by Beth Haley
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”
I always wanted to write this but George Lucas beat me to it.
However, we can all breathe like Darth Vader which has its benefits. This type of breathing is called Ujjayi Pranayama (ooh-JAY-yee-prah-nah-YAH-mah), or ocean breath, and it is used in yoga and Taoist practices. The point of Ujjayi breathing is relaxation as it naturally lengthens and deepens the breath.
To get a feel for how this is done, imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, and opening your mouth, breathe out like you are trying to fog up the glass. Do this a few times and note the constriction of your throat.
Maintaining the constriction of your throat on both your inhale and exhale, begin now to breathe with your mouth closed. The sound this makes is soft, like gentle waves.
Go at your own pace and always practice in a way that is safe and comfortable.
First published May 11th, 2019
Pilgrimage Studio 