Breath w/ Amida & Jacob
A Six-Week Course
Tuesdays, October 15th to November 19th, 2024 via Zoom
5:00 – 6:15 pm (Los Angeles) / 8:00 – 9:15 pm (New York)
Oceania: Wednesdays, October 16th to November 20th, 2024
08:00 am (Perth) / 11:00 am (Sydney) / 1:00 pm (Auckland) 

The first thing in mystical development is the change of the breath, controlling the breath, elongating the breath, broadening the breath, centralizing the breath, circulating the breath. – Hazrat Inayat Khan

In this six-week journey, we will explore the profound role of the breath in spiritual development, drawing on the wisdom of Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan. While using the breath as an object of concentration is a common and valuable meditation technique, Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings on the breath point to a more comprehensive role in spiritual development.

Each week, we will dive into a different aspect of working with the breath, engaging in practices and discussions to deepen our understanding and experience. Whether you’re new to breathwork or a seasoned practitioner, this course will provide valuable perspectives on the transformative power of the breath.

Week 1: The Breath of Life

• Introduction to Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings on the breath
• The breath as the animating life force and bridge between the physical and spiritual
• The purifying power of the breath
• Practice: Conscious breathing and breath awareness

Week 2: Harmonizing the Breath

• The importance of balancing and regularizing the inhalation and exhalation
• Practice: Equal count breathing and introducing pauses
• Discussion: The effects of harmonious breathing on the mind and emotions

Week 3: Elongating the Breath

• The benefits of slow, deep breathing
• Practice: Gradual extension of the inhalation and exhalation
• Discussion: The relationship between breath and mental states

Week 4: Broadening the Breath

• Expanding the capacity of the lungs and the experience of “immensity”
• Practice: Three-dimensional breathing (belly, ribcage, upper chest)
• Discussion: The breath as a tool for self-regulation and resilience

Week 5: Centralizing the Breath

• The significance of the solar plexus in Sufi breath practices
• Practice: Breathing into the solar plexus (or belly), breath retention
• Discussion: The role of the breath in awakening subtle energy centers

Week 6: The Breath of Affirmation

• The relationship between breath and sacred words
• The power of combining breath with affirmations and mantras
• Practice: Integrating breath with affirmations for specific intentions
• Discussion: The transformative potential of uniting breath, word, and thought
• Closing reflections and sharing

Each session will include a mix of teachings, discussion, and guided practices, with time for Q&A and personal reflection. Participants will be encouraged to maintain a daily breath practice between sessions and to share their experiences with the group.

The course begins with an introduction to the foundational ideas of breath as life force and purifier, then progresses through key practices of harmonizing, elongating, broadening, and centralizing the breath. The final week brings in the powerful dimension of combining breath with affirmation, providing participants with a potent tool for ongoing self-transformation.

Throughout the course, the emphasis is on the breath as a bridge—between body and mind, self and spirit, the individual and the divine. By the end of the six weeks, participants will have an increased understanding of the central role of breath in the Sufi path of awakening, as well as a toolkit of practices to continue their journey of transformation.

Our breath series is designed and led by Inner School Vice Presidents Amida Cary and Jacob Miraj Dominicus.

LOGISTICS

Classes are via Zoom on Tuesday nights, October 15th to November 19th, 2024, from 5-6:15 pm Pacific Time (Los Angeles) and 8-9:15 pm Eastern Time (New York). Breath w/ Amida & Jacob is open to ashiqs, murids and anyone with sincere interest.

This course requires advanced registration and provides video recordings if you are unable to attend every class. A suggested tuition of $72 ($12 per class) is recommended for the whole course with a reduced tuition of $48 ($8 per class) if there are limited personal resources. 

Attending all sessions is highly recommended, yet you are welcome to join at any time throughout the course. Please see the sidebar to register.

If you have questions about the content of the course, please email innerschool@inayatiyya.org. Questions about registration, payments, and logistical details may be sent to astana@inayatiyya.org.