Coughing, spluttering, sore throat, runny nose? Try Ujjayi breath!
- Sit comfortably and exhale completely.
- Tighten the throat, so that you can hear a sound like that of the ocean when you breathe in and out. The breath should be audible to you, but not necessarily to anyone else, so that you are not straining.
- Once you’ve got the hang of it, on your next inhale, hold the breath and engage Mula (pelvic floor), Uddiyana (stomach) and Jalandhara (throat) Bandhas, locking and sealing energy. Release the Bandahs and exhale with the Ujjayi breath.
- Repeat 10 or so times.
This simple pranayama can give you relief from colds and coughs and help shift and remove phlegm. It also calms the nervous system, aids the digestive systems and can alleviate high blood pressure. Oh the breath!