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Do You Need a Master’s in Yoga Therapy?

A woman sitting on a yoga mat in a library studying for a master's in yoga therapy.

Yoga therapy is a growing field, with more yoga therapist jobs and career opportunities emerging all the time. But for those who are interested in working as yoga therapists, it’s important to know what education and training you’ll need to succeed in your career. In particular, many aspiring yoga therapists are asking if they’ll need a master’s in yoga therapy.

The answer will depend on what you’d like to do with your career. When I first became a yoga therapist, most of us earned a living by running our own private practices. As time has gone on, however, I’ve seen an increase in yoga therapists working in hospital programs, addiction centers, mental health departments, chiropractors’ offices, wellness centers, and school districts. There are even a few academic positions related to yoga therapy at colleges and universities.

In most cases, it’s enough to go through a reputable yoga therapy training program and become C-IAYT certified, the highest level of yoga therapy certification. It’s also significantly less expensive. But there are a few exceptions where a Master of Science in yoga therapy would be more beneficial. Keep reading to learn what educational path is right for you.

Table of Contents:

Yoga Therapy Program Benefits

For many students, a yoga therapy training program makes the most sense for achieving their goals. As the founder and director of my own yoga therapy program, Breathing Deeply, I can speak from direct knowledge about how training such as ours often compares to a master’s in yoga therapy.

Lower Costs

Master’s programs tend to be more costly than yoga therapy programs, which can be a major factor for many students to consider.

For example, at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), there’s a Master of Science in yoga therapy that the university itself estimates would cost $36,656 in tuition alone. That’s not including their $50 application fee, $275 university fee every trimester, or $75 graduation fee.

A comparison showing how MUIH's Master of Science in yoga therapy costs $38,431 in tuition and fees compared to Breathing Deeply's program that costs $13,695 in tuition and fees.

Soul of Yoga offers a program in collaboration with the California Institute for Human Sciences in which students can earn a master’s in integral health while gaining their yoga therapy certification as well. This program comes at a similar cost of $34,184.50 in tuition.

Most yoga therapy training programs have lower overhead costs, allowing them to offer much lower prices. At Breathing Deeply, students can complete our Advanced Program and become C-IAYT certified for just $13,695 total. This includes not only tuition, but also 4 week-long online retreats, 4 week-long residential retreats (including room and board), a practicum fee, and final exam costs.

Read our blog post about the cost to become a yoga therapist to learn more.

Fewer Prerequisites and Requirements

By operating outside of the college and university system, most yoga therapy programs do not need as many prerequisites and requirements.

At Breathing Deeply, even our highest program (the Advanced Program) only requires a high school diploma or equivalent. We have no required GPA, no application fee, and no essay application requirements—just a questionnaire to help us understand your background and experience.

A comparison of the requirements for a typical Master's in yoga therapy versus Breathing Deeply's program

By contrast, master’s programs typically require a Bachelor’s degree and minimum college GPA. Many also require you to pass the GRE, a standardized test that you must pay to take. Master’s programs can have a limited number of seats available and be highly competitive, making it more important to include a compelling essay application, list of references, and relevant work experience. You may even be required to interview to secure a spot.Whether you enroll in a yoga therapy program or at a college or university for a master’s in yoga therapy, it’s important to note that you are likely to need to have completed your 200-hour yoga teacher training and have at least one year of personal practice and teaching experience.

Better Integration with Yoga Teacher Training

As mentioned in the previous section, you’re likely to be required to complete your 200-hour yoga teacher training beforehand whether you attend a yoga therapy training program or pursue a Master of Science in yoga therapy. The only difference is that a yoga therapy program may also offer a 200-hour yoga teacher training in house.

