A conversation with Laurent Roure
Breathwork of the Ancients
I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion with Laurent Roure for The Penny Drops podcast. Laurent runs courses on pranayama, and trains teachers to teach it.
Having read an article I wrote on its history, he got in touch. That began by observing: “Control of the breath is one of the earliest recorded forms of yogic practice…” For a long time, it was the main approach to physical yoga – an energetic means of dissolving the mind.
Our chat was wide-ranging, exploring what scholars know about the origins of pranayama, how practice has changed – from something ascetic to something transformative – and how teachers present it today, albeit with caution.
As the show notes put it: “A fun episode about serious themes and subjects!”
You can hear it all here, on podcast platforms, or below.
For more about Laurent, see his website.