How to Teach Ujjayi Breathing

Ujjayi is a rhythmic deep-breathing technique used in numerous styles of yoga. It is also called "hissing breath," "victorious breath" or "ocean-sounding breath" because of the ocean-like sound practitioners make when inhaling and exhaling. Ujjayi is ideal to teach to yoga students since it helps them maintain a rhythm in their practice while increasing energy, focus and relaxation throughout their yoga practice. Ujjayi is also said to increase body heat and remove toxins from the body.

Instructions

    • 1

      Instruct your students to inhale deeply through their nose. Tell them to open their mouth, act as though they're closing the back of their throat, and slowly exhale while making a long "ha" sound. Demonstrate the proper technique, and have students repeat this action several times. Tell them to notice the sound and feeling that their exhalation creates.

    • 2

      Tell students to again inhale through their nose, closing the back of their throat, as they did before. This time, however, instruct them to make the same sound with their mouth closed, exhaling through their nose. Tell them that their exhalation should make an ocean-like sound.

    • 3

      Instruct your students to continue breathing with their throat partially closed; they will need to extend the length of their inhalations and exhalations. Practice this technique for about 10 minutes.

    • 4

      Tell students to lay on their back, open their throat and return to their normal breathing.

    • 5

      Demonstrate to students how to incorporate Ujjayi into their yoga practice. Start them off by having them practice the breathing technique while performing simple movements, such as lifting their arms over their head, and slowly work up to more challenging movements and poses.