I looked at Ujjayi pranayama. It is generally described by closing the throat
with an uniform sound, like in:
or like in
http://www.yoga-age.com/asanas/prana.html#_VPID_66
or like in
http://www.yogapranayama.net/ujjayi-pranayama.html
To my surprise, however, the book of BKS Iengar -Yoga-The Path to Holistic
Health, describes ujjayi pranayama without squeezing the throat and producing that uniform sound.
What do I miss here ?
[B]Ujjayi Pranayama[/B] from [I]Kundalini Tantra[/I] by Paramahamsa Satyananda:
“Feel that the breath is being drawn in and out through the throat not the nostrils.
Gently contract the glottis in the throat.
When you breath under these circumstances, a very soft snoring sound should automatically come from the throat region. It is like the breathing of a sleeping baby.
Feel that your are breathing deeply from the abdomen and not from the nose.
Try to make the breaths long and relaxed.”
From [I]Hatha Yoga Pradipika[/I]:
“Closing the mouth, inhale with control and concentration through ida and pingala, so that the breath is felt from the throat to the heart and produces a sonorous sound.”
“Do kumbhaka as before and exhale through ida. This removes phlegm from the throat and stimulates the (digestive) fire.”
“This pranayama, called ujjayi, can be done while moving, standing, sitting or walking. It removes dropsy and disorders of the nadis and dhatu.”
[QUOTE=panoramix;62514]From [I]Hatha Yoga Pradipika[/I]:
“Closing the mouth, inhale with control and concentration through ida and pingala, so that the breath is felt from the throat to the heart and produces a sonorous sound.”
“Do kumbhaka as before and exhale through ida. This removes phlegm from the throat and stimulates the (digestive) fire.”
“This pranayama, called ujjayi, can be done while moving, standing, sitting or walking. It removes dropsy and disorders of the nadis and dhatu.”[/QUOTE]
I agree with you. The first three web sites I posted about ujjayi pranayama basically show the same thing. They are: 1) baba ramdev 2) the science of pranayama by Swami Sivananda 3) Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
However, my question was: whay does Iyengar show a different technique ?
No clue Oak…
Sorry
[QUOTE=oak333;62528]…show a different technique ?[/QUOTE]
ego invents?
the throat technique isa important but not as important as breath with the expanding and contracting of the stomach and abdomen instead of the chest. Breathing through the stomach is how to get your prana or chi flowing.
I actually learned the best breathing techniques while reading a Qi-gong book and not through going to any yoga classes. I see so many students breathing improperly in the studio I go to.
More yoga teachers need to teach how to practice the ujiyi breath. As very few will actually teach it in a class because well actually I have no idea why no teacher has ever taught me the best proper way to breath in a class
oak,
Don’t be confused if you happen to cross paths with different descriptions of the same technique, it is not a new phenomenon. There are various ways to practice different techniques, and there have even been cases where the same name will be used to describe two different techniques entirely. If you look at the Hatha Yoga Pradipika - it describes Maha Mudra in a way which is different than it is described in the methods of Kriya Yoga. If you look in certain yogic texts, you may become absolutely confused because sometimes mudras are used as synonymous with bandhas, sometimes bandhas are used as synonymous with mudras. Even a meditation like vipassana, one will find that the word itself is completely vague. What is called “vipassana” is taught differently according to different traditions and schools. Sometimes - it is taught as a method of moment to moment awareness as to whatever is arises in your experience at the level of the body, mind, and emotion - and using this as a means towards one’s enlightenment - or it is taught as a series of contemplation exercises. Because “vipassana” just refers to any method which is used to develop insight, just as samatha is a word which is used to any method of meditation for developing concentration and bringing the activity of the mind to a stillness.
So don’t be confused if you happen to find that the same technique is described in different ways according to different traditions. What is important is that when you learn one technique, you take that technique to a tremendous depth and intensity. Because what is important in something like uyyaji is not whether you are making a sound with your throat or not, what is important is that you are absolutely involved in the action - with a stream of awareness in the present from moment to moment.
Trust your inner guru Oak…
[QUOTE=AmirMourad;62665]oak,
Don’t be confused if you happen to cross paths with different descriptions of the same technique, it is not a new phenomenon. There are various ways to practice different techniques, and there have even been cases where the same name will be used to describe two different techniques entirely. If you look at the Hatha Yoga Pradipika - it describes Maha Mudra in a way which is different than it is described in the methods of Kriya Yoga. If you look in certain yogic texts, you may become absolutely confused because sometimes mudras are used as synonymous with bandhas, sometimes bandhas are used as synonymous with mudras. Even a meditation like vipassana, one will find that the word itself is completely vague. What is called “vipassana” is taught differently according to different traditions and schools. Sometimes - it is taught as a method of moment to moment awareness as to whatever is arises in your experience at the level of the body, mind, and emotion - and using this as a means towards one’s enlightenment - or it is taught as a series of contemplation exercises. Because “vipassana” just refers to any method which is used to develop insight, just as samatha is a word which is used to any method of meditation for developing concentration and bringing the activity of the mind to a stillness.
So don’t be confused if you happen to find that the same technique is described in different ways according to different traditions. What is important is that when you learn one technique, you take that technique to a tremendous depth and intensity. Because what is important in something like uyyaji is not whether you are making a sound with your throat or not, what is important is that you are absolutely involved in the action - with a stream of awareness in the present from moment to moment.[/QUOTE]
You are probably right. Just stick with one school of yoga and do not mess up
with other techniques.
And yes, the terminology is quite confusing.
[QUOTE=panoramix;62671]Trust your inner guru Oak…[/QUOTE]
I agree 100 % with you.
There is an interesting medical observation about the power of deep breathing.
The singers usually live unregular lives, with much partying etc. And yet the singers do not have heart attacks.