Breath into Control

Yoga is, at the root, a practice of meditation to reach a higher level of consciousness.  One great way to reach this higher level of consciousness is through steadying the breath and keeping awareness on the breath.  This kind of breath control is referred to as Ujjayi.  To do this correctly, inhale and exhale through the nose with the back of the throat and the vocal diaphragm contracted.  Your breath will be louder than normal, which is what you are looking for with this practice.  The breath does not need to be loud, just noticeable to you for your awareness. The deep inhales through the nose brings in oxygen and prana (life force), and the exhales through the nose removes the carbon dioxide and toxins.  The breath through the nose is important as it is more controlled than through the mouth and warms the body.  Keep the inhales and exhales at an equal length and allow space between the breaths.  So, if you inhale for a count of three, then wait a second, and then exhale to a count of three.

Continued awareness to the breath leads to a connection of the mind and the body and can create a meditative like state leading to a deeper relaxed or meditative state.  This can be practiced anywhere, anytime.  This is a great way to relieve stress and calm your mood.  I practice Ujjayi in the car a lot as traffic can make one very stressed... and it works.  I also practice when we travel on our adventures because it keeps me focused and grounded.

Try Ujjayi breath now for 10 inhales and exhales with a minimum of three seconds each.  See how you feel during the practice and after.  While practicing breath control and awareness, try to quiet the mind and only focus on the breath.  Compare your mood and feeling after this short practice to that of before your practice.
Namaste ~ Lori