Pranayama : Ujjayi Breathing

pranayama Yogic breathing Ujjayi

Ujjayi breathing is one of the main varieties of pranayama and is sometimes referred to as the Victorious breath. It can be used at any time, being particularly powerful during asanas to enhance your stretch and concentration and increase your energy levels. Ujjayi breathing is easy to learn and can benefit the body by increasing the flow of prana (life force); oxygenating and purifying the blood; clearing phlegm; increasing the flexibility and strength of the thoracic area; improving digestion; toning the nervous system; and as the thoracic area strengthens, building self-confidence.

Bear in mind that you will be partly closing the epiglottis. This will allow the air to enter the windpipe more slowly and you will notice a particular feeling and a distinctive sound which accompany this. Making this sound will focus your awareness on your breath and allow you to dwell in the moment.

start is by sitting in a comfortable position, checking that the spine is vertical. Allow the hands to rest comfortably in the lap. Relax.

Exhale fully through the nose. inhale, and as you exhale, partially open your mouth and allow a gentle ha sounds to escape. It sounds much like the breathing Darth Vada favours. You will notice the sensation of the air vibrating in the back of your throat. Allow the inhalation to come comfortably into the lungs, but not overfilling them. Once you have understand the principle, close your mouth so that the air is moving in and out through your nostrils, with the sound and vibration continuing on both the inhalation and exhalation. Allow the breath to be long, deep and relaxing.

avoid trying too hard. By letting go, relaxing the shoulders, softening the mouth and allowing the ujjayi breath to happen with minimum effort, you will succeed. With practice you will be able to enjoy the rhythm of the ujjayi breath and your lungs and diaphragm will strengthen as they work with the narrowing of the throat. Your energy levels will increase whilst still retaining a sense of centredness and emotional balance.

Beryl Whiting is an experienced and qualified yoga instructor offering hatha Yoga classes in the South Beds and Milton Keynes area of the UK. Beryl's teaching style encourages her students to enhance the awakening of an awareness of what is happening in their mind and body. She is particularly noted for her soothing voice and relaxation sessions. A relaxation CD is available from her webblog at http://www.yoga4healthyliving.com. This webblog is full of ideas of practical ways to develop and maintain a sense of emotional and physical well being.

Dvd Review Yoga

Smart Fitting With Personal Results

Think about your swing with its individual characteristics. Compare your physical dimensions, your strength, your setup and posture and of course the way that you take the club back and bring it back through the strike zone to any of your other partners. In fact compare it to your own swing of 20 years ago!

When I sit with you, I see exactly you. I dont see that golfer of 20 years ago or any other player in your fourball, or myself. I then build a solution that will enable you to have a better golf game immediately.

And that solution needs thought. Its not a simple matter of a wrist to floor measurement and your handicap to decide that you need a " longer shaft in a set of stiff flex shafts with a muscle-back club head.

Heres a simple illustration. Lets consider a slightly older golfer who has seen his handicap slip from 9 to 17 over the last 5 years. This mirrors the naturally declining swing speed and strength. This will impact on both the length and height of iron shots. Id also like you to imagine that this golfer is a little shorter in height than average.

In any fitting that we are doing with this golfer we need to make sure that we make it easier to increase the club head speed without reducing the likelihood of making solid contact with the golf ball.

In many cases an obvious option for this golfer is to go with a lighter, probably softer shaft. A less obvious option, but one worth examining, would be to look at a " or " longer shaft than normally fits this golfer. The slightly longer shaft would generate, through natural physics, a faster club head speed, and therefore greater distance.

Of course the slightly longer shaft would increase the chances of missing the sweet spot at contact, so finding a club head with an oversized face (and a larger hitting zone) and a higher MOI (to ensure distance and accuracy when the ball is struck off-centre) would be a good idea.

Visit your local Foremost PGA golf professional for expert advice and guidance

James Langmead PGA Qualified golf professional and former callaway Club fitter of the year http://www.thegolfshoponline.co.uk

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