How to Breathe During Hot Yoga

Hot yoga generally refers to a style of yoga called “Bikram.” "Pranayama" is the term used to describe breathing techniques in all types of yoga. Two specific breathing techniques are essential to understand and practice when performing hot yoga. Practice these techniques to reduce injury during yoga workouts.

• Use the two different breathing techniques, and a combination of them for different poses that require balance and greater energy levels. 


• Perform the 80-20 breath. Breathe in deeply so that the ribs and abdomen expand as much as possible. Hold the yoga posture that you are performing while holding the breath for a moment.


• Begin breathing using 20 percent of your lung capacity while retaining the remaining 80 percent of the air in the lungs.  This requires inhaling and exhaling using the diaphragm or upper parts of the lungs. Continue the 80-20 breathing technique while holding the pose for the allotted amount of time.


• Perform the exhalation breath as you begin forward movements to protect the spine from becoming injured. The exhalation breath is important but simple to perform. This is primarily used during movements from one pose to another. 


• Release the tension from the muscles and release the 80-20 breath using the exhalation breathing technique.


• Employ a combination of the 80-20 and exhalation breathing techniques during the hot yoga workout.  This allows the body to circulate oxygen to the areas of the body that need it most.  These techniques increase lung capacity as well as relieve muscle tension.