Ujjayi Pranayam

Details

Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious breath), which stretches the breath, warms it before entering the lungs, and helps to build heat in the body. Through this heat, the internal Agni or ‘fire' is stoked, and a powerful healing process is unlocked.

Ujjayi Pranayama is sometimes called the ocean sounding breath. Inhalation and exhalation are both done through the nose. The air is taken into the back of the throat with a constriction of the muscles, resulting in a hissing sound - an ocean sound. As the throat passage is narrowed the speed of the air passing through it is increased. This makes the breath long and thin.

1. Sit in a comfortable meditative pose or lie in savasana.
3. Become aware of the natural breathing process and feel the air passing down through the windpipe. Slightly cntract the region at the back of the throat as you do when you swallow.
4. Inhale and exhale through the nose with the mouth closed.
5. Make the inhalation and exhalation long, deep and controlled.
6. Practice full yogic breathing and concentrate on the sound.
7. Begin practicing for 3 minutes and progressively work your way up to 10 minutes.
8. Practice as above, but fold the tongue back so that the tip of the tongue presses the back of the soft palate on the roof of the mouth.
9. As you inhale say “sa” to yourself and as you exhale say “ha.” Repeat ten times.
10. Inhalation and exhalation should be of equal duration, smooth and relaxed.
11. Notice your mind wandering as you practice breathing and keep bringing your mind back to the breath.
12. Focus on the exhalation. Notice where your breath normally stops. Increase the fullness of the exhalation.

Benefits

Calms the mind and the body

The breath becomes a focal point which increase concentration

Meditation practice become easier to concentrate

Stimulates Circulation and metabolism

Increases prana

Increases sense

stimulates olfactory glands

Lungs absorbs oxygen more completely by opening the alveoli in the lungs.

The Postures: