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I've been doing yoga for a while but have never done a beginners course - I started at a studio which teaches general classes, and I've just stayed doing them because I feel that I get quite a bit out of them. Recently we've had a few new teachers at the school and at the beginning of the class they tell everyone to use their noses to breathe (I have been doing this), but one teacher says those that know how to use a (it sounds like 'oogy'?) kind of breath (it has a name that I'm not familiar with), to use that.

Does anyone know what that type of breath this might be (it's sounds like 'oogy' or 'urgy'?? ). Also, this might just be my school but I wonder why they don't teach it in general classes? If anyone can help that would be good.

Hi Leaf. That'll be Ujjayi breathing.

I'm amazed there are so many yoga classes that do not mention breathing. I've been to a few of those, but I always employ Ujjayi. As it is audible, other yogis notice and that has a magnetic and contagious effect, and sometimes the teacher then thinks to mention it in passing.

Breathing is said to be the foundation of yoga. Ujjayi breathing warms your lungs, chest and throat. And the sound that fills you gives your mind a platform upon which to meditate. Focused in this way, your breathing automatically becomes slower, steadier and deeper. Then intuition and body wisdom inform you how the in and out breaths synchronise and flow with the movements in and out of asanas (e.g. as in Vinyasa yoga). The breathing also empowers the held pose (which should never be a static thing): the inbreath fills the pose with more power and determination, the outbreath helps you sink deeper and immerse yourself into the pose more fully and precisely. The sound and heat generated keep you more aware of all this, bring mind into body, help to visualise the energy moving in and out of the body.

I was going to link you to some website for further instructions, but for me, nobody explains it more clearly than Eric, on the opening meditation of my favourite yoga dvd. (I've heard this so many times, I typed the following almost word-for-word before checking):

this is great info and that is exactly it, thanks did!

One question about this, I've tried it out a number of times since I read your post and I get a really a dry throat when I breathe this way, it makes me coff.

What am I doing wrong?

Hi Leaf, if you get a dry throat, I think that you might be trying too hard to constrict your throat.
Ujjayi should be easy and effortless otherwise it will not have the effect it is supposed to have. Try making less effort and see if it helps.

Exactly. Try not to try so much!!

Yeh OK good words and advice, I will try to lessen it a bit Thanks!