This may not seem like a major benefit at first, but most yoga teacher training programs are focused on teaching rather than yoga therapy. That’s great if you want to become a yoga teacher, but many students who want to become yoga therapists find that their 200-hour yoga teacher training is almost completely irrelevant to their goals, interests, and what they learn in a yoga therapy program.At Breathing Deeply, we’re pleased to offer a 200-hour yoga teacher training that is designed with yoga therapists in mind. Not only does it better prepare students for an education in yoga therapy, but we also allow students to seamlessly combine their yoga teacher training with our Foundations Program, which then integrates into the Advanced Program where students can become C-IAYT certified yoga therapists.

Flexibility to Work at Your Own Pace

Many yoga therapy programs allow students to work at their own pace. This gives busier students more flexibility to juggle various responsibilities, while other students can work faster to finish sooner.

At Breathing Deeply, for instance, students can complete our Advanced Program in as little as 2 years. Coursework is self-paced and lessons are available 24/7 online.

By contrast, most master’s programs operate on strict semester schedules. Full-time graduate students usually need 2 or 3 years to complete a degree, but may take longer if they experience scheduling issues in a semester or need to retake a class.

Jobs in Public Centers and Private Practice

The vast majority of yoga therapy jobs available today do not require a Master of Science in yoga therapy. More often, you’ll need to have completed yoga therapy or yoga teacher training, become certified, and gotten relevant work experience.

I’ve seen my own students go on to get jobs as yoga therapists at hospital programs (such as cancer centers or in the V.A.), addiction centers, mental health departments, chiropractors’ offices, wellness centers, and school districts. Of course, you can always open your own private practice as well.

The one career where a master’s in yoga therapy is necessary is in academia. Most college professors must have a PhD in their field (or a master’s degree if it is considered a terminal degree, meaning that their field typically does not offer anything higher than a master’s degree).

Master’s in Yoga Therapy Benefits

Although many yoga therapists don’t need to earn a Master of Science in yoga therapy, there are several benefits to this educational path that students should consider. Depending on your career goals, a master’s in yoga therapy may actually be necessary.

Jobs in Academia or Research

As mentioned above, if your ambition is to become a college professor in yoga therapy, then you will need a graduate degree. While most college professors need a PhD, fields that do not have many or any PhD programs are usually satisfied with a master’s degree.

Currently, there are limited options for earning a Master of Science in yoga therapy, which means you likely won’t need a PhD for some time to come in order to teach yoga therapy in college. At the same time, this means that there are very few positions available for professors of yoga therapy.

For those who are interested in the research side of yoga therapy, however, a master’s program may offer more academic research opportunities and support. For instance, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) offers graduate yoga therapy studies where one of the learning objectives is for students to be able to objectively assess research in the field of yoga and be able to present research findings at academic conferences. This skillset is unlikely to receive as much focus in a yoga therapy training program outside of the university setting.

Better Integration with Other Graduate Programs

For students hoping to earn other graduate degrees, a master’s in yoga therapy might better integrate with their educational goals. In order to become a licensed healthcare provider, for example, you’ll likely need to go to medical school.

It may be easier to transition into another graduate program at the same institution where you receive your master’s in yoga therapy. There may even be options to combine both degrees, or you might be able to earn your graduate degree in the medical field of your choice and simply add on a post-master’s certificate in yoga therapy.

That being said, you can also always go to medical school and then simply complete a yoga therapy training program. If you do not need a full academic degree in yoga therapy, this may be a faster and less expensive way to get the additional training you’d like to supplement your medical degree.

More Mentorship Opportunities in Conventional Healthcare Settings

Depending on the program, students may have more access to mentored clinical experiences in conventional healthcare settings on or off campus through a master’s program. While many yoga therapy programs still offer significant clinical experiences, a master’s program may have more connections to healthcare centers within the university or local community.

Students who pursue a Master of Science in yoga therapy at Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), for example, have access to mentored clinical experiences in MUIH’s Natural Care Center. If there are specific clinical experiences or working relationships that are critical to your career goals, you may want to look for master’s programs or yoga therapy training programs that can provide the access you want while in school.

