Hatha YogaUjjayi Breath
Ujjāyī Prāṇāyāma
The “victorious breath”: a slight narrowing of the glottis creates a soft ocean-like sound. Also used in poses.
Ujjayi, the "victorious breath," is easy to recognize by its sound: the glottis narrows slightly, and the air makes a quiet, steady rush, like distant surf. It's a beginner technique, and in the app it follows a rhythm of 4 seconds in and 6 seconds out.
Ujjayi is practiced both as a pranayama in its own right and in the middle of asanas, where the sound helps you notice whether your breathing is steady.
How to do it
- Sit with a straight spine. Imagine you want to fog up a mirror, but with your mouth closed.
- Keeping that slight constriction in your throat, breathe through your nose.
- The breath becomes audible, like the sound of waves.
- Keep the sound even on the inhale and the exhale — it helps hold your attention.
More detail
The sound is easier to find with your mouth open: exhale on a whispered "haaa," notice the slight narrowing in your throat and, keeping it, close your mouth. Now you inhale and exhale through your nose, and the sound remains.
Sit with a straight back, chin slightly lowered, jaw and face soft. The sound should be audible to you but not to the person on the next mat. If your throat tickles or you want to cough, you're constricting it too much, so ease off.
The inhale and the exhale sound equally smooth, with no jerks. The article Ujjayi: Breathing with Sound in the basics section explains more about its role in practice.
Benefits
Deepens focus, warms the body, lengthens the breath
Cautions
The app lists no specific cautions for this pose. General safety: never push into pain, keep breathing, and check with a professional if you have an injury or a chronic condition.
This site is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have pain, an injury, a chronic condition, or are pregnant, check with a qualified professional before practicing.
Questions
Can I use ujjayi breathing in poses? Yes, and in asanas the sound becomes very quiet. If it fades out or breaks up in a strength pose, the load is too much for you right now.
How is ujjayi different from ordinary nose breathing? Only by the slight narrowing in your throat. Because of it the air moves more slowly, and your breath lengthens by itself.
How long should I practice? 5 minutes by default in the app. After that, you can carry the sound into your asana practice.