2. Ujjayi breath: the what, the why and the how

Often, in a yoga class, your yoga teacher will say 'now engage the Ujjayi breath if you have that in your practise'. But, if you don't know Ujjayi, or you were never quite sure how to do it, or you've forgotten how to do it, then this doesn't help too much. This episode has been created to guide you through the what, the why and the how of the Ujjayi breath. What Is Ujjayi Breath?Ujjayi is short for Ujjayi Pranayama.Prana means vital life force.Ayama means expansion.Pranayama refers to breathing practices that expand and regulate that vital energy.And Ujjayi means victorious.But, victorious over what? In yoga philosophy, victory refers to mastery over the fluctuations of the mind. Not suppressing thoughts - but creating space between them, and Ujjayi is one way we begin training that space.Enjoy!💻 See the shownotes here🫁 Go deeperUjjayi teaches you to work with your breath. But breath regulation isn’t just about control - it’s about listening.With that in mind, I’ve created a free guided practice called: Nervous System Regulation – A Practice of Listening designed to help you notice subtle shifts in your body, soften effort, and build real resilience. You can explore the practice here on Insight Timer. 💛 Explore moreIf you’re interested in how breath supports stress resilience, you might also enjoy:How (and Why) to Activate Your Parasympathetic Rebound, listen hereHow Stressed Are You? (And What to Do About It), listen here Yoga Nidra for Deep Sleep, listen here---👋 work with me💛 1:1 therapeutic yogaPersonalised support for anxiety, sleep issues, stress or back pain. Take a look here 🌻 therapeutic workshops and retreatsSmall, supportive sessions focused on anxiety, deep rest or back health, blending yoga, breathwork and evidence-based education. Come join us here  🦋 vinyasa flow 200 hour yoga teacher trainingA welcoming, practical, neuroscience-informed training for people who want to teach yoga, or just learn more about it. Dive in, here