5 Things only hot yoga people understand
If you flow, you know! Hot yoga comes with its own set of quirks, rituals, and little moments that are hard to understand unless you've experienced them yourself. From strategically planning your hair wash days to counting down the seconds until that refreshing lavender towel arrives, there's so much more to hot yoga than just sweating it out. We've rounded up five things only hot yoga people truly understand. How many can you relate to?
1. You plan your hair wash days around your weekly hot yoga class schedule
It probably goes without saying, but a fresh blowout and hot yoga don't exactly go hand in hand. When figuring out your schedule, the biggest commitment isn’t making it to class, it’s accepting what your hair will look like after! You, on the other hand, have mastered the strategic art of planning hair wash days in between your favorite flows and knowing that you can always rely on a quick post-class shower at the studio in our bathrooms stocked with dry shampoo and other necessities.
2. You spend the first half of class wondering why you signed up and the second half planning your next class
It's the ultimate hot yoga roller coaster: the first half of class has you questioning every decision that led you into a 100-degree room, picking the heavy weights, and wondering if you'll ever feel your legs again. Then halfway through, something clicks and you realize why you showed up for your practice today. Suddenly, you're feeling accomplished, refreshed, and already checking the schedule to see when you can do it all over again.
3. You realize your breath is your most valuable asset
Hot yoga can feel intimidating at first, but if there’s one thing that’s going to get you through it, it’s your breath. It is easy to get caught up in the heat, the sweat, or how many poses are left, but learning to return to your breath can make all the difference. It relaxes your mind, takes away all of the outside noise, and reassures you that you can make it through any class or better yet, anything in the outside world. This is a tool that can be used anywhere and everywhere, and that's perhaps the most valuable takeaway of all.
4. You look forward to that lavender towel more than most things in life
You love the flow, the heat, and the post-class glow, but let's be honest… you're really here for the lavender towel. It's often the motivation for surviving Chair pose, powering through one more Chaturanga, and sweating through approximately 17 gallons of water. We can’t describe it, but nothing compares to that cool, lavender-scented moment during Savasana, and it will always have us coming back for more.
5. You know the struggle of having to change clothes after class
You just finished an amazing class and are floating out of the most peaceful Savasana when it hits you: you remember you have somewhere to be after this. Cue the panic of realizing you have to change clothes, and let's be honest, peeling yourself out of soaking-wet yoga clothes and squeezing into a fresh outfit is practically a second workout. Being an avid yogi, you have learned tips and tricks along the way of figuring out the best clothes to bring for after, but there’s still nothing better than a hot yoga day where you’ve got no plans afterwards whatsoever.
Did you relate to these hot yoga quirks?
There's a reason yogis just get each other. It's the shared experience of pushing through a challenging flow, finding stillness in Savasana, and laughing about all the little things that happen along the way. The little quirks and shared struggles simply make the experience that much more memorable. We can't promise every class will be easy, but we can promise a great flow, a welcoming environment, and a refreshing lavender towel waiting at the end. Ready to do it all over again?
