Hot Yoga: What You Need to Know
Hot Yoga Intro
Hot Yoga is all the craze in yoga, and there’s good reason why. Hot yoga is derived from the popular Bikram Yoga popularized in the 1970s by its founder Bikram Choudhury. Bikram is a type of hot yoga class practiced in rooms between 95-108 degrees, and consists of the same 26 postures repeated. Hot yoga is a fitness style yoga class that uses heat, but not under the strict Bikram style of 26 postures, but open to explore other asanas and flow.
In this article we’ll explore the benefits of hot yoga, cautions of taking a hot yoga class, and what you’ll need to wear and bring if you’re ready to take this challenging class.
Benefits of Hot Yoga
Increased Flexibility & Muscle Strength
Yoga is a dynamic practice as it combines movements of stretching, balance, core strengthening and over time improves your mobility and increases your strength. Hot yoga helps in keeping the muscles and ligaments warm as you move through practice to help increase flexibility as we as increasing your strength. Combining strength and flexibility is that you stay balanced and gain the benefits of both.
Increased Energy & Vitality
Hot yoga is incredibly challenging, however feels incredibly good when you finish class and walk out the door. The cool air leaving the studio will give you an energized feeling, and this sensation is known to boost confidence and overall well-being. You may just feel a lil pep in your step, too!
Increased Physical & Mental Stamina
There is no doubt that hot yoga is demanding. It requires all your focus to maintain posture, breath, and movement in a heated room. You’ll be dripping with sweat, your heart rate will increase, and most likely you will enter a battle of the mind. The beauty of yoga is we call our time in the studio, practice. Because each day our body and mindset is different. However, persevering through class (always honoring your body first), increases your physical and mental limits. Some say it helps deal with the everyday challenges of life.
Hot Yoga Pre-Cautions
Please Note
Hot yoga isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok. However, if you choose to participate we ask a few things as safety is our number one priority for class.
Come Prepared
Number one thing: hydrate BEFORE, during, and after class! Coffee is NOT recommended prior to class as the stimulant may lead to nausea or dizziness. Be sure to eat lightly at least 20-30 minutes prior to class. Suggestions are: salads, nuts, smoothie, or apples with nut butter.
Next, arrive early to acclimate to the heated room. This way you can set up and get used to the higher temperatures. After setting up, you can simply lay in shavasana or a simple seated pose. This way it helps ease into class when you begin to move.
Don’t be shy! Show some skin! It’s common for men not to wear shirts, and women to be in short fitting shorts and a sports bra. This way your skin will be able to breathe as you begin to sweat.
Honor Your Body
At any time you feel light-headed, dizzy, nauseous, cramps, confusion, or are simply not comfortable, follow your instincts. Rest in child’s pose, drink water and/or if you need, leave the room! Hot yoga is not a competition and everyone’s yoga is different. The number one goal in any yoga is to honor your body!
Overall Health*
If you’ve had any prior health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, are pregnant, or have any previous concerning medical issues, you will be asked to participate in another yoga class as these conditions are not safe to practice in with the listed health conditions. If you do not exercise on a regular basis, we ask that you attend a few of our classes prior to hot yoga. Conditioning in exercise or sport helps with learning a new discipline such as yoga.
If you do not exercise nor do yoga regularly, we suggest that you attend our Align & Refine, Hatha, Iygengar or Yoga Flow Classes a few times, then progress to the Vinyasa Flow and Power classes. This will help begin to condition your body, help you learn yoga in a slow pace, help you access your breath, and proper alignment.
Let’s Hot Yoga!
If you have any questions about participating in hot yoga, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help guide you. If you’re ready, sign up today as our members will have priority over walk-ins as space is limited!
