What is Ujjayi Pranayama

“Ujjayi” implies “one who is victorious”. Ujjayi Pranayama is a breath technique employed in Yoga; it is sometimes called “the ocean breath”. This ancient breathing technique helps to calm the mind and body.

Technique of Ujjayi Pranayama

It fills the lower belly, rises to the lower rib cage, and finally moves into the upper chest and throat. Inhalation and exhalation are both done through the nose. The inhalations and exhalations are equal in duration, and are controlled in a manner that causes no distress to the practitioner.

• Start in a comfortable sitting or lying position, appropriate postures are Padmasana or Siddhasana.
• Breathe in and out through your nose while keeping your mouth closed
• Inhalations and exhalations should be long and deep. Fill the lungs up to the brim.
• Constrict the muscles of your throat so that the air passage becomes narrower making the breath thin and long
• Ensure inhalations and exhalations are equal in duration
• Make constant “sssss” sound during inhaling
• Make constant “hhhhha” sound while exhaling
• Pause for a second before drawing a fresh breath, This pause is called Bahya Kumbhaka
• It shall cause no suffering
• Keep your mind focused to breathing only
• Begin practicing Ujjayi Pranayama for around three minutes, and slowly go up to ten minutes

Benefits of Ujjayi  Pranayama

• Calms the body and mind
• Improves Concentration
• Stimulates the metabolic rate
• Increasing the blood circulation through the body
• Lungs absorb more oxygen, thus, improves immune system

Related articles

• Ujjayi Pranayama or Occean Breath – Yoga Lesson Two (healthinessbox.com)
• Basic Breathing Techniques in Yoga – Lesson One (healthinessbox.com)
• Padmasana (Full Lotus Posture) – Yoga (healthinessbox.com)