Hot Yoga is a relatively modern practice that has its roots in the teachings of traditional Hatha Yoga and was popularized in the 1970s by Indian yoga master Bikram Choudhury . This specific style of yoga, also known as Bikram Yoga , was developed with the aim of replicating the climatic conditions of India by practicing yoga in a room heated to around 40°C with high humidity. This idea was based on the belief that the heat would allow the body to soften more quickly , promote sweating , and eliminate toxins , while preparing the body and mind for an experience of physical and mental purification .

The concept of Hot Yoga as it is practiced today, however, has diversified over time, sometimes moving away from the strict framework of the 26 postures of Bikram Yoga. Although Bikram Choudhury is often associated with the origin of this practice, Hot Yoga as a discipline today encompasses a variety of styles that all take place in a heated room , but can include different sequences, such as Vinyasa Flow , Ashtanga , or Power Yoga . This concept of yoga practiced in high heat has grown rapidly in the West, particularly in the United States, thanks to the promise of weight loss , improved flexibility , and an intense cleansing experience .

The underlying philosophy of Hot Yoga draws heavily on ancient Hatha Yoga texts and yogic practices that aim to purify the body to awaken inner energy (prana) and open energy channels (nadis). Within the traditional framework of yoga, heat is often seen as a purifying element , and practicing in hot environments aligns with the principles of tapas , one of the Niyamas of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras . Tapas literally means inner heat and refers to the discipline , sustained effort , and will to transform the body and mind . By increasing body heat, Hot Yoga accelerates this purification process, creating a supportive environment for self-discipline and personal transformation .

Hot Yoga has also been influenced by elements of Western culture, where the physical and aesthetic aspects of yoga have taken on greater importance. In the 1990s and 2000s, many yoga studios began offering variations of Hot Yoga, in response to the growing demand for more dynamic and intense yoga. Influential figures such as Baron Baptiste contributed to the expansion of Power Yoga in a heated environment, evolving the practice into a more athletic and cardio style, while retaining the traditional benefits of yoga.

Despite the controversies surrounding the figure of Bikram Choudhury in the 2010s, Hot Yoga continued to spread across the world, gaining popularity in major cities and attracting a diverse audience, ranging from beginners seeking detoxification to athletes looking to improve their flexibility and endurance . Today, Hot Yoga is no longer limited to the sole framework of Bikram Yoga and has become a multi-style discipline , offering a variety of sequences and intensities, always in a heated room, allowing practitioners to benefit from the sweating , muscle relaxation , and physical benefits of a hot environment.

The practice of Hot Yoga represents a modern evolution of the teachings of Hatha Yoga, merged with the contemporary needs of an active lifestyle, while remaining faithful to the idea that heat and physical exertion allow us to awaken the latent potentials of the body and mind. Hot Yoga remains to this day one of the most popular styles in Western countries, attracting practitioners seeking physical challenges , deep purification and energetic balance in a hot and intensive setting.

This exploration of the origins of Hot Yoga shows how this practice, both modern and rooted in ancient yoga traditions, has evolved into a method of purification, transformation, and balance that meets the physical and mental needs of today's society.