Pranayama, Meditation, and Subtle Body Practices
This domain tests your grasp of breath practices, meditation methods, and the subtle-body models used in yoga teaching. Expect questions on technique, contraindications, and how to teach without making medical claims.
Breath practices
- Ujjayi uses a soft throat constriction to create an audible breath; it should not strain the jaw or throat.
- Nadi shodhana alternates nostrils and is often taught with a 1:1 or 1:2 inhale-to-exhale ratio; retention is advanced and not for everyone.
- Dirga breath fills abdomen, rib cage, and upper chest sequentially. Bhramari uses humming. Kapalabhati is forceful exhalation with passive inhalation; avoid in pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension, glaucoma, or acute respiratory illness.
- Stop if dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath occurs.
Meditation and subtle body
Focused-attention meditation returns to an object such as breath or sound; open-monitoring notices whatever arises without fixation. The five koshas-annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vijnanamaya, anandamaya-are sheaths, not anatomical organs. The seven chakras and three principal nadis-ida, pingala, sushumna-are traditional models, not verified physiology. Bandhas-mula, uddiyana, jalandhara-are energetic locks; teach gently and avoid forceful retention.
Worked example
A student reports panic during breath retention. Reasoning: stop retention, return to natural breath, lengthen the exhale, and offer a seated grounding practice. Do not diagnose anxiety or promise cure; refer if symptoms persist.
Traps
Do not present chakras as proven anatomy or kapalabhati as detoxification. Do not teach retention before stable natural breath. Avoid shaming students who cannot sit cross-legged; use a chair.