Breathwork of the ancients, Pranayama with Daniel Simpson.

In this episode, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Aneta Idczak, a Trauma-informed Somatic Teacher and Coach, for her exciting new podcast: "Through a Trauma-informed Lens – Exploring Soma, Psyche, and Soul."

Several years ago, I delved into the world of trauma-informed approaches with Aneta, and our collaboration has since flourished. I've been honoured to participate in her annual virtual summit: "Through a Trauma-informed Lens: Yoga, Embodied Resilience, and Business." Mark your calendars, as the next summit is scheduled for February 2024.

During our engaging conversation, we explored the profound influence of breath and the significance of somatic practices, particularly when confronting mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and trauma. (Please be forewarned – you might catch a few candid rants along the way! LOL)

Our dialogue also delved into how we both provide our respective training and the invaluable lessons we aspire to impart to our trainees.

Now, sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in this episode. If you're keen to discover more about Aneta's work, visit her website at www.anetai.co.ukAnd for those interested in exploring upcoming Breathwork and Pranayama for Health professional training, click on this link:https://yogalaurent.com/yoga-teacher-training-uk

In this episode, Laurent speaks about the benefits of shifting away from our ingrained habits of thinking frontally all the time, which can burden our bodies and minds.

Instead, he invites us to develop an awareness of the back of our body, which enhances the mind-body connection. By focusing on this area, you cultivate a deeper relationship between your physical sensations and mental state. Paying attention to the back of our body automatically brings us into the present moment and consequently promotes relaxation, which can be very calming.

In the episode, Laurent beautifully illustrates the shift of our awareness through a meditation that starts at minute 16'20".

In this episode, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Lilly Balch from the Morning Ritual Podcast, a dedicated meditation podcast that provides listeners with reflections and techniques for inner peace.

During our collaboration, we discussed embracing a slower pace in yoga, movement, breathing, meditation, and daily life. By consciously letting go and doing less, we explored how it can lead to being more present with ourselves.

The conversation was inspired by my blog post titled "Seven Tips to Do Less and Receive More", which I published in March 2023.

Throughout our discussion, we explored the challenges of adopting a mindset of doing less and shared various techniques and tips based on those seven tips.

Towards the end of the episode, I offered a guided meditation based on the tips mentioned in the blog and our conversation. If you want to skip to the meditation, go straight to minute 39:08.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy listening to this episode. And if you're interested, you can also listen to Lilly Balch's podcast directly using this link: https://www.lillybalch.com/podcast or subscribe to 'The Morning Ritual' on your favourite podcast platforms.

Pranayama and meditation are deeply rooted in the yoga tradition.

Together, and with other tools, they contribute to progressively more profound levels of meditative experiences. These tools are described in Pantajali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga.

It is interesting to see where pranayama is positioned on this list.

It is placed after the physical yogic experience (asanas) and before the subtler practices of internalisation (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), and meditation (dhyana).

Patanjali tells us that breath is the only open the door to meditation and enlightenment (samadhi).

According to Yoga, meditation is about finding inner stillness, liberation, and spiritual enlightenment where the self, the mind, and the object of meditation merge into one.

To achieve this, we must patiently go through different stages and techniques where the breath is omnipresent.

A well-designed plan of numerous methods is required to experience a profoundly satisfying meditation day after day.

This plan has five stages, and we will experience them together in a 22-min meditation starting at 10':10".

In this episode, Laurent explains the difference between external respiration (normal breathing) and internal respiration (cellular breathing).

Although each of those different ways to breathe has specific roles in keeping us healthy, they are inseparable and feed each other.

The meditation in this episode shows us the way toward a deep place within ourselves and connects us to cellular breathing.

A place where our consciousness expands and connects us to the oneness of our infinite-celled landscape.
Cellular breathing generates life and energy and brings greater awareness of our true selves. Let's experience this calming and silent cellular breathing together.

The meditation starts at 12'25''.

If you are interested in learning Breathwork and Pranayama with Laurent, please click here for more information ›

In this episode, Laurent offers a short meditation to connect with our vital force, the breath.

This calming and explorative breathing technique can give us a sense of presence and a deeper awareness of how we feel in this moment.

It helps us to gain a feeling of ease and makes us more acutely attuned to our body and being.

Laurent understands the importance of teaching how to connect with the breath before we enterprise any other breathwork or meditation to stay safe and benefit significantly from our practice.

This meditation can be practised solely as a peaceful way to be with ourselves and experience some well-deserved calm.

The meditation starts at 00:05:36

If you are interested in learning Breathwork and Pranayama with Laurent, please click here for more information: https://yogalaurent.com/yoga-teacher-training-uk/pranayama-and-breathwork-teacher-training/

This episode is the first of a series of three talks about the practical and classic steps to learn in Yogic meditation.

In this recording, Laurent explains the importance of learning how to internalise and rest our senses before we start exploring the deepest stages of meditation.

After speaking about the essential art of Pratyahara (the withdrawal of the senses), you will experience a relaxing and soothing 40 mins meditation called: ‘Resting your senses meditation’ to help you detach yourself from the external distractions, noises, negative impressions etc.

This practical, straightforward, informative episode will help you start or refine your meditation practice.

Skip to minute 16:02 to jump directly into the practice.

In this Episode, Laurent helps and gives tips to achieve a balanced and relaxed posture to experience a pleasant meditation. With his years of practice and teaching breathwork and meditation classes and courses, he collected the most common questions and issues encountered by himself and his student in this podcast. He is sharing his tips and 20 minutes of practice at the end of the recording.

This practical and straightforward informative episode will help you start or refine your meditation practice.

In this Episode, Laurent helps and gives tips to achieve a balanced and relaxed posture to experience a pleasant meditation. With his years of practice and teaching breathwork and meditation classes and courses, he collected the most common questions and issues encountered by himself and his student in this podcast. He is sharing his tips and 20 minutes of practice at the end of the recording.

This practical and straightforward informative episode will help you start or refine your meditation practice.

In this episode, Laurent offers a 30-min simple deep relaxation yoga Nidra (conscious sleep meditation), which intends to rest the body and the mind for rejuvenation and building gentle energy. Laurent’s simple guidelines and practices suggest bringing peace and calm into the most profound part of our being to encourage growth, recovery and strength.

This practice is designed to be accessible to all levels.

This yoga Nidra was recorded during Laurent’s one day retreat at St Mary Church, Wimbledon Village, London – Winter 2022.