Access to Student Loans

Student loans are commonplace at colleges and universities, while other yoga therapy training programs may lack the infrastructure and resources to offer such loans. However, yoga therapy training programs tend to cost significantly less, which can lessen the need for student loans.

Such programs outside of academia may also offer flexible payment options to help address this need. This is why it’s important to do your research on financing options whether you’re looking at graduate programs or yoga therapy training programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about yoga therapy education and training? Check our frequently asked questions below for guidance.

What Is the Difference Between a Yoga Teacher and a Yoga Therapist?

A yoga teacher teaches yoga to others. While many yoga teachers offer group classes, you can also offer private, one-on-one yoga sessions. Yoga teachers often use a particular style of yoga, such as Ashtanga yoga or hot yoga. In their classes, yoga teachers usually instruct students how to perform different asanas (poses), but they may also use pranayamas (breathing techniques), meditation, chanting, or yogic philosophies.

By contrast, a yoga therapist uses yoga to help treat specific health conditions, whether physical or mental. More often, yoga therapists work with clients one-on-one rather than in groups to provide individualized care. Yoga therapists must have a stronger understanding of health issues and complete more training in order to become certified.

Read our blog post on the differences between a yoga teacher and a yoga therapist to learn more.

What Is Yoga Therapy Used For?

Yoga therapy is used to apply yoga techniques to physical and mental health conditions. These can include everything from back pain to anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, chronic pain, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, rehab and healing, and more. The goal of yoga therapy is to help clients heal, and it can be used on its own or as part of a holistic health and wellness treatment plan.

What Is the Highest Degree in Yoga?

The highest academic degree in yoga is a PhD. There are several options to earn a PhD in yoga abroad, and Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) started the first PhD program for yoga in North America in November 2022. Given the scarcity of PhD programs, however, many may consider a master’s in yoga therapy or yoga studies to be a terminal degree.

The highest level of yoga therapy certification in the world is C-IAYT, or certification through the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Apply for Yoga Therapy Training Today

If a yoga therapy training program is the right choice for you, I’d like to humbly offer Breathing Deeply’s programs for your consideration. We take pride in providing practical, ethical training for yoga therapists so more people will have access to quality yoga therapy.

For those who are just starting their journey, we have a 200-hour yoga teacher training program that can be combined with our Foundations program to get you started. Once you have completed this training or if you come to us with previous experience to meet these prerequisites, you can move on to our Advanced program and become a certified yoga therapist.

Learn more about our yoga therapy programs or get in touch by applying today.

How to balance the doshas in the energetic body with pranayama

How to balance the doshas in the energetic body with pranayama
How to balance the doshas in the energetic body with pranayama

Welcome to episode 47 of The Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy and Meditation podcast.

Prana is the life force that animates everything. This includes everything external to us and everything within ourselves. It is infinite and it’s all about flow throughout the body. 

Since prana is infinite and it’s everywhere, we don’t need to generate more of it, we just need to let it flow through our energetic and physical system. 

Breath is one way we interact with prana outside our body and depending on how we breathe we can change the way prana moves in, out, and around our own body. 

Pranayama

There are specific pranayama exercises that one can practice to influence the way that prana moves through our system in different ways. It is through these breathing practices that we can balance energies in our system which may have become out of balance. 

Listen to this episode to learn about the pranic body, pranayama and three specific practices to balance and sensitize us to each of the three doshas: Vata, pitta and kapha.

The Radically Balanced Yogi

This episode was taken as an excerpt from our free 6-week course the Radically Balanced Yogi! To receive the specific pranayama practices for each dosa from Brandt as mentioned in the video, sign up now for free! https://bit.ly/2WX1HGc

Inside the Radically Balanced Yogi, we dive deep into finding balance in all aspects of the self!

To learn about radical balance in the physical body through asana, check out episode 41 “How To Balance The Doshas In The Physical Body” here.

