Ujjayi breathing!

Ujjayi breathing is victorious breathing. It is a very important aspect of Ashtanga Yoga. The rhythmic dance of Ujjayi breath and movement creates a moving meditation that lights your internal fire and aids the cleansing of your body. It calms the mind and helps you to focus on the present moment of your practice by bringing awareness to your breath.

You can accomplish Ujjayi breathing by placing your tongue on the soft palate, drawing a slow breath in through your nose and exhaling slowly through your nose. You should work towards your inhale and exhale being the same count in and out. This will create a hissing sound at the back of your throat. You may sound a little bit like Darth Vader!