Yoga has become a very popular activity used as a form of exercise and meditation due to its incredible benefits. Did you know there is a type of yoga known as hot yoga? Continue reading for more information
What is hot yoga?
It consists of practicing yoga in a room with a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity level of 40 percent. The purpose of this activity in a hot, humid room is increasing heart rates while working out and the heat allows muscles to loosen.
What are the benefits of hot yoga?
A study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that hot yoga has more benefits than a regular yoga session. Some of its benefits include:
- Increasing metabolism
- Providing more calorie burning
- Improving flexibility
- Decreasing the chances of muscle injuries
Moreover, it has the same benefits as other types of yoga: it is able to reduce stress, help treat depression, decrease lower back pain, correct bad posture and lower your risk of many diseases such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. For pregnant women, yoga is also an excellent exercise to improve flexibility.
How is a hot yoga session?
If you go to this class expect to sweat a lot! Before starting, you need to warm up but in this case, the warm-up is shorter than in other yoga classes due to the temperature of the room.
Then, you will start with a series of yoga postures. In general, in this type of yoga, you will perform a set series of 26 specific moves. The class will likely last 60 or 90 minutes and instead of a regular class where the instructor does the moves with you, in hot yoga, they give instruction without doing them too.
How to get started with hot yoga
If you want to start hot yoga, there are some tips you should consider to be prepared:
- On the day of your class, drink plenty of water.
- Eat a light meal before the class.
- Take with you a yoga mat, a bottle of water, and a towel for your sweat.
- Avoid using clothes with cotton. Instead, go for clothing that will keep you cooler.
If you a beginner, this article may also interest you.