Om Shanthi

This episode covers: 

  • What is prana?
  • The nadis & kundalini energy
  • Breath regulation and the mastery of pranayama
  • Pranayama for kapha
  • Pranayama for pitta
  • Pranayama for vata
  • How to use the three pranayamas for the doshas

Breathing Deeply is a Yoga Therapy and Meditation School, founded by lead teacher Brand Passalacqua in 2014. We hold online and in-person Yoga Therapy Foundations and IAYT accredited Advanced Programs and retreats along with Meditation Programs, including online meditation teacher training and certification and holistic weight loss with Being At Peace with Food.

Breathing Deeply is made up of an active and thriving community of yogis, caregivers, therapists, teachers, medical professionals, parents & children with the same intention—to serve others, lessen suffering, and co-create a new paradigm in wellness.

Yoga Therapist Jobs and Career Opportunities

A yoga therapist on the job helping a client with a yoga pose in a clinical setting.

A career in yoga therapy is incredibly rewarding. Learn about yoga therapy jobs and salaries from Breathing Deeply. Apply for a program today!

A yoga therapist on the job helping a client with a yoga pose in a clinical setting.

Yoga therapy is a specialized career path in yoga that is steadily growing. Yoga therapist jobs aren’t as common as talk therapist or physical therapist jobs, but they have a similar goal in mind. The goal of yoga therapy is to reduce, eliminate, or manage symptoms of suffering, whether it be physical or mental.

Pursuing a yoga therapy career is a rewarding life path for many. Yoga therapy jobs allow individuals to assist in others’ healing processes. Many students wonder where yoga therapists work, how many jobs are available, and what kind of job opportunities there are in yoga therapy.

I’ll share my experience and observations about what types of yoga therapy jobs are out there, average salary ranges, opportunities to advance your career, and how to get started with training to become a yoga therapist. Read on to learn why a career in yoga could be right for you!

Table of Contents:

Where Do Yoga Therapists Work?

“Where do yoga therapists work?” is a common question that we get from prospective students at Breathing Deeply, and it’s something that we discuss and advise about throughout our yoga therapy training programs.

It’s not uncommon for yoga therapists to work two or three part-time jobs, such as having a private practice in addition to working at a hospital, addiction center, or other public setting. Some yoga therapists also supplement their work by teaching a yoga class in addition to running a private practice for yoga therapy.

To give you an overview, watch my video below and keep reading for a few of the most common yoga therapist jobs that students can pursue after completing their training.

Private Practice Yoga Therapy Career

For years, the primary way to earn a living as a yoga therapist was to be in private practice, as yoga therapy clinics are not common. At a private practice, a yoga therapist typically works alone without other partners. There are usually few to no support staff members.

For those who want to manage their own business and control how they work with clients, a yoga therapy career at a private practice can give you the independence, freedom, and close client relationships you’re looking for. As with anyone starting a business, it requires an entrepreneurial spirit and the time and skills to manage your own practice.

In the past and still today, yoga therapists often have specialties within the field. This is a great way to not only follow your passion for a specific niche, but also make your skills more valuable. Having one or two specialty areas allows you to truly become an expert, increasing your ability to draw clients, build a practice, and establish a reputation. Many yoga therapists work alone as experts in yoga techniques for physical issues, mental health issues, chronic diseases, or even a specific disease or pathology.

If you develop enough of a clientele, your private practice could be your full-time yoga therapy job. As you’re establishing your practice, however, it is very common to also look for yoga therapist jobs near you in a hospital, center, or other public setting.

Many yoga therapists run their own practice while also working at a hospital, mental health department, addiction center, chiropractor office, school district, or other organizations part-time. Others choose to offer yoga therapy in a private practice while also teaching yoga classes, either at their own yoga studio or for another studio or institution.

Salary for a Private Practice Yoga Therapist

Yoga therapists who run their own private practices have a wide range of fees they charge. Our general impression is that a yoga therapist’s salary is in the range of other alternative healthcare providers, with the current national average yoga therapist salary at $70,000, according to ZipRecruiter.

