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Ujjayi breath
उज्जायी
A listing is not a recommendation.
Origin: India · Tradition: Yogic pranayama · Breathing
What it is
A method of making a sound like the sea by a slight narrowing of the throat. It is used to set a pace during asana.
A short introduction (not a treatment instruction)
- Keep the mouth closed and breathe slowly through the nose, with the throat lightly narrowed.
- Keep a strength that does not strain the throat.
- If you feel dizzy, return to ordinary breathing.
Symptoms or aims often mentioned with this practice
- Stress or unease
- Breathing
- Focus and thinking
Related symptom videos
Research notes (this is not a promise of effect)
C: Preliminary, small, or lower-quality studies, or mixed results. These notes should not be over-read
It is often studied as part of yoga practice; evidence for ujjayi alone is limited.
Sources
Safety notes
Throat pain and over-breathing.
If you are unsure, or if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medicine, consult a qualified professional.
Situations in which this is better avoided
- An acute laryngeal or airway condition
- Applications that add strong breath-holding should be avoided in heart disease and in pregnancy