Ujjai Breath – How to?
0Have you gone to a yoga class, and the teacher tells you to begin to “Ujjai” breathe? As you are in childspose you hear everyone around you begin to breathe loudly. You attempt to breathe in and out through the nose , not fully understanding if you are doing it correctly, or even why you are breathing this way? Here are some tips on “how to Ujjai breath”,
- Begin seated in a comfortable upright position, close your eyes and tuck your chin.
- Notice as you breathe, on your Inhale the belly rises, on the exhale the belly falls.
- Close off the glottis (the back of your throat), breathing through the back of your throat similar to when you whisper.
- Inhale, on your Exhale open your mouth and make a “HA” sound.
- Inhale again, then on your exhale repeat the “HA” sound through the back of your throat.
- Inhale again, then on your exhale close your mouth and continue to make the “HA” sound.
- Now on the Inhale see if you can make the same sound drawing air in from the nose, and now exhale through the nose.
- Your breath will sound like the waves of a distant ocean, almost like breathing through sand.
Keep breathing in and out through the nose, in a slow controlled deep rhythmic breath. This breath strengthens the lungs and diaphragm. It allows for deep inhales for increased O2 , resulting in an elimination of CO2. Longer breaths trigger the relaxation response of the nervous system. Creating a Calming effect on the nervous system. This in turn calms the mind and relaxes the body. The sound of Ujjai Breath is steady and acts as a measure for how to work the body non-aggressively. The sound acts as an anchor to focus the mind on being present.
Denise Pala CYT