Of course, there are numerous factors that go into determining the salary for yoga therapist jobs, including:

  • Location: In major cities where the cost of living and demand for yoga therapy may be higher, a yoga therapist may charge clients upwards of $100 per hour. In smaller cities, yoga therapists often charge less.

  • Experience: As you gain more years of professional experience in your yoga therapy career, your expertise and reputation can grow, allowing you to charge more for services.
  • Skill Level: Becoming certified and specializing in a few specific areas or pathologies can also raise your rates, as your skills are more in demand. You can also combine skills from other careers with yoga therapy, such as mental health professionals who become yoga therapists.

For more information and data, read our guide to yoga therapist salary.

Yoga Therapist Jobs in Hospital, Public, and Center Settings

Now that yoga therapy is gaining acceptance with the public and with more integrative healthcare providers, we are seeing job opportunities for yoga therapists emerge outside of private practice. There are also nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, mental health professionals, social workers, and other healthcare professionals who get yoga therapy training and bring it into these careers. 

We have seen yoga therapists from our school employed at:

  • Hospital programs (such as cancer centers)

  • Mental health departments

  • The V.A. for trauma-sensitive classes

  • Addiction centers

  • Chiropractors’ offices

  • Wellness centers

  • School districts

The United States Department of Veteran Affairs, which is the largest hospital system in the U.S., in particular has become very active lately in incorporating yoga therapy into the V.A.’s offerings. Yoga therapist jobs in hospital settings can mean working in a department of a hospital, such as a cancer center or mental health department, or at a hospital-owned practice.

Some yoga therapist jobs at centers and public institutions involve working one-on-one with clients, while others may involve running group sessions for specific condition sets. Particularly at a hospital or other large organization with multiple departments, your yoga therapy services may be used on their own or as part of a holistic wellness treatment plan in conjunction with other healthcare practitioners.

These jobs tend to offer more stability for a yoga therapy career, with predictable income, an established patient base, and regular hours. However, you have less control over work policies and the services you provide. While you may find full-time work in one of these settings, it is more common to find part-time yoga therapy jobs.

Developing areas of expertise can help advance your career if they align with the hospital, center, or public setting where you’re employed. For example, specializing in yoga therapy for cancer could make you a more attractive candidate for a yoga therapist job in a hospital’s cancer department. By contrast, specializing in mental health generally or in a specific condition, such as depression, could help advance your career as a yoga therapist at a mental health center.

Salary for a Hospital/Public/Center Yoga Therapist

These opportunities at various centers are usually paid hourly. They also are not usually full-time positions. A yoga therapist working for a wellness center or in the public health sphere can expect to make anywhere from $30 to $120 per hour.

As with private practice yoga therapy jobs, the salary you earn will depend on a number of factors, including:

  • Location: In bigger cities, the cost of living as well as the demand for yoga therapy tends to be higher, allowing you to find higher paying jobs than in many smaller cities.
  • Experience: As you deepen your knowledge and build a positive reputation among hospitals, centers, or other public institutions, you become a more valuable asset and can increase your earning potential.
  • Skill Level: Certain positions require yoga therapy certification, which can earn you more. On average, yoga therapists earn slightly more than yoga teachers or instructors in the U.S., as shown in the data above from ZipRecruiter. If you develop areas of expertise that are in demand, you may be qualified for higher paying positions. For example, specializing in yoga therapy for trauma and PTSD could make it easier to get hired and advance your yoga therapy career at the V.A.

For more information and data, read our guide to yoga therapist salary.

How Many Jobs for Yoga Therapists Are There?

In my years as a yoga therapist myself and helping new yoga therapists train and start their careers, I have seen all of these types of public positions advertised for, which is very encouraging.

I’ve trained students who have gone on to find yoga therapist jobs at the V.A., in other hospital settings, in school systems, at mental health facilities, at addiction centers, and more. I once saw a job listing for the U.S. Capitol Police, which was over $100K per year. One former student found work at an addiction center full-time, getting paid by the hour, which I hadn’t seen before.

