Turning a new leaf 🍂 Ujjayi breathing exercise inside

Fall has brought a wave of transformational changes along with the cooler weather, holding joy, hope, fear and sadness. Incredible private yoga sessions, transforming my studio space, planning for 2026, cooking up exciting projects... Change is in the air.

If you are one of the many people who has complex feelings around holidays, I hope you gave yourself grace this Thanksgiving.

While I have been making exciting strides in progressing my vision for Om: The Practice and everything it can be, I took this past weekend to slowdown and reconnect with my family. When building a business, and a community, it naturally diverts energy from other areas in your life. Rebalancing from time to time is important - yoga "off" the mat.

But I am feeling rejuvenated this week after livestreaming a fiery vinyasa practice for Om Unlimited on Saturday and some quality family time.

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I have also had some fun recently trying to create some accessible instructional resources for meditation, as I work to build out my library. Here's an example, a quick guide for how to practice ujayi breath!

Ujayyi [OO-jah-yee]

Ujayyi breath is probably the most accessible pranayama and is incredibly effective to help focus your awareness on your breath, and, when the exhale is lengthened, also at downregulating the nervous system. It is sometimes referred to as “ocean breath” because some find that the sound this breathing technique creates sounds like waves crashing on a shore.

Start by sitting in an upright position. Take a full, deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs. Try slowing the rate of your inhale to a count of four. Draw as much air in as you can. With your lips parted, exhale for at least a count of four through your mouth, creating a gentle restriction in the back of your throat.

Imagine that you are trying to fog up a pane of glass with your breath. Now, on your next breath, close your lips but keep the gentle restriction in your throat as you exhale, as if restraining a sigh. This is Ujayyi breath.

Below is a video that you can use to practice: inhale as the blue dot moves up, hold your breath as it slides down, and exhale slowly as it glides back across to the first point.

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Which of these would you most love to see next in this newsletter?

• A yoga sequence for your bedtime routine
• A guided meditation
• More breathwork & pranayama
• Yoga for building strength