body: all you need to know about hot yoga
Whether you decide to try Hot Yoga or continue your usual practice outside while you’re on holiday, the world has embraced it. Not tried it yet? Here’s why you should get involved…
If you’re training hard in the gym, sat at a desk for long periods of time or even struggling to touch your toes, Yoga is a brilliant way to bring your body back in to balance. Whether you join a Yoga studio, jump in to a class at your local leisure centre or follow an instructor on YouTube in front of your TV at home, it can not only bring back your flexibility but also give your mind more focus and restore a sense of holistic wellbeing.
Let’s take it back it the start. Hot Yoga has been happening for centuries but was formalised with a practice called Bikram that was developed in the early 1970's. A fixed regime of 26 yoga poses including 2 breathing exercises were created to bring "head to toe" health and fitness. The postures are performed in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) and usually last for ninety minutes. The humidity of the studio is held at around 40% and it can be intense, especially for beginners. Remember the feeling of walking off a cool airplane in to the hottest country you have ever visited, that’s the feeling when you first walk in to a Bikram studio. You’re going to sweat. A lot.
Drinking plenty of water is the name of the game as it’s very easy for your body to dehydrate.
If you prefer less structure and not as much heat then Hot Yoga can be a brilliant starting point. With a more relaxed vibe, classes normally last around an hour and are easier to step in to if you’re trying a Yoga class for the first time. These can now be found across towns and cities, are easily accessible and not overly expensive to try.
So what are the benefits?
You burn calories due to increased heart rate and metabolism
The blood flow to your arms and legs is increased, delivering more oxygenated blood to the muscles
Your muscle tone and flexibility are improved and you can reach deeper in to the poses
Yoga is brilliant for stress relief and helping you to take time out and refocus
It’s fantastic for your skin and detoxification as it stimulates your lymphatic system
Helps to heal chronic pain such as arthritis, joint aches, knee injuries & back problems
It’s known to help you to sleep better
Things to remember before a class:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, sip at intervals throughout the class and then drink plenty when you get back home too. You can rehydrate and replenish the electrolytes lost with coconut water or sports drinks
Try not to eat too much before a session as it can leave you feeling uncomfortable during the class
Take things at your own pace, Yoga isn’t meant to be competitive so only do what feels right for your body. Remember that there is a difference between discomfort and pain
If you begin to feel dizzy, close your mouth and breathe through your nose
Remember a towel as a lot of studios will charge extra to hire one. Any home towel will do to start with but you can also buy specialist Yoga towels online that fit to your Yoga mat
When things get hot, it’s best to wear tight fitting clothes. A lot of the class will be wearing bra tops and leggings, shorts and a vest top and a lot of men wear just shorts without a top
If you have a current injury or a past injury that is on the mend be sure to tell the instructor so that they can adapt the poses for you
If you have high or low blood pressure or a heart condition it is advised that you try a beginners and more gentle form of Hot Yoga to start
Enjoy!
