Join renowned cell biologist and yoga practitioner Sundar Balasubramanian for a transformative workshop, “The Science of Pranayama: Practice and Applications,” where ancient wisdom meets modern science. In this immersive experience, Sundar will guide participants through the powerful practice of Pranayama, the yogic art of controlled breathing, and explore its scientifically proven benefits on the mind and body.

Session 2:

Basis of Pranayama (excerpts from Thirumanthiram), Scientific Mechanisms of Pranayama, Pranayama Practices 2 (mindful Pranayama Techniques)

What to expect:

•  30% theory, 60% practice, 10% discussion
• Get to practice key exercises from both the Pranayama tradition and new exercises designed by Dr. Sundar
• Understand the biological mechanisms of Pranayama

Combining his expertise in cellular biology with a deep understanding of traditional yogic practices, Sundar will break down the physiological mechanisms behind Pranayama, Through guided breathing techniques, practical exercises, and insightful discussions, participants will gain tools to integrate Pranayama into their daily lives for optimal physical and mental health.

The attendees will be able to:

• Get acquainted with the ancient literary excerpts on Pranayama
• Get to practice key exercises from both the Pranayama tradition and new exercises designed by Dr. Sundar
•  Understand the biological mechanisms of Pranayama

This workshop is perfect for anyone interested in Pranayama, including yoga teachers, patients and caregivers dealing with chronic illnesses, as they can learn easy techniques to manage their symptoms.

All these workshops are eligible for Yoga Alliance CE hours. PranaScience Institute is an IAYT-accredited school.

Bio of Sundar Balasubramanian, PhD, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500

Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a cancer biology and yoga researcher specializing in breathing exercises (Pranayama) in the Department of Radiation Medicine, at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is the Founder & Principal of PranaScience Institute. Sundar’s Yoga research provided the first evidence linking salivary biomarkers and Yogic breathing. He studies how breathing practices could promote well-being in health and disease. His current studies include testing a Yogic breathing app for cancer survivorship, gentle yoga and pranayama in aging, and a web portal development for Yogic breathing, all funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has developed several tools to improve Yogic breathing practice for employee wellness, cancer survivorship, aging, and scleroderma. In 2023, Sundar was named one of the world’s top 5 leading experts in breathwork by Mr.Feelgood magazine.

Sundar is the author of six books and several book chapters. His notable books include PranaScience: Decoding Yoga Breathing,  Mind Your Breathing: The Yogi’s Handbook with 37 Pranayama Exercises (available in Tamil, English, and Hindi versions), and Breathe a Little Better: One Pranayama a Week. He uses chanting as another way of practicing breathing regulation, and these chants are available as audio albums such as Chanting Is Pranayama, Kandhar Anubhoothi, and Thirukkural Maraimozhi.  Sundar grew up in Tamilnadu, India, with a traditional Yoga and Tamil Siddha medicine-practicing background. He has been conducting workshops and training programs and giving talks on the scientific aspects of Pranayama globally. He is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and the Integral Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA), and he is an IAYT certified Yoga therapist (C-IAYT). He is a Yoga Alliance Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and his courses are eligible for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education credit hours. His popular TEDx talk has over 1.1 million views.