Victorious Breath
Mascari, Brooke. June 19th, 2024
Ujjayi means “to be victorious” or “to gain mastery.” This gentle, rhythmic breath produces a pleasant, soothing sound—similar to the sound of the ocean waves rolling in and out.
Ujjayi (pronounced oo-jai) commonly referred to as the “oceanic breath,” the sound that Ujjayi provides helps us to synchronize breath with movements. It is often used in yoga, making the entire yoga practice more rhythmic.
It is a breathing technique that can both focus the mind and energize the body and nervous system.
The benefits of ujjayi include:
Calms and relaxes the mind
Heats the core of the body
Helps release feelings of irritation or frustration
Stabilizes the cardiorespiratory system
Balances the nervous system by toning the vagus nerve
Helps coordinate breath with movement during asana practice
Ujjayi benefits all doshas, and because of its soothing effect on the mind, it is especially beneficial for Pitta dosha type.
For Vata it creates a relaxing effect on the mind and body and for Kapha it has a heating effect on the body and can strengthen digestion.
To begin:
Sit comfortably with your spine erect and your shoulders relaxed, and let your hands rest comfortably in your lap.
Now gently constrict the muscles at the back of your throat, slightly tuck in your chin, and exhale through your nose. This should produce a sound similar to the waves of the ocean.
Keeping your throat muscles constricted, inhale again through your nose and out through your nose. Repeat this pattern several times.
To receive the full benefits of ujjayi pranayama, practice for five to ten full rounds each day, consciously and mindfully, before each meditation—and any time you want to soothe your body and mind. This can also be practiced during light to moderate exercises.
Be sure to rest a few minutes before resuming activity.
Students who practice yoga may be familiar with this technique because it is often used to enhance their yoga flow and practice. The sound that ujjayi provides helps synchronize breath with movements, making the practice more rhythmic.
Another way to get the hang of this practice is to try exhaling the sound “haaaaa” with your mouth open. You can also try this sound in front of a mirror making the “haaaaaa” sound so that the mirror steams up.
Next, close your mouth and attempt a similar sound, feeling the outflow of air through your nasal passages.
Once you have mastered this on the outflow, use the same method for the in-flow breath, gently constricting the back of your throat as you inhale. If you’re doing this correctly, you should sound like waves in the ocean.
Some people compare ujjayi breathing to Darth Vader from Star Wars.
Blessings and love on your journey to perfect health and happiness. We hope these Pranayama practices enrich your lives and help guide you to peace and your Higher Self. As you learn to calm your mind and any excess energy in your body/mind, you will experience higher and higher levels of love and joy, because it becomes easier to get in touch with your Higher Self!
Pranayama and meditation practices are wonderful ways to experience your Higher Self. We know this information will be a blessing to you, as it has been such a life-changing blessing for us at Havah Holistic Health.
Source:
Teaching has been learned and derived from Chopra Ayurveda Health Certification Course, 2022.