Effective Ways Of Teaching Pranayama

Pranayama is the practice of controlling breathing. It is as important to Yoga as mental stability is to general wellbeing. The proper technique of teaching Pranayama has almost been lost due to the present day attention that is given to paying customers in yoga classes. The mantra that the customer is king has seriously compromised yoga teachers’ integrity in imparting knowledge of this old and valuable art. Some teachers create the impression that Pranayama is a separate field of knowledge from yoga. This cannot be further from the truth.
Teaching Pranayama should go hand in hand with teaching other aspects of yoga. It should start at the onset of the main teaching. It should then be paced out proportionately with the rest of the teachings. It is a part of the lessons. As in all aspects of yoga, Pranayama gets better with practice. It is important to learn it systematically. The mind has to be allowed to assimilate all the teachings gradually in order for one to benefit fully.
There is a proper method of imparting the knowledge of Pranayama. It entails first ensuring that the student has the correct moral intentions. If one goes into it with the wrong moral setup, then anything taught will not bring about any real benefit. Diet is also an important factor in preparing the right candidates for Pranayama. The ideal diet is vegetarian and free from stimulants and any addictive substances because the nervous and glandular systems should not be over stimulated into producing selfish and contracting emotions. A thing such as olive oil is good for keeping the lungs well lubricated. A diet rich in fruits and milk is ideal and should be encouraged in students.