Meditation & Pranayama

Fifteen to twenty minutes of breath work sits inside every session she teaches. Taken on its own, it becomes something else entirely.

One-to-oneOnline or studioNo experience neededSit on a chair if you prefer

How a breath session is built

Breath practice is a discipline, not a warm-up. Taught properly it has a sequence, and each part prepares the next.

  1. 1.SettlingFinding a seat you can hold comfortably — floor, cushion or chair. Comfort first, posture second.
  2. 2.ObservingWatching the breath as it already is, before changing anything. Most people have never done this.
  3. 3.Diaphragmatic breathingLearning to breathe low rather than high in the chest. The foundation everything else rests on.
  4. 4.Nadi Shodhana(alternate nostril)Balancing practice, done slowly, with a count that lengthens as you get steadier.
  5. 5.Mantra or BhramariSound used as an anchor — either repeated silently, or the humming breath that settles the nervous system quickly.
  6. 6.SittingA few minutes of stillness with nothing to do. This is the meditation the rest was preparing you for.

The practices she teaches

Different breath practices do different things. Which ones you are given depends on what you came in with.

Nadi ShodhanaBhramariDiaphragmatic breathingMantra japaMindfulnessGuided relaxation

Ten minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday

The point is a practice you can actually keep. Sessions end with something short enough to do on a working morning, and Poonam adjusts it as it becomes easier.

Anyone who cannot switch off

Professionals, students, poor sleepers, and anyone told to ‘just relax’ without being told how.

  • Poor sleepers
  • Anyone told to 'just relax'
  • People who find sitting still hard

Nothing at all

  • Somewhere quiet to sit
  • A cushion or a chair
  • Headphones, if joining online

Good to know

  • A chair is completely fine
  • Eyes open or closed, your choice
  • 10 min a day beats 1 hr weekly
  • Learn it once, keep it for good

One-to-one sessions

On enquiry

Priced with your other sessions, or on its own. Message Poonam to talk it through.

Pricing to be confirmed.

What it is actually for

Breath work is not relaxation with a Sanskrit name. These are the things people come to it for.

SleepFalling asleep, and staying asleep.Practise 20 minutes before bed
A racing mindSomewhere to put attention that isn't a thought.Start with 5 minutes, not 30
StressA physical way down, not just a mental one.Bhramari works fastest when you need it
FocusLonger attention, held more easily.Best done before work, not after
BreathlessnessUsing more of your lungs than you currently do.Diaphragmatic breathing comes first
Before practicePreparing the body for everything else.Every yoga session opens with this
Questions about the practice

Before you begin

My mind never stops. Is meditation even possible for me?

That is the usual starting point, not a disqualification. Breathwork gives the mind something concrete to hold, which is why it tends to work for people who find sitting still impossible.

What is pranayama, exactly?

Working with the breath deliberately — its length, its rhythm, where it goes. It sounds slight and it is the part most people say changed things for them.

How long do I need to sit for?

Ten minutes done most days beats an hour done once a fortnight. Sessions build you up from wherever you can currently sit comfortably.

Is this religious?

The techniques come from a tradition, and the practice itself asks nothing of your beliefs. People of every faith and none practise here.

When will I notice anything?

Sleep usually shifts first, often within two or three weeks. The effect on how you react to things comes later and is harder to spot from inside.

Can this be done online?

Yes. Breathwork and meditation translate to video better than almost anything else, since there is little for a teacher to adjust physically.

Learn to breathe properly, once

It takes a few sessions to learn and then it is yours for good. Message Poonam to ask how to start.

Also at Shivoham Yog