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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 Ujjayi breath connects me more deeply to my breath than normal breathing. Because each breath is lengthened, it synchronizes perfectly with each yoga movement. I really feel it energizing and at the same time relaxing me. This type of breath is also said to heat the body, which is important for me since I always feel cold and don’t sweat much.

Ujjayi engages me; it encourages me to remain focused on the practice. If my mind begins to wander, the beautiful sound of the breath is lost and becomes uneven, reminding me to go back to the deep breathing. By the end of the practice, the combination of focusing on the Victorious Breath and the ever growing process of perfecting each pose creates stillness in my head (which is generally chatting away at the speed of light.)