Breath & Meditation
Ujjayi — The Ocean Breath That Steadies You
A soft sound at the back of the throat that turns a scattered practice into a steady one.
Ujjayi is a gently constricted breath that makes a soft ocean sound, drawn evenly through the nose. It gives the mind something to follow and the practice a metronome. It is the quiet engine of most flowing classes.
How to practise it
- Sit tall and breathe through the nose with the mouth closed.
- Slightly narrow the back of the throat, as if fogging a mirror but with the lips sealed.
- Let a soft, steady ocean sound appear on both the inhale and the exhale.
- Keep the breath even — the inhale and exhale roughly the same length.
- Carry the sound into movement; when it frays, slow the movement down to match it.
Common mistakes
- Forcing the sound so hard the throat grips. It should be soft, not strained.
- Letting the exhale collapse. Keep it as long and steady as the inhale.
- Holding the breath through effort. If ujjayi disappears, the pose has become too much.
Ujjayi is the bridge between the body and the mind.
In the studio, and at home
In a flowing class the shared ocean sound of a room breathing together is one of the quiet pleasures of practice — a dozen people, one rhythm.
Ujjayi is the bridge between the body and the mind. When the practice feels scattered, return to the sound, and the rest tends to gather itself around it.
Questions we hear
For most people, yes, kept soft. If you have very low blood pressure or feel dizzy, breathe normally and skip the constriction.
No. A soft sound you can hear yourself is enough. Loud, forced ujjayi usually means the throat is gripping.