Ujjayi (उज्जायी): what it means

Where the word comes from

The word is most often translated as "victorious". It names a breathing technique described in classical yoga texts. Today it is mostly used not as a practice on its own but as a way to breathe through a whole class.

Ujjayi is one of the pranayama techniques and is closely tied to vinyasa and ashtanga, where inhale and exhale set the pace of movement.

How to say it

Say oo-JAH-yee, with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is short, the "j" is a clear sound as in "jam", and the ending is "yee".

If you stumble, just say "the ocean breath" or "breath with a sound"; teachers will understand.

What it looks like in class

The teacher asks you to breathe through the nose and narrow the throat a little, as if you were gently fogging a mirror with your mouth closed. That gives an even, quiet sound on both the inhale and the exhale. You then keep breathing this way as you move between poses.

The sound should be faint, heard by you and perhaps by the person next to you. If your throat tightens and the breath becomes strained, go back to ordinary breathing, which is always allowed. Never inhale harder than is comfortable.

If the sound does not come, first breathe out through the mouth as if fogging a mirror, then close your mouth and keep the same feeling in the throat.

Ujjayi and pranayama

In a class devoted to pranayama, ujjayi can be a technique on its own: sitting, you breathe evenly with a soft sound for a few minutes. More often it is used during movement so that inhale and exhale match the poses and flow at one rhythm.

A good self-check: the sound is audible on both the inhale and the exhale while the face and shoulders are relaxed. If you cannot breathe and hold the pose at the same time, simplify the pose or return to ordinary breathing.

Common misunderstandings

• "The louder, the better." The sound is faint and the throat should not be tense.
• "Ujjayi is the only right way to breathe." It is one technique, and many classes do not use it.
• "The breath must be as deep as possible." What matters is evenness and comfort, not volume.

If you feel dizzy or uneasy while breathing this way, return to ordinary breathing and tell your teacher. Follow your teacher, especially if you have blood pressure, heart or lung concerns, or are pregnant.