation Teacher Training in 2012. She is an Ananda Yoga therapist and a minister.
She serves with Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation as manager and certification programs coordinator. She also teaches asana, meditation and yoga philosophy online and in person at The Expanding Light Retreat.
Saraswati, E-RYT 500, is a Certified Ananda Yoga Therapist and has been teaching yoga since 2003. Originally from Texas, she directed and operated successful yoga studios in Dallas for over 13 years.
Saraswati has experience working with students of all levels in studio, privately and corporate settings. She loves to mentor teachers and help them discover their unique gifts while strengthening their self-reliance and positivity.
Saraswati will be a lead instructor for this course while encouraging and assisting you throughout this journey!
Arya Cheng, RYT-500 & E-RYT 200, is a gifted yoga and meditation teacher, and wonderful kirtan (spiritual chanting) leader. She is passionate about sharing yoga as a tool for managing stress, transformation and healing in body, mind and soul.
Her journey as a yogi started at age 14, when she attended Ananda’s Living With Spirit Program and experienced first hand the transformative effects of yoga and meditation.
Arya currently lives at Ananda Village and serves as an Ananda Yoga Instructor for the Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation and support staff for the Karma Yoga Program.
In this training, she will be a lead asana instructor and here to encourage you to shine your light!
FAQs
This course is open to everyone.
Yes, there is an online course page and pre-course assignments that you’ll be given access to as soon as you enroll. The online assignments include pranayama instructional videos, reading assignments, and self-quizzes to complete before we meet in-person.
Yes. All of the classes taught by instructors who are E-RYT 200 or E-RYT 500 will count towards Yoga Alliance CE hours. There will be at least 30 hours.
Yes, Advanced Pranayma is one of the required courses for those who are seeking Level 2 (300-hr) certification. If you are not a certified Ananda Yoga teacher (200-hr) then you’ll also need to take the Bridge to Ananda Yoga course (in addition to the Level 2 requirements) if you’d like to become a certified Ananda Yoga teacher. See Level 2 requirements here
The following requirements apply to all Ananda Yoga teachers who wish to earn credit.
- Demonstrate understanding of course learning objectives by their supervised practicum
- Participate in all discussions and workshops
- Complete required reading
Attendance requirements:
- Attend all morning pranayama sadhanas, morning and evening classes, and afternoon practice teaching sessions.
Program Details
Advanced Pranayama starts with an informal meet-and-greet dinner on the evening of Friday Nov 6 and ends with lunch on Friday, Nov 13. Check-in is anytime between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. It’s ideal to arrive before 4 pm, if you are able to. That way, you can join in the afternoon session of yoga and meditation, which begins at 4:45 pm. Dinner is at 6:30. If you need to arrive here after 5 pm, that’s fine, but it helps us if you let us know at 800-346-5350. We can also put aside a dinner for you if you need to arrive after 7 pm.
Click here for more information on The Expanding Light Retreat at Ananda Village, including how to get here, accommodations and frequently asked questions.
6:30–8:15 am | Pranayama Sadhana
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9:30 am–12:30 pm | Mudras and Pranayama
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2:30–4:30 pm | Practice Teaching Session |
4:45 – 6:30 pm | Regular Sadhana or Lecture |
7:30 – 9:00 pm | Free Evening or Lecture |
Pranayamas | Combining bandhas | Mudras |
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Teacher Track: Additional Teaching Focused Assignments
Practicing and teaching pranayama are two different skills. We recommend this track for those who are interested in sharing pranayama with yoga students, clients, and/or others. This track follows the same activities as everyone else, but will include additional teaching focused assignments as follows:
- Additional teaching practicums to develop your ability to teach the advanced pranayama techniques correctly and effectively
- Receive instructor feedback to enhance your teaching ability
- Learn how to adapt pranayama practice to suit different breathing capacities and medical conditions
The Teacher Track is required for certified RYT yoga teachers looking to expand their knowledge and pursue 500-hr certification and CE hours.
What Our Graduates Say
Advanced Pranayama
Dive deep into your pranayama practice
7 days in person
Dates: Nov 6 – 13, 2026
Location: The Expanding Light Retreat, Ananda Village, CA
All-Inclusive Cost (tuition+accommodations/meals):
| Tent/RV | Shared Standard | Private Standard | Shared Ensuite | Private Ensuite |
| $1,330 | $1,588 | $2,062 | $1,864 | $2,614 |
