Ujjayi breath or pranayama is a breathing technique
characterized by a uniform, smooth sound. It is one of the eight forms of
pranayama practiced in hatha yoga.
Ujjayi breath involves holding breath inside the lungs after
inhalation. In some texts this technique is known as ujjapi. The special
feature of this breathing technique is that a hissing sound is produced by
partial closure of the glottis while inhaling and exhaling. That may be also
the reason for calling it ujjapi. The sound should not come through the nose
but only through the throat. It should be a uniform, smooth sound and should be
produced throughout the stages of inhalation and exhalation.
Assuming a firm sitting posture, such as the adept pose,
lotus pose or swastika pose, keeping the back and neck upright and the eyes
close, the inhaling is done through both the nostrils, producing a uniform,
smooth sound through the throat. The hands are kept on the knees, with the
palms turned down. After the lungs are filled completely, the breath is held
inside. This is kumbhaka. The three locks chin lock, abdominal lock and anal
lock are applied while suspending the breath. This is followed by exhalation
through the left nostril.
A fixed number of rounds are gone through depending on
practice. The proportion of time allotted to the three stages of inhalation, exhalation
and suspending the breath is 1:1:2 for a beginner, 1:4:2 for an advanced practitioner.
It is not safe for the an uninitiated person to do these ratios.
It is mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (II 51-52) that Ujjayi
pranayama can be practiced while standing or walking. But in that case the
suspending of breath is not done.
Ujjayi is said to help in the prevention and cure of
disorders connected with throat and abdomen, and to improve appetite and
digestion.