Breathwork: The Fast Food Version of Ancient Pranayama - Why Tantra is dead and misunderstood

Chakra-Vihara advanced version: Paid subscribers can book a free online teaching session with Michael Wogenburg

The reason why Tantra, especially the left-handed Vamachara traditions, is so often misunderstood is that, for us, everything revolves around rhythm—rhythm and the alchemy of the body. To reach those profound states of ecstasy, one must apply pranayama rhythms that are not more complicated than a tango dance but must be patiently practiced, again and again. Often, these pranayama patterns are practiced between two people in a synchronous or asynchronous manner.

What is absolutely annoying, and at the same time fascinating, is how Pranayama (प्राणायाम) has been reduced to “breathwork.” Isn’t “breathwork” one of the most disgusting words ever created, at least in a linguistic sense? It’s like the American English approach of simplifying beautiful words: for example, the British “pedestrian” becomes the American “sidewalk” because it’s easier to understand. Now, Pranayama has been turned into “breathwork.” In a way, it’s fitting—because now you can do your “work,” like working out or working your whole life, and even “work” on your breath!

These complex breath patterns of the tantric tradition may seem boring to many people who come with the expectation of sexual coaching or a quick fix for their relationship problems. However, these patterns are indeed a solution for relationship problems; they offer a supernatural enhancement to one’s sex life. But they don’t directly “fix” anything, nor do they provide the answers people typically expect. The “work” is on oneself, using just pranayama rhythms. It may sound too simple to be true—that a pranayama pattern can solve a life problem—but it is.

These advanced pranayama patterns are not publicly available because they would likely be commercialized and reduced to just another trend. What is available to the public are simplified breath patterns like “box breathing”—these are for the masses. Thankfully, the more complex patterns, the subtleties, and the finer details remain inaccessible to the general public, and I hope they remain so. The fewer people who practice them, the more power they retain—the more they remain like a rare flower in the garden of paradise.

I am often criticized for my videography and explicit photography, but the truth is, these breath patterns require only human bodies and nature. Bodies are an emanation of nature; they are its product. These bodies interact with each other, applying these breath patterns. It does not matter whether the people depicted are in sexual union or not. Most of these patterns do not involve sexual union in the way people commonly understand it. The focus on whether two people are sexually united is utterly insignificant. What truly matters are the underlying breath patterns and the visualizations that accompany them.

If you are interested in the tantric tradition, you can take the unique opportunity to subscribe as a paid member here on Substack for just $12 per month or $108 per year. As a paid member, you’ll receive a free video call with me, Michael Perin Wogenburg. Alternatively, you may consider the one-year work-study program, the 365-day Andhakara Path to Power, where you can dive deep into the ancient traditions of Tantra, Kundalini Shakti, Kriya Yoga, and especially the left-handed path of Tantric Laya Yoga—where everything is about the rhythm we speak of here.

1. Step 1:

• Puraka: From Muladhara (मूलाधार) to Ajna (आज्ञा).

• Rechaka: From Ajna (आज्ञा) to Muladhara (मूलाधार).

2. Step 2:

• Puraka: From Muladhara (मूलाधार) to …

…