Hi,
I’m having some difficulty regarding opening the throat more than usual during inhalation when using ujjayi. The first lesson on this states:
“On the inhalations, allow the throat to relax and open more than usual. Do not restrict the air coming in. Rather, allow the deepest part of your throat to open wide, comfortably.”
How does one open the throat more than usual? Another lesson also states how this will stimulate the brain stem. I’ve tried various things, but I don’t know what they are actually doing to the throat and how to find out.
Can anyone help? Any instructions how to open the throat more than usual? How one knows it’s being done correctly?
Thanks,
Giles.
Yawn and see how the throat feels (you are breathing in and opening your throat more during a yawn)… that is how it has to feel when breathing in during Ujjayi… well close to that, as you will have your mouth closed… but you will get an idea of what “open your throat more” feels like. 
Does this help?
Slightly imagining the incoming breath making the sound of “awwwww” helps me expand my throat during ujjayi.
I like the yawn too Shanti I never tried that before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQwfcwYnuY&list=PLX522Vo8hOinD40FHpQu3TkWl_ADVgEQl
From 1:35 to 2:30 he explains Ujjaji (contraction of the throat while exhaling and expansion while inhaling). You can try to feel the cold in your throat while inhaling with the mouth open. But that is just to get the feeling. The correct practice is done with the mouth closed
Imagining yawning, but not as exaggerated, is what I’ve also always practiced. It must have been mentioned somewhere in the books or lessons. I somehow doubt it is a coincidence that Shanti also said it. Actual yawning very often happens during SBP for me, though the body doesn’t mind whether on inhale or exhale. Don’t think there’s any need to work against it on exhale with the restriction in the cases where it coincides, since it is revitalizing and calming, while on inhale it fits right in.
And don’t sweat the little details on whether you are getting it right perfectly. Chill. In the long run, it will all just flow.
Sey