--- title: "Practices Beyond Asana: Authentic Yoga Therapy with Dr. Manasa Rao" description: "Experience yoga beyond physical poses. Dr. Manasa Rao offers personalized Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, and Kriya sessions to restore balance and inner peace." canonical: https://mytribe.in/yogaayush/yoga-therapy-for-mind-body-wellness/practices-beyond-asana last_updated: 2025-09-06 --- # Practices Beyond Asana: Deepen Your Inner Journey Tribe Verified · PhD-certified yoga therapy for deep healing. By [Manasa Rao](https://mytribe.in/yogaayush) · Therapy sessions available online · ₹1,000 per workshop (estimate) Part of [Yoga Therapy for Mind-Body Wellness](https://mytribe.in/yogaayush/yoga-therapy-for-mind-body-wellness). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/yogaayush/yoga-therapy-for-mind-body-wellness/gallery) Yoga is far more than physical shapes. Discover the subtle power of breathwork, mudras, and deep rest to truly come home to yourself. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Kapalabhati, or skull shining breath, is a powerful cleansing kriya. This video points out three common mistakes practitioners make, such as moving the shoulders, tensing the face, and not using a cushion. Proper technique is key to receiving the full benefits of this energizing practice.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/898c848f-3b31-4f60-8e4f-7cbe3e14365c) - [Video: This video demonstrates Trataka, a kriya focused on developing a steady gaze to cultivate a steady mind. The practice involves gazing at a candle flame until tears form, which improves concentration, reduces anxiety, and enhances meditation. I also explain the important contraindications.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a44ac951-90aa-463f-bd54-665274413073) - [Video: Hakini Mudra, named for the goddess of the mind, is a powerful hand gesture for enhancing cognitive function. In this video, I demonstrate how to form the mudra and explain how it balances the brain's hemispheres to improve concentration, memory, and mental clarity.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c815ec8e-f7cf-44f0-afce-6d228540b1ff) - [Video: Bhairava Mudra is a simple yet profound gesture of balance and inner peace. This video shows how to perform the mudra by resting the right hand on top of the left. This gesture helps calm the breath, balance the five elements, and instill a sense of deep inner silence.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d1c8e952-37b7-4e0f-b4cd-c32ef67ccff2) - [Video: Rudra Mudra, associated with the solar plexus chakra, is an energizing hand gesture. As shown in this video against the backdrop of the Ganga, this mudra can build inner strength, improve digestion, and clear energetic blockages.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e54dad1b-b82b-43eb-aee9-906ae8e33d65) - ![This image introduces the practice of Yoga Nidra, a state of conscious deep sleep. It is a powerful technique for deep rest and emotional reset that goes far beyond simple relaxation.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/aca7a574-ffc3-4340-8322-ea3730cd6835) - ![This series of images clarifies what Yoga Nidra is not. It is not meditation, a passive state, a nap, hypnosis, or a fantasy trip. Understanding these distinctions is the first step to appreciating its unique power for deep healing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7105120c-a994-4903-b448-00552d9e8171) - ![This series of images clarifies what Yoga Nidra is not. It is not meditation, a passive state, a nap, hypnosis, or a fantasy trip. Understanding these distinctions is the first step to appreciating its unique power for deep healing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ec890358-87c7-4dcc-b983-1b6b0c71cf27) - ![This series of images clarifies what Yoga Nidra is not. It is not meditation, a passive state, a nap, hypnosis, or a fantasy trip. Understanding these distinctions is the first step to appreciating its unique power for deep healing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/9c753d52-7474-43b0-b927-06d00471a6c5) - ![This series of images clarifies what Yoga Nidra is not. It is not meditation, a passive state, a nap, hypnosis, or a fantasy trip. Understanding these distinctions is the first step to appreciating its unique power for deep healing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f8537a36-2db4-47af-be86-673c3c6eaeba) - ![This series of images clarifies what Yoga Nidra is not. It is not meditation, a passive state, a nap, hypnosis, or a fantasy trip. Understanding these distinctions is the first step to appreciating its unique power for deep healing.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/17ca0ddb-d09d-496f-8356-a90b028ff9a6) - ![As a teacher, I notice your breath first. This series of text images explains that your breath reveals everything: it's the one you hold when it gets hard and the one you rush when you strive. The real work begins when we start listening to what the breath is trying to say.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/813fa41f-c3ac-4250-b2a3-78cd9ccb91b9) - ![As a teacher, I notice your breath first. This series of text images explains that your breath reveals everything: it's the one you hold when it gets hard and the one you rush when you strive. The real work begins when we start listening to what the breath is trying to say.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/12715201-f91f-4835-8451-af484ba96fac) - ![As a teacher, I notice your breath first. This series of text images explains that your breath reveals everything: it's the one you hold when it gets hard and the one you rush when you strive. The real work begins when we start listening to what the breath is trying to say.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/ea056565-28be-4510-b21b-9acd966c437a) - [Video: Yogic cleansing practices, or kriyas, are essential for internal purification, no matter your level of sadhana. This video shows me and a fellow yogi preparing for a kriya, reminding us that the path can also be joyful and shared.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/27e00aad-7716-4ff5-a049-0cafa5f5f2e2) - [Video: Chanting is a channel to deepen grace and unleash the mind's infinite power. This video, filmed at the Shankaracharya Samadhi in Kedarnath, features several powerful mantras for Shiva. It is a reminder that chanting heals and connects us to a higher consciousness.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/da990d99-b718-4964-8410-39d3fd8c71f9) ## About Practices Beyond Asana I don't just watch your poses, I listen to what your breath is trying to say. Whether we are refining your Kapalabhati technique to ensure it energizes your nervous system rather than straining it, or using specific mudras to balance your mental focus, every detail is tailored to your unique internal state, not a generic routine. ### Moving from Workout to Sadhana Many practitioners come to yoga seeking fitness, but the real transformation happens when you look inward. My practice integrates ancient Hatha Yoga, Pranayama (breathwork), and Kriya (cleansing) to address the root of stagnation in the body and mind. If you feel like your yoga practice has hit a plateau, these are the tools to break through. ### My Approach to Internal Work * **Breathwork as Therapy:** We don't just breathe to warm up. I teach clinical Pranayama techniques with specific ratios designed to calm the nervous system, manage anxiety, or aid in recovery from chronic fatigue. * **The Power of Mudras:** These hand gestures are not just symbols. I guide you in using techniques like Hakini or Rudra Mudra to balance the hemispheres of your brain, improve concentration, and manage energy levels throughout your day. * **Yoga Nidra for Deep Reset:** This is not a nap. It is a systematic method of inducing complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. I use this to help students process trauma and move from a state of 'doing' to 'being.' ### Why Practice With Me? My methodology is deeply rooted in my PhD research at S-VYASA and my personal commitment to traditional teachings. I do not offer cookie-cutter sequences. Every session begins with an assessment of your history, your posture, and your current energetic needs. I provide the structure, the props, and the guidance, but the healing is a path you walk yourself. Whether you are dealing with hormonal imbalances, sleep issues, or just a lack of inner clarity, we use these traditional limbs of yoga to return you to a state of wholeness. ## About Manasa Rao I am Manasa. I spent years in academia earning my PhD in Yoga, but I teach from the heart of a mother and a lifelong student. I do not believe in one-size-fits-all routines; I guide you to find the practices that actually quiet your mind and heal your body. 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