Bikram Yoga for Beginners : Standing Deep Breathing Tutorial

[@stever1791]

Thank you for all your videos . Ive watched some ( Not all yet - but I will ). I find these videos so informative prior to my Bikram class, it definitely helps my performance . but i so tell you at my age - over 65 it does take many sessions to " get" these poses correct . Thanks again !!!

[@Sohot_Yoga]

You are so welcome!

[@Bibi111ism]

As it is the case in must of the asanas, it is a matter of chest opening first and you cleary indicate it.

[@ThriveKing]

Shocked at how high her elbows went 😳lol Good video

[@blancaestelavazquezramirez2819]

Can You do it in spanish please

[@gautamsain2000]

when you say glutes locked out - do you mean to tighten the glutes or relax them ? In all Bik classes, we are told to tighten the glutes.

[@sohot-lifestyle3975]

This is a highly debatable question. But in my eyes, the glutes must always be relaxed! No matter the yoga posture the glutes must be relaxed. Tight glutes translates to tight back muscles which in turn stops your inner spine strength from elongating (decompressing) the spine. When I practice yoga my main focus is to open out. The structure of the whole body must always be 100% engaged in the process of opening out, never relying on gravity. The joints and spine must be fluid with little compression. This is how the body is designed to operate and is the foundation of all movement patterns found in all activity in life, such as walking, running, boxing, golf, dancing, rowing or pushing a heavy shopping trolley around. In none of these actives do you activity tighten the glutes. Try running with tighten glutes and you'll see what I mean. However, if you are of the mindset of wishing to see how far you can push your way into a yoga posture then contracting the glutes will help protect the spine (to a degree). Often very flexible yoga teachers like this approach which is why they say contract the glutes. Bill Thwaites

[@surfnyolly]

Great question and appreciate the detailed response.

[@ngbs75]

Does these help forward head posture and improve cervical spine posture ?

[@Sohot_Yoga]

Not sure of your question, but if you asking if deep breathing can help cervical spine problems then, yes. However it all depend on your mindset. A hammer with the right mindset can help you make a chair ... with the wrong mindset a hammer can destroy a chair in seconds. For deep breathing to help heal the neck, focus on lifting up, opening the space between each and every vertebra of the neck. Such action helps the spinal fluid get in and build the supporting muscles. Simply using gravity to go back is NOT going to help ... at all!

[@judylindow2739]

Is ujjayii breathing used on the in this Bikram deep breathing (pranayama) exercise?

[@Sohot_Yoga]

Yes, you constrict the throat in the same way you do in Ujjayi breathing. Bikram deep breathing is similar to Ujjayii breathing in that it sharpens the mind & body for the challenges of a physical practice, opposed to the more relaxed state achieved with diaphragmatic breathing (which we should all be using in our daily lives when not exercising).