The soothing breath technique known as Ujayi can be used to settle your mind and body when you are feeling frustrated or irritated. When performed correctly it creates a cooling effect at the back of the throat and has a stabilizing influence on the cardiorespiratory system.

To perform Ujayi breath, take a slightly deeper than normal inhalation. On the exhalation, slightly constrict your throat muscles so it sounds as if you are snoring. Your out-breath is through your nose with your mouth closed. Another way to get the hang of this practice is to first exhale, “Haaah” with your mouth open. Now make a similar motion with your mouth closed. This will result in the desired breathy snoring sound. Once you have mastered it on the outflow, perform the same procedure on inflow. The result is that you sound a little like Darth Vader from Star Wars.

When you find yourself becoming aggravated or upset, shift into Ujayi breath and you will notice a prompt soothing influence. You can also use this when performing yoga postures and while exercising at a moderate level. Practicing this soothing breath technique will reduce wear and tear on your physiology and slow aging.