The fact that institutions and healthcare practices know to ask for a yoga therapist is a sign that the field is moving forward and that more and more job opportunities for yoga therapists are coming. One area where it’s still challenging to find a job is as a professor teaching yoga therapy at the university level, given the small number of master’s programs in yoga therapy available.

To get an idea of how many yoga therapy jobs are near you, you can look at job search sites such as Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, ZipRecruiter, and more, as well as look for opportunities with specific centers or hospitals, such as the V.A..

As of this writing, there were a range of jobs for yoga therapists listed on these sites, including:

  • A full-time mental health yoga therapist job at a counseling and wellness spa in Oklahoma, requiring a professional license to practice and paying $65,000–$120,000 per year.
  • A full-time yoga therapy counselor position at a hospital in New Hampshire, with a $2,500 signing bonus.
  • A part-time yoga instructor job at a psychiatrist hospital in Colorado, looking for certified yoga instructors with experience providing yoga therapy in a mental health setting for $50 per hour.

  • A part-time yoga therapy job at the same psychiatric hospital in Colorado, looking for certified yoga therapists with an emphasis on trauma-informed yoga for $21–$31 starting hourly pay.

  • A remote, part-time stress management specialist position at a digital health company, requiring yoga teacher certification as well as yoga therapy certification.

  • A part-time yoga therapy job at an eating recovery center in Texas, looking for yoga therapists with experience treating mental disorders, especially eating disorders.

  • A part-time yoga instructor position at a behavioral health center in Pennsylvania offering substance abuse treatment, looking for a certified yoga therapist.
  • And more!

What Is the Scope of a Yoga Therapist Practice?

In the health and wellness field, a scope of practice outlines the actions, procedures, and processes that a licensed healthcare practitioner is allowed to perform based on the laws and regulations in place. As an international leader in yoga therapy that offers the highest form of yoga therapy certification, the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) has created a scope of practice for yoga therapy.

The IAYT scope of practice gives certified yoga therapists a scope of practice to follow in their yoga therapy career, and it gives other healthcare practitioners and the public a frame of reference to understand what yoga therapists are qualified to do and how their work fits into the healthcare field. According to the IAYT scope of services, yoga therapy can occur in one-on-one sessions as well as in group sessions, where a yoga therapist works with a small group of clients who have similar or varied symptoms or health conditions.

A few key things to keep in mind about what a yoga therapist is qualified to do include:

  • Practicing in a way that reflects your training and experience
  • Using yoga therapy to support physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health
  • Providing lifestyle change guidance within a yoga therapy framework
  • Evaluating clients and keeping records
  • Identifying risk factors or contraindications

  • Creating an appropriate and safe yoga therapy plan
  • Giving recommendations and instructions for home practice
  • Providing regular follow-up and review
  • Understanding and using information provided by diagnoses from other healthcare professionals
  • Receiving and providing referrals to and from other relevant healthcare providers
  • Working on a multi-disciplinary team as needed

A few key things to keep in mind about what a yoga therapist is not qualified to do include:

  • Not treating clients whose issues are outside your competency or necessary expertise
  • Identifying yourself as a licensed healthcare practitioner (unless you are also a licensed healthcare practitioner)
  • Using physical adjustments, manipulations, or massage (unless you are also qualified to do so)
  • Providing psychological counseling, either individually or in groups (unless you are also qualified to do so)
  • Recommending nutrition or lifestyle changes outside of a yoga therapy framework (unless you are also qualified to do so)
  • Diagnosing physical or psychological conditions (unless you are also a licensed healthcare practitioner qualified to do so)
  • Interpreting raw medical or psychological diagnostic test results (unless you are also a licensed healthcare practitioner qualified to do so)

  • Prescribing medication (unless you are also a licensed healthcare practitioner qualified to do so)

  • Prescribing supplements or herbs (unless you are also qualified to do so)

In addition, yoga therapists must maintain their certification, qualifications, and ongoing continuing education requirements, as well as maintain client confidentiality, comply with the IAYT Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibilities, and follow all relevant state or local jurisdiction laws.

