3 Reasons to Turn Up the Heat in Your Yoga Practice
by Christy Percival
We like it hot. Here’s why.
It’s no secret that we like our yoga with a healthy dose of sweat. We deliberately heat our studios 90 - 100 degrees, and no—it isn’t because we’re crazy. In fact, there are tons of benefits and perks to practicing yoga in a heated space. Keep reading to find out why you should fall in love with hot yoga—if you haven’t already.
Safety
Yogis are known for twisting and folding their bodies into strange, pretzel-like shapes. Although wild and fancy poses are not necessary, we do move in ways that we might not normally move in “real life.” This keeps our bodies healthy and functional, particularly as we age. The heat actually aids in moving safely into these postures by increasing blood flow and literally warming up your muscles. Warm muscles are more flexible than cold ones. (And hey, flexibility is a benefit in itself!) This allows you to stretch and move deeper into your body with a reduced risk of injury. (Think about what happens to a spaghetti noodle when you heat it up!)
Intensity
There is no doubt that adding heat makes even the simplest yoga poses more challenging, and that’s one reason we turn up the temp. Practicing yoga is all about pushing yourself to the edge of your current abilities (your “comfort zone”)—physically and mentally—to grow stronger. When your body is warm, your heart rate increases, adding a slight cardio boost to your practice and creating a higher calorie burn (if that’s your jam).
Let’s talk more about the mental toughness that hot yoga requires. The self-discipline of staying in the flow when your heart is racing and sweat is dripping everywhere makes you stronger in a different sense. In Sanskrit, we call this discipline tapas (which also translates literally as “heat”), and it is one of the five niyamas on the 8-limbed path to a yogic lifestyle. If you can train yourself to handle the heat on the mat, you can handle whatever “heat” life throws at you off the mat. And creating a better and more peaceful life is what it’s really all about, right?!
Sweat
Yes, your body has all kinds of processes to remove toxins, and your internal organs are constantly working on it, but sweat is a beautiful thing. Don’t forget that your skin is the largest organ of your body. Some studies show that sweat glands play a role in removing metals and unwanted chemicals from your body and have an overall cleansing effect. Nothing goes together like sweat and that ice-cold lavender towel in Savasana. And who doesn’t love that post-hot yoga glow?!
To sum it up, hot yoga might be for you if you ...
want to increase flexibility.
are looking to prevent or heal injuries.
love a challenge.
want to cultivate mental toughness.
are stressed and want to build your toolbox for dealing with “real life.”
just want to feel so damn good in 60 minutes or less.
New to Yoga?
If you’re new to hot yoga, patience might be the most important (and perhaps the most difficult) part of your practice. The experience is different for everyone, and remember that everyone brings their own life experience when they walk into the studio. It may take you 5 classes to feel like you’re starting to “get it,” or it might take twenty. Stick with it, and remember that your only competition is you! As a practical matter, stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and before, during, and after your practice. Electrolytes are also your friend. We love Nuun and Ultima.
We encourage new clients to take advantage of our 10 days for $25 intro special to get acclimated to the heat and see these benefits come to life on and off the mat. We also offer Foundations Workshops that give you the tools to find success in a Midtown Yoga class.
