Hiya babes! It’s another beautiful summer week here at Retreat Ranch. Although it’s still early, I’ve started making preliminary plans for our yoga retreat in Destin, Florida from 29 September to 2 October, later this year. I always get so excited when putting these retreats together because I love meeting you, your friends and family in person. For me, it’s the ultimate full circle moment. Anywho, recently, an employee on our corporate side of the business asked me about hot yoga. She wanted to know if it was worth ponying up the extra cost to attend a class. Now, I can’t speak to someone’s budget, but if it allows for hot yoga, then you should DEFINITELY give it a try. Let’s get into the benefits of hot yoga!
Hot Yoga You Say?
Hot Yoga is an in-studio class where vigorous yoga is performed in a very hot and sometimes humid setting. The studio’s temperature is deliberately kept high for the duration of the class. This type of class is a more fitness-oriented type of yoga, as a main goal for its aficionados is to get those calories burning while taking their flexibility to new limits (although there are exceptions to this, where even gentle yoga is mildly warmed).
Usually, the room is kept at a warm and toasty (erm, lightly crisped?) 80 F to 105 F; many studios maintain 40 per cent humidity (though some use infrared heat, which is a different hot altogether). Movements consist of intensive postures while the persistent sweating helps activate your muscles – even those secret ones you didn’t know were there! I’ll happily sign-up or teach a hot yoga class any day. I relish in the high heat atmosphere because it increases my stretches and over all flexibility.
Just as with regular yoga, there are different types of hot yoga classes. There’s Bikram yoga, Heated Vinyasa yoga and hot power yoga which pulls from Ashtanga yoga. Really, it comes down to your own personal preference of yoga asanas. We even talk about many different types in our Online Yoga Teacher Training program.
Hot Yoga, Torture or Release?
There are a few pros and cons in hot yoga. The most important rule when attending any of these sessions is to listen to your body, even more than normal. Remember, practicing yoga in a very hot room increases muscle flexibility and the heat alters your perception of what your body can handle. Injuries tend to happen when a yogi gets caught up in the heat of the moment (hehe) and pushes themselves into deeper postures and poses than they can physically handle.
However, when practiced in tune with your body, it offers your body a unique state of bliss. The intense muscle contracting and stretching postures in the hot space allows your body to breathe deeply and exhale. What’s more, the demanding nature of the class increases your heart rate and allows your body to exercise in a different way.
Now the truth is, hot yoga isn’t for everyone. I recommend persons with dehydration problems; heart disease; and heat-related issues (think heat stroke and heat tolerance) avoid these classes. In truth, you should be cleared by your doctor if you have any medical concerns at all. The stresses of the environment work counterintuitively to what your body can handle. There are much safer alternatives that work with your specific needs.
However, if you know you’re mentally and physically able to handle it, be sure to bring a big bottle of water (with extra electrolytes thrown in), stay hydrated through-out the class and push your body in a meaningful but non-harmful way.
See ya next week and share in the comments below your own experience with hot yoga!
