Prana & BreathworkA Visual Guide

The guide is built around a series of images, each with a plain description of what it shows and where it comes from. It opens with the subtle body as the traditions describe it: the nadis, or channels, the three central channels ida, pingala and sushumna, and the chakras, illustrated with a historic Indian chart of the six chakras and a manuscript painting. Hand mudras follow, then breathwork: a techniques chart, four counted breathing exercises, preparing for meditation, Fire Breath and other “power” techniques, and Kundalini, the coiled serpent, with a closer look at what the word means and the journey through the chakras.

Where an old chart links the chakras to nerve centres in the body, the guide notes that this was a popular idea at the time but is not established medicine. It ends with a glossary of Sanskrit terms and full image credits.

The guide describes traditions and beliefs as they are taught. It makes no health or medical claims and nothing in it is advice or instruction.

• What is prana?
• The subtle body: nadis and chakras
• A historic chart of the six chakras
• Hand mudras
• What is breathwork?
• Four counted breathing exercises
• Preparing for meditation
• Kundalini and the journey through the chakras
• A gentle beginner sequence
• Box, 4-7-8, coherent and alternate-nostril breathing
• The roots of pranayama, the five vayus and the bandhas
• Kundalini in the old texts, and inside a class
• Wim Hof, cold water and staying safe
• Breath and the nervous system, explained
• Nasal breathing, Buteyko and everyday moments
• A 7-day starter plan
• Evidence, limits and when to stop
• Glossary and image credits