Pointers for Ujjayi Breathing

The term Ujjayi Pranayama means "victorious lifting" of the breath energy (prana). Ujjayi breathing helps keep the mind fully involved in practice and points the way forward in yoga. Ujjayi breathing is to be done continuously and steadily throughout one's practice.

To begin:

• Inhale through the nose, keeping the lips closed. Draw the breath strongly upward from the base of the body, filling first the lungs from bottom to top, then the upper chest and throat.
• Exhale to the very end of the breath.
• Breathe in and out with a wind-like sound (To try this, slightly close the back of the throat, then inhale mouthing "uhhh" and exhale mouthing "ahhh," closing the lips during each).
• Inhalation and exhalation should be precisely the same length—smooth and continuous.
• Try to maintain the same pace of breathing throughout your entire practice.
• Movement should be synchronous with breath.
• Do not hold the breath, and try not to take extra breaths between postures.
• If focus is lost, return it to the breath and continue breathing with sound.