Breathing: The Art and Science of Pranayama

by Mark Stephens, Cyndi Lee (Foreword)

• 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.

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.

528 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

After dabbling in yoga in my teens (1970s!), I've been passionately devoted practicing yoga since January 1, 1991, and since January 1, 1996 I've been equally passionate in sharing yoga as a personal practice for making every moment of one’s life better – healthier, clearer, and altogether more joyful. While Yoga Journal referred to me as "the teacher's teacher," I steadfastly believe that the best teach you will ever have is inside of you. At the same time, with practice and study, we can offer meaningful guidance to others, and this is precisely the intention in my textbooks for yoga teachers: Teaching Yoga (2010/2024), Yoga Sequencing (2012), Yoga Adjustments (2014) Yoga Therapy (2017), and Yoga for Better Sleep (2019.) I now writing a book on Yoga Histories and Philosophies from Ancient to Modern Times. All odf this taps into my background in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow, Tantra, and Yoga Therapy, plus fairly deep academic study of things like anatomy, philosophy, research methods and more. I try to bring an eclectic perspective to the practice that's all about making yoga more accessible, sustainable, and deeply transformational.