Ujjayi Breath
There is a specific mental quality or heart quality or attitude that is engendered by Ujjayi.
Sometimes when I am teaching I notice anxiousness in my body. I have the urge to escape, to disengage. I find myself separating myself from the students, averting my eyes, not looking directly into their eyes. This is what I have come to label my social anxiety. I have begun the practice of Ujjayi when I notice this uneasiness. I have decided to shift attention to Ujjayi breath as a way of being with the discomfort.
This seems to work in many situations. When I am alone, when I am driving, when I am talking on the phone. Whenever I notice upset or anxiety or fear, I practice Ujjayi breath.
So, whenever you notice that you are stressed, that you don’t like what is happening, notice how you are breathing. It is likely that you will be holding your breath, or that your breath will be shallow and not smooth. Whenever you notice feeling distressed, practice Ujjayi breath. It’s not called Victorious Breath for nothing. The sound can ground you in the physicality of this present moment, and the deeper breathing can calm your nerves. By engaging Ujjayi Breath you can stay focused on the present moment and be victorious.