During a hot yoga class, many aspects come together in order for practitioners to experience health benefits. There is the heated room, permitting muscles to stretch more than usual, the poses that compress and extend muscles, and the dedication of the participants to hold each pose to enhance their energy and flexibility. But a potentially overlooked aspect of hot yoga is breathing. During each session there are "pranayama" exercises, meaning "breathing techniques". During the day people tend to ignore their breathing and only use their lungs at a partial capacity. This can lead to lower amounts of energy and irritability, but thankfully hot yoga allows people to pay attention to breathing to restore the oxygen within their bodies and obtain a more peaceful state of mind.
People obviously must breathe throughout the day, but pranayama is what shows individuals how to breathe properly. It allows them to expand the capacity of their lungs which allows more oxygen to be sent throughout the body so it can function. Pranayama also reduces the toxins in the body and aids in digestion, as with proper practice one's health and metabolism will improve. Pranayama is also a mental exercise, in which people can gain better self control. One's concentration will be sharpened so that you can relax yourself during otherwise stressful situations, and calmly choose your reactions.
Two of the types of pranayama used in hot yoga are the 80-20 breath and the exhalation breath. During the 80-20 breath practitioners should raise their ribs as they take in air, expanding the abdominal muscles as if they were about to hold their breath. The upper 20% of the air should then be exhaled and inhaled again. This breathing exercise is good for poses where back-bends are involved or in standing poses, as it helps with energy and balance.
The exhalation breathe is performed as it sounds. When you exhale during a pose, let yourself move more fully into the stance. Upon reaching your full capacity of moving into the pose, your breathing can return to normal. This breathing is good for forward-bending poses since it helps to relax the body, allows for proper rotation of the pelvis above the thighs, protecting the lower back from strain, and compressing the digestive organs for better digestion. Using these two breathing exercises will essentially train your lungs to function properly. They also work your abdominal muscles which provides you with better posture while standing.
Whether you are taking a moment to yourself during the day or in a hot yoga class, it is important to be mindful of what you are doing while breathing. By allowing yourself to move away from the rest of the world and focusing on your breathing, you can connect closely with yourself without external distraction. In connecting to your breathing and letting your breathing cleanse the body as when you sleep, you will be more fully present in the moment. Experiencing the positive effects of oxygenated, fresh blood in the body is important, and will let you return to the rest of the world more prepared to act and share your mindful state with others.
People obviously must breathe throughout the day, but pranayama is what shows individuals how to breathe properly. It allows them to expand the capacity of their lungs which allows more oxygen to be sent throughout the body so it can function. Pranayama also reduces the toxins in the body and aids in digestion, as with proper practice one's health and metabolism will improve. Pranayama is also a mental exercise, in which people can gain better self control. One's concentration will be sharpened so that you can relax yourself during otherwise stressful situations, and calmly choose your reactions.
Two of the types of pranayama used in hot yoga are the 80-20 breath and the exhalation breath. During the 80-20 breath practitioners should raise their ribs as they take in air, expanding the abdominal muscles as if they were about to hold their breath. The upper 20% of the air should then be exhaled and inhaled again. This breathing exercise is good for poses where back-bends are involved or in standing poses, as it helps with energy and balance.
The exhalation breathe is performed as it sounds. When you exhale during a pose, let yourself move more fully into the stance. Upon reaching your full capacity of moving into the pose, your breathing can return to normal. This breathing is good for forward-bending poses since it helps to relax the body, allows for proper rotation of the pelvis above the thighs, protecting the lower back from strain, and compressing the digestive organs for better digestion. Using these two breathing exercises will essentially train your lungs to function properly. They also work your abdominal muscles which provides you with better posture while standing.
Whether you are taking a moment to yourself during the day or in a hot yoga class, it is important to be mindful of what you are doing while breathing. By allowing yourself to move away from the rest of the world and focusing on your breathing, you can connect closely with yourself without external distraction. In connecting to your breathing and letting your breathing cleanse the body as when you sleep, you will be more fully present in the moment. Experiencing the positive effects of oxygenated, fresh blood in the body is important, and will let you return to the rest of the world more prepared to act and share your mindful state with others.
About the Author:
Few careers offer the flexibility and satisfaction of becoming a yoga instructor. Yoga teacher training offers the guidance and support essential to get your formal yoga instructor training.
