THE ESSENTIAL YOGA BREATHING TECHNIQUES, UJJAYI

 Many people desire to proceed to yoga, but most of them do not know how and where to begin.

Breathing techniques are the key to getting to Yoga, Meditation, and Taichi. So anyone who wants to opt for these principles, needs to learn the breathing techniques .there are three essential breathing types:

UJJAYI, ANULOMA VILOMA AND KAPALABATHI.

UJJAYI is the first to be mastered; in the Sanskrit language, Ujjayi means dilated success. It is practiced to widen and benefit our vital flow. Ujjai is characterized of soft, almost throaty sound rising from throat when exhaling.

In yoga, the control of breathing –Prayanama – revives the whole body, balances the emotions and promotes clarity of mind. Most exercises’ are performed keeping the spine, neck and head rigorously aligned; that stimulates the circulation of Prana –energy –and gives the lungs their full capacity.

The benefits of UJJAYI:

UJJAI breathing technique, ventilates the mind, soothes the nervous and strengthens the bones, it is a very useful tool in many aspects of everyday life .It helps you reduce the attention and makes you taste the beauty of life in the very detail.

How to practice UJJAYI :

 

1.    Sit down cross-legged a cushion relieves tension in the lower back of the knees .Put one hand on the thorax, the other one on the belly .keep your back straight, the chin parallel to the ground and the shoulders relaxed.

2.    Be sure to breathe through your nose, with your mouth closed, inhale slowly let the abdomen expand then the rib-cage; feel the air fills the entire chest volume.

3.    During the exhalation, the air first quits the lower lungs, then the rib-cage, finally the chest .Make sure that you completely fill the lungs and that your breathing is slow, regular and deep .

 

Reference: Book: guide de Yoga -