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Who we are

Ria Tandon

Certified Breath Coach · Pranayama

I’m Ria Tandon and I am a student at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, California.

I am a certified breath coach in pranayama, an ancient breathwork system from India. I first learned about pranayama from my dad.

After struggling nearly his whole life with a rare medical condition, he decided he wanted to try and treat it with ancient eastern medicine approaches and started his journey to do that. I have watched him achieve miraculous benefits utilizing ayurveda and a variety of yogic practices including meditation and pranayama as he has worked to address his condition. I’ve seen firsthand how much these techniques have helped him reduce his symptoms and even reverse the course of his condition.

When I was in 7th grade, my dad’s pranayama teacher in India offered a teacher training course and we decided to take it together. After that, I started a regular breathwork practice and I saw so many benefits in both the mental and physical aspects of my life. Like many teens, I have experienced stress and anxiety, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic with remote school. Pranayama has helped me focus and remain calm in challenging circumstances. I am also an athlete — I play lacrosse, and pranayama has increased my athletic performance and endurance. Because I have seen so many benefits for my dad and myself, I am passionate about sharing this amazing practice. So far I have taught in my community to athletes, teachers, students, and parents, and my goal is to help as many people as I can with breathwork!

In my free time, I love to cook, hang out with my twin brother Rishi, and cuddle with my dog Prana — who is also the official mascot of r&r breathworks 🐾

Ria Tandon, certified pranayama breath coach
Ria Tandon · San Ramon, CA
The Practice

An ancient art,
a modern necessity

Pranayama is an ancient system of breathwork from India, and it is part of a system called Ashtanga Yoga. Its origins date back many thousands of years, to yogis who discovered that the breath is a reflection of the mind and the mind is a reflection of the breath. They observed that by controlling the breath, we can not only improve lung capacity and physical performance, but also gain control over our minds. This system has been passed down in a teacher-student tradition over the ages.

I have designed a breathworks course, focusing on teenagers, that teaches 6 breathing techniques aimed primarily at reducing anxiety and stress and improving athletic performance. The course consists of 2 classes, an hour each. However, I am also able to tailor the course length and content based on individual needs.

If you’re interested in a Zoom or in-person session, please contact me to arrange a time.

Why it works

What pranayama
does for you

The word pranayama can be translated into English in two ways. The basic definition is “breath control.” The deeper definition is “energy expansion.” By combining these two translations, we can see that the goal of pranayama is energy expansion through breath control.

Most people don’t give much importance to the breath — yet you might be surprised at how powerful it is. 70% of our body’s toxins are released through the breath. This means that if our breathing is not optimized, we’re basically building up toxic waste in our bodies. The average adult lung capacity is 6 liters for males and 4.2 liters for females — yet the average person only uses around 10% of their total capacity. Even our everyday experience supports the idea that the breath is a powerful tool: when someone is overwhelmed, our first instinct is to say “just breathe.”

Whether we breathe through our nose or mouth, through our left or right nostril, to our full lung capacity or not — all of this affects our bodies in many ways. Pranayama works with all of these dimensions of breathing to achieve a wide range of health benefits.

In short, whether in the classroom, on the field, or at home, breathwork is one of the best ways to improve a person’s well-being quickly, safely, and effectively — and it is universally accessible to everyone at all times.

Testimonials
Poornima K.
Fischers, Indiana
“We loved the pranayama classes Ria taught us online! We love her energy and her enthusiasm to teach. I have practiced the techniques most days in the morning and every time I do, I feel great. I am so glad we had the opportunity to learn these powerful ancient techniques!”
Deempal B.
San Ramon, California
“I recently had the pleasure of learning pranayama from Ria, a young and talented teacher! For someone so young, I was impressed by her knowledge of and passion for pranayama. She was able to explain the concepts in a way that was easy to understand, and she provided clear and concise instructions for each breathing exercise. Immediately after our sessions I felt a sense of ease and mental focus.”
Kelly H.
San Ramon, California
“My family and I recently attended a 4-week pranayama breathwork class hosted and developed by Ria. Her expertise and genuine passion for using intentional breathing techniques to create positive results is inspiring. My family is currently applying our learnings from the class and feeling the results. Thank you Ria!!”
Susan K.
Fairfax, California
“Breathwork is a key skill to master in our often-challenging lives. In Ria’s class, I learned that a mind-blowing 70% of toxins in our bodies are released through the breath. When I tried Ria’s whole-body yogic breathing, it felt like I was taking a breath of fresh air for the first time — oxygenating and enlivening to my entire body, not just my lungs. It helps to keep us out of fight-or-flight mode and has even deepened my own yoga practice. I highly recommend Ria’s class for anyone looking to learn the basics of breathwork.”
FAQ

Common questions

What is pranayama?
Pranayama is a breathwork system that is part of Ashtanga Yoga. It is a system of breath control that improves health, reduces anxiety, and promotes overall well-being.
Who should practice pranayama?
Anyone who is looking to improve their performance on the field or in the classroom, and anyone who is generally pursuing physical and mental well-being, should learn and practice pranayama.
How long do I need to practice every day to get the benefits?
A complete pranayama practice (40 to 50 cycles of breathing) can be completed in under 10 minutes, and is recommended to be practiced daily.
How does the breathwork at r&r relate to other breathwork practices?
At r&r, we teach pranayama, an ancient breathwork system from India. There are several other ancient breathwork systems, like the Tsalung system from Tibet, each of which have their own specific benefits and are wonderful in their own right.
I’ve never practiced breathwork before. How long will it take me to learn?
Our standard course is 2 classes, around 1 hour each. In this course, you will learn 6 fundamental breathing practices along with a breath enhancement technique.
How long does it take to start feeling the benefits?
You should really feel a difference within a month or two of daily practice. Many people notice a difference even within their first few sessions.
I’ve been practicing but I’m not seeing much benefit. Why might that be?
Usually this is because of either infrequent practice (not practicing daily), or improper practice. Often there are small tweaks that can be made to increase the effectiveness of your practice.
I tend to breathe through my mouth a lot. Can I retrain myself to breathe through my nose?
Yes, you can. Through regular pranayama practice, you will naturally restore nose breathing over time. For more on the dangers of sustained mouth breathing, check out Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor.
Once I’ve learned the techniques, can I take the practice deeper?
Yes. If you are interested, contact us! There are many more techniques we can share, along with enhancements to the techniques you’ve already learned.
I would like to bring this breathwork course to my school or community. Can you help?
Yes, contact us! We are passionate about breathwork and would be happy to arrange a course either in person or over Zoom.
Do you only teach teenagers?
While we’re primarily focused on reaching out to teens, our course can be beneficial for anyone over age 10.
Does the course cost money?
No. It is free of charge.
Why did you call your organization “r&r breathworks”?
r&r stands for “rest and relax” :)

Begin your practice

Reach out to learn more or book a session.

rrbreathworks@gmail.com
© 2025 r&r breathworks · San Ramon, California · 🐾