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Darth Vader and Yoga: A Connection Through Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:05:52 PST

Yoga is all about connecting your breath with your movements.

It's called ujjayi pranayama (pronounced oo-jai pra-na-ya-ma). Some instructors call it "ocean breath," "victorious breath," or "Darth Vader breath." It is said that Yogis performing this breath alone can create enough heat to melt snow around them. If you walk into an Ashtanga yoga class, you will be overwhelmed with an amazing and powerful sound - it feels like the walls themselves are pulsing.

Basically you are turning your ordinary breath into an audible one. When you can hear your breath, it's easier to follow and concentrate on. You can focus on letting your inhalations and exhalations guide your movements - then it's kind of like a moving meditation.

Want to know how to have that audible breath? Then

Say out loud - "I love Yoga."
Now whisper the same words, "I love Yoga."
Keeping your mouth closed, slowly exhale out through your nose and whisper "I love Yoga," again. Now inhale and whisper the same phrase.
The breath is moving to the back of your throat and nose.
Now slowly inhale and whisper one syllable,"Love." Exhale and whisper out "Love."
When you're ready, practice breathing this way, through your nose, keeping the breath deep in the back of your throat.

This breath creates the rhythm you use to guide your yoga practice. Take long and deep breaths, and you'll feel its relaxing effects instantly.

Ashtanga for Type A Personalities

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 09:00:00 PST

If you are a Type A person, someone who can't sit still, or if you are slightly (or completely) ADD, you've got to try Ashtanga Yoga. It's fast paced and follows the same sequence every class, no joke, so you always know what's coming next.

The room is heated (not as brutally hot as Bikram), so your body feels more open and motivated to move. The mats are set up in neat little rows, kind of like your first grade class. The instructor walks around, talks you through each pose, counts the breaths, and assists. Everyone is pretty much moving and breathing at the same time. The energy of the group is really motivating, which is why I prefer going to class instead of practicing on my cold floor solo style.

Fit's tip: Since the instructor isn't demonstrating, you'll have to play "Simon Says" and follow your expert neighbor. Or look for a Beginner class at your local studio or gym. After you've taken a few Ashtanga classes, you'll have it down (dog?)

Breathing Too Loud in Yoga Class - Is There Such a Thing?

Michele Foley — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:06:39 PDT

I know that breathing is an essential part of yoga, but is there such a thing as too loud? During my last yoga class, I was next to someone who was breathing so loud that it distracted me from my own practice. I wondered initially if I was being overly sensitive, until I noticed students in the row ahead of me were also distracted while looking back at her during the seated twist pose. Adding to her very loud (and long) inhalations, she also had a tendency to moan loudly while in certain poses - especially Child's Pose. And while I always expect to hear a heightened state of breath in any yoga class, her breathing was aggressive sounding, like what you might expect from an Ashtanga class, where ujjayi pranayama is the norm.

I appreciate any student that loves the principles of yoga, but is keeping your breath at a reasonable level during a basic flow class an OK expectation to have?

What to Expect From an Ashtanga Yoga Class

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:34:53 PDT

If you're a runner, cyclist, skier, rider, climber, swimmer, or have a Type A, high-energy, can't-sit-still kind of personality, sign yourself up for Ashtanga yoga. This type of yoga is challenging, quick-paced, and just the thing to open your tight hamstrings, hips, and shoulders. Before heading to your first class, here are some things you should know.

It's Hot
I'm not talking Bikram-yoga hot, but it's pretty darn hot. Most studios turn on the heat, so expect to be in a room that's about 80 to 90 degrees. This means you'll probably get pretty sweaty, so it's best to wear long pants to absorb your sweat and to prevent drips of sweat from puddling on your mat, making it dangerously slick. Pants will also add traction for poses where you're touching your legs, as in Crow, so you don't slip out of the pose and hurt yourself. A rug or yoga towel placed on your regular sticky mat is also a must. You might want to bring a hand towel to class as well to wipe the perspiration off your face and arms.

Depending on how strict the instructor is, they might encourage you not to drink water during the practice, since you're working so hard to build the fire inside you, and the water will "put the fire out." So make sure you drink throughout the day before you practice to prevent dehydration.

It's Repetitive
Ashtanga yoga has been taught by the late Pattabhi Jois since 1948, and it involves a set sequence of poses that a practitioner follows in the exact same order every time. Most studios offer Primary Series or Intermediate Series classes. Most ashtanga yogis are practicing Primary Series, which follows this sequence: Five Sun Salutation As, Five Sun Salutation Bs, the Standing Sequence, the Primary Series (Seated Postures), and the Closing Sequence. The beauty of the repetition is that since each class is the same, you can visit any studio in the world, and you'll be able to do the exact same class you do at home. Or once you memorize the sequence, you can practice on your own at home. Some people love the repetition since it can act as a form of moving meditation, while others may see it as boring.

I'm just getting started, so keep reading to hear more about what to expect from your first Ashtanga class.