Hot Yoga in the House

We sure do love us some yoga, but what's with this heat? Yoga is an ancient art that has found popularity world wide, and even more so as a front-runner for popularity in almost every gym. The benefits of yoga, namely flexibility, balance, and restoration, help people recover from daily stress, find physical and mental balance in their lives, and repair from weight training programs. Hot yoga is a current trend of class where the temperature of the room is elevated, increasing sweat production and making it easier for the body to move into the postures. Here are some of the things you can look forward to when taking a hot yoga class.

HEAT: Turn it up!! It won't be overbearing, but can take some getting used to. The room temperature is elevated, significantly hotter than room temperature. Actual temperature varies depending on the class and/or instructor, but you can expect a nice, toasty atmosphere upon entering class. 

SWEAT: What happens when your body is in a hot room? You sweat! This is a normal reaction in order to keep the body at normal temperatures internally. The good thing about sweat is that it is cleansing to the pores, which hydrates the skin and eliminates microscopic junk that settles on it throughout the day. 

FLEXIBILITY: Although you can improve your flexibility with a regular yoga class, it is a fact of life that heat increases the elasticity of objects, your soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments) is no different. With an increase in heat, you will be able to sink into postures in a more effective and perhaps less painful manner. 

WEIGHT LOSS: Excess water weight can be a bane on your figure and health. Often times, especially with a poor diet the body holds onto excess water, creating a bloating effect under the skin. The release of toxins and water during a hot yoga class is a great way to rid yourself of the extra H20.

VARIETY: No true fitness goal can be achieved by only focusing on one form of training. Hot yoga is a great addition to any fitness program to teach the body to move under different circumstances. This new stress gives the body an opportunity to develop and grow in a new way, which is always beneficial. The art and spirituality of the practice does not change, only the surroundings, which can only help you take your physical prowess to the next level.