When Yoga Gets Scientific: The Real Effects on Stress and Aging

Harmony Slater reconnects with longtime friend and fellow teacher Paul Dallaghan to explore his journey from Ireland to India, from business school to biology, and from asana to advanced Pranayama. Paul shares the inner current that drew him to spiritual practice, his years immersed in India and Thailand, and his groundbreaking research on how breath-based yoga practices affect longevity, telomere length, and mental health.

The episode is filled with insights on what it means to be truly engaged in your practice, how ancient yogic techniques translate into measurable physiological benefits, and why sincerity may be the most essential ingredient in personal transformation.

Whether you're a seasoned yoga practitioner or someone looking to understand how the breath can change your brain and your life, this episode will spark curiosity and offer grounded, heart-centered wisdom.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:

• Paul’s early spiritual awakenings from farms in France to kibbutzim in Israel
• How yoga found him in New York City and redirected his life path
• His years in India, spiritual pilgrimages, and devotion to Pranayama
• The influence of Sri O.P. Tiwari and the Kaivalyadhama lineage
• His PhD research at Emory University: what ancient yogis knew and science now confirms
• Why telomere length matters and how breath practices directly impact it
• What sincerity in practice really looks like, and why it’s essential
• Surprising stories about psychedelics and why they had little effect on him

Guest Bio: Paul has spent 30 years in the wellbeing arena, from immersion in original breath-body-mind practices to cultural and scientific study. He is CEO and founder of Samahita Retreat since 2003, the first full wellbeing retreat center in Asia, known for breath, yoga, wellness and fitness, thriving today on Ko Samui, Thailand. Paul spent many years in India, including in Mysore with P Jois, being the last to be certified by him in his lifetime (in 2007). He learnt pranayama in-depth with his primary teacher, O.P.Tiwari. Paul was acknowledged in 2022 in the Indian tradition as “Master Yogi: Pranacharya (Breath Expert)”. Paul was aware of the need for robust research and deep study in this field and devoted himself to academic scholarship, earning a Ph.D in Biological Anthropology from Emory University. His area of specialty was the breath and related practices, their history and origins, as well as a scientific analysis where he developed protocols and carried out a clinical trial study assessing psychological and physiological markers on mental health, stress, and longevity outcomes. Paul has taught practical workshops all over the world as well as at the University level while being an invited speaker to events, conferences or by private organizations. The ability to laugh and banter and not take yourself seriously are key to his philosophy of life. All this while being a devoted father to two sons.

Relevant Links:

• Samahita Retreat: https://www.samahitaretreat.com

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