Why Ujjayi?

Optimize your practice with "victorious breath" or Ujjayi this winter!

You know that guttural-like sound in the back of yogis’ throats that sounds like a gentle ocean? That’s Ujjayi.

Ujjayi is a pranayama technique often performed during asana practice in which the back of your throat is slightly constricted while you breath slowly in and out through your nose. Another way to describe it is like fogging up a mirror, but with your mouth closed.

Ujjayi is Sanskrit for “victorious breath,” so named because it brings a sense of confidence, upliftment, and power to the practitioner. Ujjayi is helpful because you can both hear it and feel it. In this respect, Ujjayi keeps the mind focused on the present moment, inviting self-awareness. 

Both energizing and grounding, Ujjayi helps to warm you from the inside out, making it an excellent pranayama for these winter months. This build-up of internal heat helps to release tight areas of the body, making us less prone to injuries while stretching and practicing asana. 

But that’s not the only benefit of Ujjayi. In taking deep breaths, we expand the lungs further than normal, increasing circulation and releasing toxins from our organs. Ujjayi can also help strengthen the immune system to fight off winter illnesses and improve our sleep. 

In the subtle realm, Ujjayi allows more prana–vital life-force–to enter the body, and encourages movement of energy from the root center all the way up to the crown. It works to cleanse the nadis (channels), releasing stagnant energy to help the body overcome stress and fatigue. 

This winter, use Ujjayi in your asana practice to experience this victorious breath and its wide range of benefits!

Written by Heather Lynn Horvat

ARIZONA YOGIS
You might utilize Ujjayi in any of our more vibrant weekly asana classes:

• Power Vinyasa Monday 7-810am
• Sunrise Yoga Tuesday/Thursday 6-710am
• Tantra Yoga Thursday 1030am
• Any of our ALL LEVELS classes (currently offered 6/7 days per week!)
  

Gilbert Yoga 
655 N Gilbert Road 
(480)-720-7297
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 Heather Lynn Horvat

Heather’s yoga journey began in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2021 that ‘yoga found her.’ A graduate of Gilbert Yoga, she is excited to share the joy of yoga for every Body.

Heather is guided by her intuition, feeling into her practice with presence in body and trusting the wisdom of Higher Self. She hopes to bring students to a deeper connection with themselves, empowering them to live with self-love and authenticity.