What Are the Career Opportunities in the Field of Yoga Therapy, and What Is the Job Market Outlook?

The yoga therapy job market outlook is positive, and career opportunities in the field of yoga therapy are expanding beyond just private practice. As yoga therapy becomes more popular and its healing effects better understood, more yoga therapist jobs are being created at public entities like wellness centers and school districts. 

The most encouraging news is that Breathing Deeply is now receiving referral inquiries from healthcare providers for names of yoga therapists. These employers are having trouble filling the yoga therapy positions they have available, providing more exciting job opportunities for our students. 

This makes a lot of sense considering how much the field of yoga therapy is gaining recognition and popularity, while the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) has roughly only 6,000 Yoga Therapists holding their certification (C-IAYT).

I see this moment as a very exciting time to enter this emerging field early in its development as becoming a “profession.” I am honored to be an integral part of this new paradigm in wellness by sharing the mission to spread the availability of quality, practical, and ethical yoga therapy.

How Do I Train to Be a Yoga Therapist?

Are you ready to be a change-maker in this emerging field of yoga therapy? You may be asking yourself, “What’s next? How do I train to be a yoga therapist?”

Pursuing a career in yoga therapy is a worthwhile decision for anyone who wants to help people feel their best. At Breathing Deeply, we are committed to providing the training necessary for our students to become ethical, qualified yoga therapists.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve already completed your yoga teacher certification, we have a program to match your skill level. We provide the support students need with live Q&As, self-paced coursework with 24/7 access, flexible payment plans, and a thriving community of teachers and colleagues.

Start your journey on a new and exciting career path with Breathing Deeply IAYT-accredited courses. Learn more about our yoga therapy training courses or apply now. We look forward to working with you!

What are the five pranas and why are they important?

Welcome to episode 46 of The Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy and Meditation podcast.

Today, Brandt is talking all about the 5 pranas, also known as the Prana Vayus. Each of the 5 pranas moves in a different direction, is primarily located in different areas in or around the physical body, and is inherently linked to the breath. 

It’s important to have a strong connection to the 5 pranas when we work with prana or the breath.

Following these energetic currents is a practice in itself that can bring us great insight into the nature of our relationship with the outer pranic world, which is the same as the inner pranic world.

Brandt shares important information about what each of the 5 pranas is, how they move with the breath, what each prana governs, and what their uses are in the context of the energetic and physical body and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy.

Brandt will then guide you through a quick breathing practice which will take you through all 5 pranas. This will help you start to cultivate an awareness of the pranas and increase your sensitivity to the different energetic currents moving through your system. 

This podcast is a clip taken from the ‘Pranic Body’ module inside our Yoga Therapy Foundations Program. 

To dive even deeper into this subject and many, many more alongside expert mentorship with Brandt so that you can start helping people heal from specific health conditions through the power of yoga, consider enrolling for our next intake.

The next class starts on February 16th, 2023. 

For more information & to begin the enrolment process, click here.

Om Shanthi

This episode covers: 

  • Introduction to the 5 pranas
  • Adya prana (also known as just prana)
  • Samana prana
  • Udana Prana 
  • Apana Prana
  • Vyana Prana
  • How to consciously manipulate and work with the pranas therapeutically
  • Breathing Exercise for the 5 pranas
  • How cultivating awareness of the 5 pranas can make us better healers

Breathing Deeply is a Yoga Therapy and Meditation School, founded by lead teacher Brand Passalacqua in 2014. We hold online and in-person Yoga Therapy Foundations and IAYT accredited Advanced Programs and retreats along with Meditation Programs, including online meditation teacher training and certification and holistic weight loss with Being At Peace with Food.

Breathing Deeply is made up of an active and thriving community of yogis, caregivers, therapists, teachers, medical professionals, parents & children with the same intention—to serve others, lessen suffering, and co-create a new paradigm in wellness.

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