Ujjayi Pranayama

Have you ever noticed that all loud exhales pretty much sound the same?  Unless you see that person’s face, an angry exhale of air sounds pretty much the same as an exhausted exhale or an exhale of despair.  Maybe if you are really listening you would notice a difference in length or vigor but really, they are so very similar. 

Perhaps that is because our loud exhale is an unvoiced releasing.  Without voicing any words or sounds, we are releasing the anger, the sadness, the exhaustion.  We are physically letting it go.  Letting her loose.  Our heart gets to hear our loud releasing without our brain having to create any words.  Which can be such a relief.   

In yoga, we actually practice these loud exhales.  We call it Ujjayi Pranayama.  We practice hearing our own breath because it helps the mind release its stress.  It is translated as “victory breath”.  And a release of stress really is a victory, isn’t it? 

So the next time you exhale loudly, really listen to yourself.  And then do it again!  Loudly!  Do it until you release that which needs releasing.  You deserve it.

Until next time,

Laura