Ujayi Pranayama is a breathing technique used in yoga practice that involves breathing in and out through the nose while slightly constricting the back of the throat, which produces a sound similar to the sound of ocean waves.
Here are the steps to practice Ujayi Pranayama:
- Sit comfortably in a seated position with your spine straight and your shoulders relaxed.
- Take a deep breath in through your nose.
- As you exhale, slightly constrict the back of your throat, so that the air passes through it and makes a hissing sound.
- Keep the constriction in the throat as you inhale through the nose, filling the lungs with air.
- Exhale through the nose while keeping the throat slightly constricted, producing the same hissing sound as before.
- Repeat this process for several rounds, focusing on the sound of your breath and the feeling of the air moving through your body.
Ujjayi Pranayama is known or translates to, Victorious Breath Practice, as the practitioner, with practice, becomes victorious over the fluctuations of the mind. In addition to calming the mind, practicing Ujayi Pranayama reduces stress and anxiety, improves our overall stress response, increases lung capacity, improves focus, and can serve as a single-pointed focus meditation practice.