Ocean Breathing - Ujjayi Pranayama

Ocean Breathing, Ujjayi Pranayama

How to perform Ujjayi Pranayama

• Sit in siddhasana, Vajrasana, Padmasana or Bhadrasana with a straight spine. 
• To practice Ujjayi Pranayama you inhale and exhale trough the nostrils. 
• Inhale deeply and while you do that bring the back of your tongue up, thus making the passageway for air in your windpipe tighter. 
• You will realize that you are making the sound of the ocean by pressing the air through smaller space than usual. 
• During exhalation you do the same sound again.

The inhalation should last as long as the exhalation so that you are breathing in a steady rhythmus. Another possibility is to make the exhalation of the breath twice the time of the inhalation. You may not have noticed but you probably often do this sound without being aware of it as it is pleasant for your ears and provides relaxation.
There are two possible variations for Ujjayi Pranayama. The first one is to include Kumbhaka, the holding of breath in between inhalation and exhalation.
The second variation is to make Kumbhaka after the exhalation and to hold the breath out.

Benefits of Ujjayi Pranayama

Ujjayi Pranayama is a good pose for providing relaxation to the mind and your senses. It reduces the blood pressure and heart rate.
As it calms the mind it is also a beneficial pose for seniors to relax.

• Ujjayi Pranayama is very good for meditation practitioner because you can increase focus and concentration by practicing it. 
• It also purifies and activates the energy within the body and provides us control over the mental and physical body which is why it is also a good exercise for hyperactivity.

When you are suffering from pain, insomnia, migraine or headache you can relieve some of the symptoms by doing this pose regularly. It is also good against heat in the head.
Because of the deep breathing and the intensive works with the lungs this posture enhances the functions of the respiratory system.
This exercise is good for the Swadishthan chakra and helps you to balance your sexual energy.
You can practice this exercise in your office in the middle of your work. Just take a short break and perform a few rounds of Ujjayi Pranayama and it will refresh your mind and you can start all the things going on in your mind with new strength. You start with new energy and clear thoughts.

Focus Points

Make sure that your mouth is closed and you are breathing through your nose. You should be focused on relaxing yourself instead of being busy doing this exercise in perfection.