One of the reasons that I have been drawn to Ashtanga yoga is that I love the Ujjayi breathing. Translated as victorious, the breath is inhaled and exhaled through the nose. The throat is constricted to create resistance to the passage of air, which results in a rushing sound similar to ocean waves rolling in and out, (although to be honest, some of the sounds coming from my classmates sound like there has been a pretty serious storm at sea.)
The length and speed of the breath are controlled by the diaphragm, which is strengthened through the Ujjayi breathing. While there is resistance to the air, the breathing should not be forced grated. The breath is long and smooth.
The practice of ashtanga yoga actually comes from India. Unlike some forms of yoga, which have been developed in recent years, ashtanga is actually quite old. According to its history, ashtanga started when Pattabhi Jois and Krishnamacharya discovered an ancient manuscript that contains different yoga poses. Ashtanga, a word that means “eight-limbed,” is made up of eight different path to enlightenment. It aims to work on the mind through the use of body movements and postures.