Understanding the Breath

Learn the science behind breath practices and how they can transform your inner world.

Practical Application

Discover how to integrate breath techniques into your daily life for regulation, resilience, and transformation.

Holistic Approach

Blend modern neuroscience, functional anatomy, and ancient yogic wisdom to master the art of breath regulation.

About the Course

Embark on a transformative journey with Spirit of Prana & the Science of Breath. Dive deep into the connection between the breath, nervous system, and conscious awareness. Understand the physiological and spiritual significance of breath practices to enhance resilience and well-being.  The breath is where science meets spirit. It is both a physiological necessity and a subtle force that shapes our inner world. This program weaves together modern neuroscience, functional anatomy, and the ancient yogic understanding of prana—revealing why the breath is our most accessible tool for regulation, resilience, and transformation. Rather than collecting techniques without context, this course invites you to understand how and why breath practices work, so every breath you take becomes intentional, informed, and embodied. Course Structure The program begins with four foundational videos that create a strong framework for everything that follows: Video 1: The Nervous System We explore the autonomic nervous system—sympathetic and parasympathetic responses—and how the breath is the most accessible tool we have to influence stress, anxiety, focus, and resilience. Video 2: The Anatomy of the Breath You’ll learn how the diaphragm, lungs, rib cage, and accessory muscles work together, and how inefficient breathing patterns develop. Understanding the mechanics of breath allows you to breathe with greater ease, efficiency, and awareness. Video 3: Prana & Pranayama This module bridges science and tradition. We explore the yogic understanding of prana—life force—and pranayama as the art of directing it, drawing from classical teachings while grounding them in lived experience. Video 4: The Effects of Breathing Techniques Here we look at how different breathing practices affect the body and mind—calming vs. stimulating, grounding vs. expansive—and why intention, timing, and context matter. What Comes Next: After these foundational teachings, you get to explore 13 video focuses on one specific breathing technique. You’ll learn: -When to use it -How it affects the nervous system -Common mistakes to avoid -How to integrate it into daily life, yoga, meditation, or self-regulation practices This reported approach allows you to build a personal relationship with the breath, rather than collecting techniques without understanding their impact. This course is for anyone who wants to move beyond “just breathing” and step into conscious, intelligent breathwork—for regulation, vitality, and deeper awareness.

Who This Program Is For

Spirit of Prana & the Science of Breath is designed for students, practitioners, and professionals who want to understand the breath beyond technique—and experience it as a bridge between physiology, awareness, and vitality. This program is especially suited for: • Anyone ready to build a conscious relationship with the breath Whether new to breathwork or returning with fresh curiosity, this course meets you where you are and invites you to listen more deeply to the intelligence already within you. • Yoga teachers and trainees Who want a deeper, more accurate understanding of pranayama, nervous system regulation, and breath anatomy—beyond cues and shapes—so they can teach with clarity, safety, and confidence. • Bodyworkers, therapists, and wellness practitioners Including massage therapists, somatic practitioners, coaches, and healing professionals who want to integrate breathwork in a grounded, trauma-aware, and physiologically informed way. • Breathwork and meditation practitioners Who feel called to understand why practices work, how they affect the nervous system, and how to choose techniques intentionally rather than intuitively alone. • Highly sensitive or stress-affected individuals Who experience anxiety, overwhelm, fatigue, or dysregulation and are seeking gentle, accessible tools for nervous system balance without pushing, forcing, or catharsis. • Spiritually curious seekers Who are drawn to the language of prana, consciousness, and subtle energy—and want these teachings presented with integrity, embodiment, and respect for both tradition and modern science. Who This Program Is Not For: This program may not be the right fit if you are looking for: -Fast, extreme, or hyperventilatory breathwork experiences -Cathartic or altered-state practices without nervous system education -One-size-fits-all protocols or performance-based breath techniques Instead, this course emphasizes understanding, regulation, and integration—so the breath becomes a lifelong ally rather than a temporary intervention.

Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I'm Vivica Schwartz, your guide on this breathing adventure. With a passion for merging science and spirituality, I'm excited to share my expertise in neuroscience, anatomy, and yogic teachings.  With over two decades of devoted practice and teaching, I have been guiding students in yoga full-time since 2002, sharing a path that integrates movement, breath, meditation, and the deeper spiritual dimensions of practice.  My work is rooted in traditional yogic teachings passed down through the lineage of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, honoring time-tested wisdom while making it accessible and relevant for modern life. My intention is simple: to help students reconnect with their own inner intelligence. Through thoughtful instruction, clear understanding, and embodied experience, I offer practices that support nervous system balance, self-awareness, and a deeper relationship with breath as a gateway to presence. Teaching is not just what I do—it is a lifelong devotion, and it is an honor to share these teachings with you.

Course Curriculum

7 Chapters · 17 Lessons

  1. 1

    Chapter 1: Understanding the Nervous System

    1. Nervous System Basics Free preview
  2. 2

    Chapter 2: Anatomy of Breathing

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Mechanics of Breath

  3. 3

    Chapter 3: Prana and Pranayama

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Understanding Prana as Life Force

  4. 4

    Chapter 4: Effects of Breathing Techniques

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Breath and Energy Levels

  5. 5

    Energizing Breathing Techniques

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Kapalabhati-Skull Shining Breath/ Breath of Fire

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Bhastrika-Bellows Breath

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Wim Hof Breathing

  6. 6

    Balancing Pranayama Technique

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Nadi Shodana/Alternate Nostril Breathing

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      State Changers & Mood Shifters

  7. 7

    Calming Pranayama Techniques

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Dirgha Pranayama

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Resonance Breathing aka Coherence Breathing

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Sama Vritti-Box Breathing

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Viloma Pranayama-Against the Grain Breathing

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Brahmari Pranayama-Humming Bee Breath

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Breath-Pulse Synchronization

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Sheetali Pranayama

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Heart-Brain Coherence Breathing

Student Reviews

Discover how Spirit of Prana & the Science of Breath is transforming lives and empowering individuals to harness the power of their breath.

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“I came to this course feeling constantly wired and exhausted at the same time. Within the first few lessons, I understood my nervous system in a way no one had ever explained before. The techniques are simple but powerful — I now have tools I use daily to regulate stress, sleep better, and stay grounded even during intense workdays. This course didn’t just teach me how to breathe — it taught me how to live differently.”
Mary T.

Los Angeles, CA

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“I’ve been teaching yoga for years, but this program completely transformed my relationship with pranayama. The depth of knowledge, respect for tradition, and clarity of explanation are rare. I finally understand why certain practices work and how to guide my students safely. This should honestly be required education for every yoga teacher.”
Anna W.

Yoga Teacher, San Francisco

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“I’ve struggled with anxiety for most of my life and have tried countless techniques. This was the first time I felt truly supported instead of overwhelmed. The way the course explains the nervous system made everything make sense. I now have practices I can turn to when I feel dysregulated, and for the first time, I feel like I have real agency over my state.”
Jessica L.

Las Vegas, NV

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“I started with zero experience and honestly thought breathwork might be too complicated for me. But everything was explained so clearly and progressively that I never felt lost. Each practice built confidence, and now I actually look forward to breathing sessions. I feel calmer, clearer, and more energized than I have in years.”
Matt C.

New York, NY

Ready to Start Your Breathwork Journey?

Join Spirit of Prana & the Science of Breath today to unlock the potential of your breath, regulate your nervous system, and cultivate resilience. This is not a subscription. This is not a limited window. This is lifetime access to a complete breath education you can return to again and again as your practice evolves. Spirit of Prana & the Science of Breath was created after 24 years of dedicated immersion in traditional yogic study and practice, rooted in the lineage of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, BKS Iyengar and TKV Desikachar, some of the most respected sources of modern yoga’s transmission. The teachings you receive here are not trends, performance breathwork, or modern reinterpretations. They are grounded in: -Traditional pranayama wisdom refined over thousands of years -Direct experiential study -Anatomical and nervous system literacy -A synthesis of ancient insight and modern understanding This means you are learning techniques that have been tested, preserved, and practiced across generations.  What Your Enrollment Includes: ✔ 4 foundational teaching modules explaining breath, anatomy, prana, and nervous system regulation ✔ 10 technique videos with clear, guided instruction ✔ A progressive structure so you know when, why, and how to use each practice ✔ Lifetime access so you can revisit and deepen over time

$69.00

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