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What is Hot Yoga?
Hot yoga can really refer to any yoga class done in a heated room. Though there are a few styles of hot yoga classes, Bikram yoga is the original hot yoga and among the best known.
Hot yoga often tends to be a Vinyasa flowing style of practice in which the teacher instructs students in a series of linked poses (usually 26 poses).
During a Hot Yoga class, the room is maintained at a temperature of 95 to 105 F. and set to 40% Humidity. As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at high temperatures makes the body very warm and induces profuse sweating. The intent is that the heat loosens your muscles and the sweat helps detoxify your body.
Bikram yoga is just one style of hot yoga. Other popular hot yoga options include the Canadian import Moksha Yoga (known as Modo yoga in the United States) and Corepower Yoga, a rapidly expanding chain. Many locally-owned and independent yoga studios offer their own style of heated classes as well.
What are the health Benefits Of Hot Yoga?
1. Less Toxins –
You’ll need plenty of water as Hot yoga cleanses toxins from the body due to profuse sweating. But it does feels so good!
2. Less Injuries –
The likelihood of injury is reduced because of the high temperature in which the asanas and breathing exercises are performed.
3. Stronger Immune System –
Exercising in a hot environment improves your immune system and elevates the body’s regenerative capacity. This effect has been known for a long time.
4. More Flexible Muscles –
You will notice that you are able to bend further and stretch better when you do hot yoga. This causes the muscles to get used to being “used.”
5. Improved Lung Capacity –
Like all other types of yoga that focus on breathing exercises, hot yoga advances lung capacity through breathing pranayamas.
6. Improved Circulation –
Hot yoga is excellent for your circulation It is a great cardiovascular workout. You can almost feel it while you’re doing it.
7. Improved Lymphatic System –
Hot yoga is very food for your lymphatic system, like most other types of Yoga
8. Increased Weight Loss –
Hot yoga supports weight-loss even more than regular yoga because you are sweating a LOT.
Is Hot Yoga the same as Bikram Yoga?
Not always. Bikram yoga is the original hot yoga and the best known. But some teachers may use “Hot Yoga” and “Bikram” interchangeably, the truth is that all Bikram yoga is hot, but not all hot yoga is Bikram.
Is Hot Yoga good for Weight Loss?
Yes, all yoga is good for weight loss, but because of Hot Yogas heated gyms, high humidity and fluid poses, you will sweat a lot. This burns additional calories in excess of those you would have burnt doing the same exercises in a normal heated room. You will also learn how to control your mind and body leading to less food urges.
Is Hot Yoga Dangerous at all?
It can be. There are some safety tips for anyone practicing Hot yoga.
- Pregnant women are advised to avoid practicing yoga in extremely warm or humid conditions.
When exposed to excessive heat while pregnant, there is an increased risk of over-exhaustion, muscle injury and cartilage and tissue damage. Hormones and fetal development affect blood pressure, making the mother more susceptible to fainting and light-headedness if exercising in a hot environment
- Drink water before, after, and during class.
Hydration is “super important, it is best to hydrate a lot before and after the practice to prepare and replenish the water you lose. In addition to plenty of water, we recommend drinking water with electrolytes, since you sweat those out as well.
- Be aware that exercise in any hot room or weather can cause illness.
You don’t necessarily have to be doing hot yoga to become unwell. You could even be in a regular yoga class on a hot summer day and that could be more dangerous than a hot yoga class if you don’t know your limits.
- Don’t come to a class on an empty stomach.
You shouldn’t arrive at your Hot Yoga class on an empty stomach, although you don’t want to go to a hot yoga class after a full meal either. We’ve seen a lot of people come to early classes having only had coffee… and they wonder why they’re having a hard time in class, we recommend at least having a raw coconut water or half a banana beforehand.
- Don’t try to power through if the heat is unbearable.
Hot yoga gets hot, real hot, if it gets unbearable, get the hell out of the room. Don’t try to power through, If you’re starting to feel dizzy or weak or nauseous especially, you’ve got to get up and leave.
- Know your body.
If you’re planning to do a hot yoga class and you have any injuries, you’re sensitive to heat, or have any chronic illnesses, these could be affected, so let your instructor know about any health concerns before class, and if you’re unsure about whether you can practice hot yoga, check with your doctor.
- Pace yourself.
Try to ease yourself into it, if it’s your first time doing hot yoga, and don’t do too much at once.
Much like any sort of workout regime you should ease your way into it, like marathon runners don’t start out running 26 miles… they start small and build.
Although there’s no golden rule of how much hot yoga you should be doing.
What can I expect at a Hot Yoga class?
You can expect heat, humidity, fluid poses, dance type rhythms, lots of sweat and lots of water intake. It is essential to have your own Yoga Mat when doing hot yoga since you will be sweating a lot. Yoga mat towels (or other similar products) are popular hot yoga accessories. These towels are placed over your mat to absorb sweat and improve traction. You will definitely need both. Here’s a video showing a typical Hot Yoga class to give you an idea as to what you can expect.
A Word From Yogamatsstore about Hot Yoga!
Hot yoga is considerably more intense than classes offered in cooler rooms. Although it’s a viable option for many yoga students, before taking a class, consider any medical conditions you may have and speak to your doctor about whether it’s right for you.