Pranayama: The Breath Manual
The classical breathing techniques of hatha yoga, step by step, with the texts, the research and every precaution
Learn nadi shodhana, ujjayi, bhramari, kapalabhati, bhastrika and the cooling breaths the way they are taught in Rishikesh, from the verses of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika to a twelve-week programme. Every health statement is backed by a verified study, and every technique ends with clear contraindications.
$29 one-time payment, VAT included
PDF of 50 pages, readable on any phone, tablet or computer, printable in A4 or Letter.
With 22 min of guided audio, 3 tracks · synthetic voice (ElevenLabs)
50 pages13 sources cited
Read the first chapter free PDF, 10 pages. No email, no sign-up.
- 50pages
- 13sources cited
Sources checked on October 16, 2026.
Inside the book
- What pranayama is
- What modern research does and does not say
- Preparing: place, time, seat and hands
- The foundation: knowing your natural breath
- Nadi shodhana, the alternate nostril breath
- Ujjayi, the victorious breath
- Bhramari, the humming bee breath
- Sitali and sitkari, the cooling breaths
- Kapalabhati, the skull-shining cleanser
- Bhastrika, the bellows breath
- Surya bhedana and the sun–moon polarity
- Box breathing, 4-7-8 and cardiac coherence: where they come from
- Kumbhaka: the art of retention, with the bandhas
- A twelve-week programme and daily sessions
Who it is for
- Beginners who want to learn breathing practice correctly and safely at home
- Yoga practitioners who want to understand the classical kumbhakas and their sources
- Anyone curious about box breathing, 4-7-8 or cardiac coherence and how they relate to pranayama
- Teachers looking for a sourced, precaution-first reference
Look inside
Real pages of the PDF. Your email address is printed on the cover of your copy.
Read the first chapter freePDF, 10 pages. No email, no sign-up.
Listen to a free extract
4 min, free, no sign-up. The full audio comes with the book.
Keyboard: Space plays or pauses, the arrow keys move 10 seconds.
Chapters
Guided audio narrated with a synthetic voice (ElevenLabs). Sanskrit recitation checked line by line.
Read the transcript
Nāḍī śodhana, the alternate nostril breath. A guided practice, without retention.
Bring the right hand to the face in Viṣṇu mudrā: fold the index and middle fingers into the palm. The thumb will close the right nostril; the ring finger, with the little finger resting beside it, will close the left. Press gently on the soft side of the nose, just below the bony bridge. Keep the elbow relaxed and dropped. The left hand rests on the knee.
For a moment, breathe naturally. Slow, even, silent. The air should barely move the hairs in the nostril.
Now the alternation. One round is: in through the left, out through the right, in through the right, out through the left. I will count four for each phase. Bring the hand back. Close the right nostril, and breathe out fully through the left.
In, left.
Three.
Four.
Out, right.
Three.
Four.
In, right.
Three.
Four.
Out, left.
Three.
Four.
In, left.
Three.
Four.
Out, right.
Three.
Four.
In, right.
Three.
Four.
Out, left.
Three.
Four.
In, left.
Three.
Four.
Out, right.
Three.
Four.
In, right.
Three.
Four.
Out, left.
Three.
Four.
Continue on your own, at the same pace. I will only name the side.
In, left.
Out, right.
In, right.
Out, left.
Release the hand. Let the breath return to its natural rhythm. Notice the two nostrils, the quiet of the mind, without changing anything.
This was a short extract of the guided practices that accompany the Pranayama Manual, on yogide.com.
Before you buy
What exactly do I get?
A PDF you download right after payment; the link is also emailed to you. PDF of 50 pages, readable on any phone, tablet or computer, printable in A4 or Letter.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes, on any phone, tablet or computer: PDF readers are built into iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows. Nothing to install, no account to create.
Can I print it?
Yes. The pages are A4 and print well on Letter paper too; keep it open on your mat.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes. Write the recipient’s first name in the gift field before paying, or on your order page after payment: it is printed on the cover. You receive the PDF and simply forward the email.
Which language is it in?
This edition is in English. Yogide also publishes it in French.
What if something is wrong with my file?
Because the PDF is available at once, the right to cancel ends when the download starts (see our terms). If the file won’t open or doesn’t match its description, email administration@lacangel.fr: we fix it.
Is the Sanskrit translation yours?
Quotations of the ancient texts are either our own translations or public-domain editions, always named. We never copy a modern copyrighted translation.
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