If you like Asanas you would also like Ujjayi, why because they relate 🙂
Ujjayi is an ancient yogic breathing technique that helps calm thought and body. Generally translated as “breath of victory”. The victory is a victory unification of self (self-integration) which is the basic process of yoga. This breathing technique did show that the breath is the fastener body, an emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
Characteristic ujjayi is a gentle hissing sound in the back of the throat when inhaled (breathed) and exhalation (losing breath)
instructions:
Take the most comfortable position. You may sit in any position (Vajrasana, Siddha, Padma, or Bhadrāsana) provided the backbone of waking up. You also may lie.
Ensure that the body in a relaxed state, but still active.
Concentrate yourself on the breathing. You should shut your eyes.
Place the tip of the tongue touches the palate. This will make the airways more stringent.
With your mouth closed, breathe in longer, longer, and deeper than usual, through both nostrils. Remember, muscles should remain relaxed. Use your imagination to control the activity. Breathe gently and relaxed.
‘Send’ breath into the back of the throat, while simultaneously, the key throat by gentle contraction of the muscles throat. If done correctly, you will hear the sound of hissing, because the air pressure inside the channel narrower. The hissing sound is the hallmark of respiratory ujjayi.
Still with the mouth closed, release the breath through the nose while still doing gentle contraction of the muscles of the throat. The same hissing sound will be heard again.
Start practicing ujjayi for five to eight minutes, then gradually increase it to ten to fifteen minutes. Once finished, breathe as usual for one to two minutes, then lay on Shavasana position (position of the body) for a few minutes.
Advice for beginners: Try to make the sound “haaaaah” with mouth open. Then, create the same sound with the mouth closed. Feel the air flow out through the nasal passages. Once able to do it when exhale, do the same methods sigh. Then, perform a soft contraction in the throat when inhale.
Note:
Make sure that the mouth is always closed. Inhale Breathe through your nose and let go. Try to relax & make it fun, and do not need to be busy trying to do it perfectly.
Inhalation (breathing in) should take place in the same amount with exhalation (removing the breath), so that the ongoing rhythmic breathing in a steady rhythm. For starters, you may find that the duration of the exhalation two times longer than inhalation. This is normal, but keep trying to breathe softer again so that takes place in the same duration with exhalation.
It called ajapa-mantra (mantra unspoken), has three objectives:
1. Helps to slow down the breath, which is the purpose of the respiratory ujjayi.
2. To concentrate on breathing and prevents thought ‘wander’ everywhere.
3. To set up with continuous respiratory monitor and maintain the smooth flow of the breath. This is another important element of ujjayi. You may not be aware, but in fact you often make a sound this time of relaxation.
benefits:
Ujjayi balance the entire respiratory system and relieve irritated and frustrated. Try to switch to Ujjayi breathing when feeling stressed, then you will feel calmer.
When yoga and you concentrate on ujjayi, you will stay focused and flowing from one Asana to the next Asana.
Ujjayi is a way to breathe. You can do it anytime and anywhere.
Ujjayi is a technique to calm the brain. It is very good for relaxation and reduce hyperactivity. Practicing regularly ujjayi also relieve symptoms of headache, migraine and insomnia. Ujjayi also great to cope with the heat in the head.
Ujjayi make breathing more efficient. Therefore, ujjayi also nice to do when high-impact sports (high impact).
Namaste
Eka
