Discover the Power of Breath: Science Meets Spirit — Qasab

Discover the Power of Breath: Science Meets Spirit — Qasab
Alternate Nostril Breathing for Balance, Vitality, and Inner Awareness
Wednesdays, November 4, 11, 18 & December 2, 2026
8:00 – 9:15 pm ET

This program is open to those who have received the Qasab practice, either from their mentor or through Suluk Academy. Come to all or any parts of the series.

For centuries, people have practiced breathing techniques, transmitted from spiritual teachers to students, to strengthen their overall physical and mental health. Once viewed as mysterious or esoteric, these practices are now increasingly understood through modern health and medical science, which reveals the profound influence of the breath on both body and mind.

Join Dr. Hafiz Neil Rothenberg for an experiential exploration of the Inayatiyya practice of Qasab (Alternate Nostril Breathing).

Through a combination of guided breathing practices, meditation, discussion, and contemporary scientific insights, you'll explore how alternate nostril breathing influences the respiratory, cardiovascular, circulatory, nervous, and subtle energetic systems. We will examine how specific breathing patterns can affect physical vitality, emotional balance, mental clarity, and inner awareness.

Over four weeks, you'll learn a progressive series of practices that explore the unique qualities of left nostril breathing, right nostril breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and alternate nostril breathing with breath retention.

The breath naturally alternates between the left and right nostrils throughout the day in a rhythm known as the nasal cycle. Qasab builds upon this natural process, using conscious breathing to cultivate balance, vitality, clarity, and inner awareness.

“The practice of Qasab develops the strength and energy which may be called the spirit of the breath or the real breath. That develops, and one feels that one's breath has become wide in its volume and long in its reach, and yet not heavy and depressing, since all depression comes from lack of development of breath.”
— Hazrat Inayat Khan

Whether you are new to these practices or have been working with the breath for many years, you are warmly invited to join us in discovering the transformative potential of conscious breathing.

This program is open to murids — initiates of the Inner School.

Dates & Themes

• Session 1 — Wednesday, November 4 — Left Channel: Calm & Receptivity. Exploring the calming, cooling, and receptive qualities of left nostril breathing and their influence on relaxation, emotional balance, and inner awareness.

• Session 2 — Wednesday, November 11 — Right Channel: Energy & Focus. Exploring the energizing and activating qualities of right nostril breathing and their influence on vitality, attention, and mental clarity.

• Session 3 — Wednesday, November 18 — Alternate Nostril Breathing: Balance & Harmony. Exploring how alternating the breath between the nostrils promotes balance, integration, and harmony within body, mind, and spirit.

• Session 4 — Wednesday, December 2 — Breath Retention: Presence & Illumination. Exploring alternate nostril breathing with breath retention as a pathway to enhanced concentration, vitality, presence, and inner stillness.

All four sessions will be led by Dr. Hafiz Neil Rothenberg.

Reflections from The Power of Breath — The Five Aspects of Breath

"I have always struggled to sit still and meditate. After doing these sessions, I felt like I was given tools that helped me step by step understand how to engage with the breathing practices."

"I feel grateful to Hafiz for introducing these practices to me. They have not only helped calm me down but have also greatly improved my health."

Details

Sessions are on Wednesdays from 8:00 – 9:15 pm ET (New York). All times are listed in Eastern Time — to see the start time in your own location, check your local time here. If you're joining from Australia or New Zealand, sessions fall on Thursday, local time.

This program is open to those who have received the Qasab practice, either from their mentor or through Suluk Academy. Come to all or any parts of the series.

Tuition

We offer three tuition levels so that cost need not stand between you and this program.

• Supporter — $120 for the series ($30 per class). If you're able to give a little more, this helps sustain the program and the wider work of the Inayatiyya.

• Standard — $80 for the series ($20 per class). Our suggested level.

• Limited Income — $40 for the series ($10 per class). If the standard level is a stretch.

These rates are set to keep this teaching within reach rather than to reflect what it costs to offer. Gifts at the Supporter level help make the lower levels possible and support the Inayatiyya's work beyond this course.

Please choose the level that best reflects your circumstances. We ask that you choose in good conscience rather than by any outward measure — no explanation is needed, and no one is asked to justify their choice.

If even the Limited Income level is out of reach, scholarships are available. Please contact astana@inayatiyya.org before registering so we can process your request.

If you miss a class, the video will be made available a day or two after each session.

Questions about registration, payments, scholarships, and logistical details can be sent to astana@inayatiyya.org.