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Breathing

The Art and Science of Pranayama

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Breathing

By: Mark Stephens, Cyndi Lee - introduction
Narrated by: Mark Stephens
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• An immersive guide to the ancient Indian tradition of pranayama that traces its evolution from shamanic and Vedic roots to modern yoga practices

• Integrates classical teachings with modern science, including anatomy and neurology, to explain the holistic benefits of pranayama

• Offers detailed physical and energetic preparation, including asanas, bandhas, and cleansing methods, plus instruction in over 25 pranayama techniques

Pranayama, the ancient yogic art of conscious breathing, holds profound potential to transform your physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual awareness. Current research into the respiratory and nervous systems helps illuminate the holistic benefits of this tradition.

In this book Mark Stephens presents an accessible and comprehensive study of pranayama. He details its roots in the pan-Eurasian shamanic tradition, the Vedas, Upanishads, early Buddhism and Jainism, and its fullest development through tantra, hatha yoga, and contemporary breathwork. Stephens offers systematic instruction for foundational practices, such as posture refinement, nasal cleansing, and pelvic floor activation. He also teaches advanced techniques for cultivating presence, interoception, and spiritual insight.

Stephens shows how pranayama can benefit you across your lifespan, and he highlights its applicability to a range of health conditions, including pregnancy, ADHD, PTSD, long COVID, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. He shows how breathwork can deepen meditation, enhance intimacy, and restore our innate breathing rhythms that are often lost due to stress and social conditioning.

Uniting ancient wisdom and contemporary science, Breathing offers an immersive and empowering path to transform your body and consciousness. Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Spirituality Yoga
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Critic reviews

“Mark Stephens has written a book on pranayama that is, without exaggeration, the most complete study of this most important practice I’ve ever come across. He extensively covers the background—such as pranayama’s long history, its anatomy and physiology, and psychological dimension—and the why’s, the how’s, and the ultimate goals of the student’s daily engagement with the practice, both traditional and modern. Highly recommended.”
“This is a must for students of all kinds to dive into—and a treasure for yoga teachers and yoga therapists to return to again and again with respect for the practice and with an awareness of responsibility for the future of yoga.”
“A deep and illuminating exploration of pranayama that seamlessly weaves the poetry and philosophy of ancient traditions with modern insight—inviting us to see and experience what has always been here.”
“Breathing is the rare pranayama book that respects both the tradition and the tissues. If you want breathing practices you can defend in a lab and feel on the mat, this book is for you.”
“A masterful, accessible guide to breath and pranayama—spanning ancient traditions and modern science. This book belongs in every yoga teacher’s library.”
“A deeply informed and thoughtfully written exploration of pranayama, grounded in lived experience and enriched by both tradition and science. At a time when breathwork is often simplified or overlooked, this book offers a clear, comprehensive, and insightful guide for teachers and practitioners alike.”
“Mark takes us deep into the mystical, unseen, energetic, pranic, and even spiritual realms of something we often take for granted. Whether you’re interested in yoga, pranayama, or merely seeking techniques to use the simple act of breathing to calm the mind, soothe the nervous system, and gain greater clarity, I wholeheartedly recommend Breathing. Reading Mark’s book is a breath of fresh air!”
“Once again, Mark builds on the wisdom of the past, offering fresh insights and clearly articulated practices that help readers restore balance and harmony to the body, mind, and spirit.”
“In Breathing, yoga adept Mark Stephens draws from his years of practice and gained knowledge to explain various methods of pranayama. It is a book that will live on my bookshelf as both an inspiration and a reference guide for many years.”
“A - ha: First a suspension of breath that is that moment of sharpened clarity from the light of realization that we have just been suffused by something profound. Then that deeper inhalation as a fuller ‘seeing’ spreads within. Then that shift in consciousness that is the engagement of our whole being. Then the release, by breath, of what was held so Body can mirror Spirit. Followed by another A - ha as we fully realize. That awaits you in the pages of this book.”
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