Pranayama is one of the key practices within the Yoga discipline. In addition to Asanas and Meditation, Pranayama is gaining increasing importance in the Western world. The availability of ancient literature and modern scientific evidence is sparse on this subtopic of Yoga. Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a pioneer in the area of salivary biomarkers in combination with the practice of Pranayama. He researches techniques related to Pranayama from the ancient and unique Siddha tradition. He has published scientific research papers and books on Thirumanthiram, written by Saint Thirumoolar.
This workshop consisting of both theoretical and practical components is unique in combining ancient wisdom with modern science based on his first hand research. The attendees will be able to:
Get acquainted with the ancient literary excerpts on Pranayama.
Practice key exercises from the Pranayama tradition, as well as new exercises developed by Dr. Sundar.
Understand the biological mechanisms of Pranayama.
Learn the clinical and social applications of Pranayama.
This workshop will help anyone who is interested in the area of Pranayama. Participants can learn easy techniques to relieve day-to-day stress. Patients and caregivers dealing with chronic illness could use Pranayama as a means of symptom management.
Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a Cell Biology researcher currently studying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in resistance to cancer therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina, USA. He is also a Yoga Biology researcher, and is the Founder/Director of PranaScience Institute. Sundar’s Yoga research has provided scientific evidence how Yoga breathing practices could promote wellbeing in health and disease. He has recently published a book titled “PranaScience: Decoding Yoga Breathing”. His recent audio album is “Chanting Is Pranayama”. This JC Bose Memorial Awardee’s work is well publicized through TEDx talk, Discover Magazine, New York Times, Huffington Post, and other popular media.
Sundar grew up in Tamilnadu, India in a traditional Yoga and Siddha medicine practicing family background; and obtained his bachelor’s degree from Swami Chitbhavananda's Vivekananda Gurukula College in India where he deepened his Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, and Kirtan practices. He has been conducting workshops and giving talks on the scientific aspects of Pranayama globally. He is a member of International Association of Yoga Therapists, and the Integral Yoga Teachers Association, and he is an IAYT certified Yoga therapist (C-IAYT). He is the Founder Director of Yoga Education Trust in India, and an adjunct faculty at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India and Siddha Vetha Center for Transdisciplinary Studies in New Jersey, USA.