Some of Ujjayi (Snake- breathing) Effects, or Relaxation that Comes after Victory

Ujjayi breathing is a breathwork done in vibratory key (successive singing of sounds that compose the OM mantra) that in our School tradition is practiced almost from the very beginning (A.G. Safronov “Yoga: Physiology, Psychosomatics, Bioenergetics”, Kh, 2008).

A pranayama under the same title but of completely different essence is one of the most popular pranayamas in Ashtanga-yoga tradition that comes as a result of practice applied by its “setter” and inspirer — Sri PattabhiJois. The character of practice is rather dynamic — asana sare grouped in certain successions (vinyasas) and are done without intervals in compliance with strictly set scheme. They are accompanied by ujjayi (“victorious, triumphant” in translation from Sanskrit ) — a specific breathwork that goes as veritable refrain through the whole practice. The associate the Hindu were referring to in their denomination of the pranayama is not very clear, but if to base upon one’s own impression that emerges after practicing Ashtanga in ashrams of Jois and Sheshadri we would for sure apply this title to the whole style in general: having survived one hour and a half of rather “heavy” exercising one comes as a complete and unconditional triumphant that has overcome oneself. This feeling is supported by the sense of total muscular laxation, and one feels fresh and “newly born” if not with one’s soul, then for sure with one’s body.

This is a curious and even paradoxical effect, and we believe it owes such result to the well-directed breathwork, with asanas that come as merely a pleasant supplement to the practice.

In order to clear out the issue let us remember the technique of Ujjayi performance as suggested by PattabhiJois: while breathing we keep our larynx (gorge) pressed up thus putting hindrance to the inhaled and exhaled air.

1. If the practice is done in a proper way, we shall immediately witness two processes: hissing and whistling sounding of our organism and rather substantial dissonance in sensing our body, this being the unconscious strain of muscles — not only those required, but any other as well: those of abdominal, ribcage, perineum, hands and others, in dependance upon actual pathogenic “arches” of the practicing individual. This state, being extremely uncomfortable, induces our prompt comprehension of what muscles we should relax and what muscles should be kept tense, and by this the necessity of concentration and attention focusing at the area of one’s throat comes very helpful (yet we think that location of attention focus can be transferred to any other zone of our organism). In this way in case of regular practice one drills the ability of concentration and attention focusing upon deliberately selected processes in one’s body, thus becoming able to correct pathogenic intermuscular arches. But this effect does not explain the whole range of modifications that happen to one’s body at the time of Ujjayi practice, thus we should continue with our investigation.

2. For this very purpose let us return to the throat area. During pranayama the muscles that exert and coart the larynx are constantly engaged into working process, in addition being “massaged” by the pressed air flow. These muscles are innervated by laryngeal nerves that are the rami of the pneumogastric nerve (nervusvagus) that “represents interests” of the organism parasympathetic nervous system.

On account of this fact we may assume that constant stimulation of vagus peripheral rami shall “launch” parasympathetic nervous system that shall make cardiac rate less frequent, shall induce slight drop of arterial pressure and respiratory rate slowdown.

Reflexes of similar kind have been described a long time ago and in medicine they are known as Aschner reflex — a decrease in pulse rate associated with traction applied toextraocular muscles and/or compression of the eyeball, and Hering reflex — when similar effects emerge while pressing upon the area of arteria carotis divergence. Here we may also refer reflexory drop of pressure that results from swallowing.

Besides, any effect made upon reflexory zones of parasympathetic nervous system shall as a rule cause suppression of some parts of central nervous system that leads to drop of impulsation from muscular receptors and thus amyotonia of skeleton muscles. Muscular laxation of similar kind can be also observed in case of “parasympathetic” respiration, i.e. infrequent respiration. The mechanisms of this phenomenon have not been studied outright though the effect was more than once described in medical literature and they have singled out some certain correlation between respiratory centers neurons’ activity and intensiveness of signals that come from muscular proprioceptors.

Thus we may assume the existence of laryngeal-vagus reflex that provides phenomenological basis of Ujjayi (Snake- breathing) effect. It is very interesting since themechanism described enables us to make a conclusion that it is the practice of pranayama that the Ashtanga effect of “corporal reincarnation” should be linked with. Vinyasas are merely “beaded” onto the thread of breath-work. And body postures are applied onto the previously prepared foundation of relaxed muscles enabling one to anew sculpturing of one’s body. Another interesting fact is that this effect is explained in regular course of Bihari school of yoga that gives substantiated recommendation for employing this pranayama in case of arterial hypertension as well as for releasing extensive emotional and muscular tension.

We should also mention that the afore-described effect enables to smooth the work of one’s heart while practicing Ashtanga exercises.

3. Moreover, if we go back to the fact that motor nucleus of the pneumogastric nerve is “conjoint” with motor nucleus of the accessory nerve that is responsible for the work of the sternocleidomastoid and trapezoid muscle, we may assume laxation of enlisted muscles in case of excitement accumulation in motor neuron. This shall enable us to recommend this type of respiration as “relaxation” for individuals with reflectory tense neck.