Ocean Breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama) Technique
Ocean Breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama) is a breathwork technique that calms the mind by focusing on the breath. Regular practice of ocean breathing brings multiple physical health benefits, from treating respiratory conditions to balancing the function of the thyroid.
Ujjayi Pranayama or “the ocean breath” is a technique of yogic breathing. This breathwork is named after the resemblance of the movement of air in the glottis (throat) to the sounds of waves of the ocean.
Ujjayi breathing is a technique that allows you to calm your mind by focusing on your breath. By doing so, you override the thoughts that could distract you from your meditative state. It is said that this Hatha Yoga breathing technique liberates, since its Sanskrit name, ujjayi is related to the word Jaya, which means victory.
Process
Slowly inhale and exhale, keeping your mouth closed, and breathing through your nose.
Continue breathing slowly, and start bringing your awareness to your throat.
When you are ready, inhale and, hold your breath for a few seconds, slightly constricting the passage of air in your throat. As you exhale, allow the air to pass through the constricted throat, creating a “friction sound” or a “soft hissing sound”.
Inhale again, retain your breath for 6 seconds, and then exhale normally.
Once you are comfortable with exhaling through a constricted throat, begin to apply the same constriction of the throat to both the in-breath and the out-breath.
Notes
Ensure that your spine is straight.
Keep your facial muscles relaxed, and your nose unconstricted
Keep your inhalations and exhalations equal in duration.
The breath will still make a noise coming in and out of the nose.
Benefits of Ujjayi Pranayama
The practice of Ujjayi Pranayama brings multiple benefits to the body and the mind, such as:
It helps rectify fluid retention in the body
It clears phlegm and increases appetite
It is beneficial in treating chronic colds, coughs, indigestion, liver problems, dysentery, fever, and other diseases
It provides ghatashudhhi or purification of seven dhatus (elements), skin, flesh, blood, bones, marrow, fat, and semen
It gives depth and enrichment to the voice
It stimulates and balances the thyroid
Recommended Practice
Ujjayi Pranayama can be practiced daily, for a duration of 5 rounds per session, with a pause in between rounds.
Limitations/Contraindications
Ujjayi Pranayama is not recommended in serious cardiac and hypertension cases. The individual who suffers from these conditions can alternatively practice a modification of this breathing technique without retention of breath.
Demo
For a brief demo of the Ocean Breathing (Ujjayi Pranayama) Technique, watch the following video:
Ujjayi Pranayama || Ocean Breath || Yoga For Respiratory Problems