Yoga came into existence more than 5000 years. The earliest practice of yoga was strictly regulated and limited to spiritual seekers. However, with time, numerous yoga styles emerged and now this ancient art has transitioned to a global phenomenon. Among those many yoga styles, there is one that stands out, Hot yoga. Do you know what is hot yoga? For starters, it is a yoga style practiced in a heated room.
Hot yoga was a form of Bikram yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhary during the 1970s. It is basically a series of poses you do in a room with temperatures increased up to 105 degree Fahrenheit with a humidity level of 40%. One reason why the room is heated to this temperature is it offers you an intense workout and the heat loosens the tensed up muscles.
Yoga experts have come up with the complete information on this yoga style. Read on to know everything about Hot yoga.
Hot yoga comprises of different styles of yoga which take place in a room with the temperature ranging from 30 to 39 degrees. Each session in Hot Yoga can range from practicing slow movements to intense and fast-paced Vinyasa yoga. Owing to its numerous health benefits, hot yoga has garnered a worldwide following.
With that said, let us check out some major health benefits of hot yoga.
Yoga experts have come up with a list of health benefits you get with daily practice of Hot yoga.
The heat inside a hot yoga room means you need not work hard to generate heat and warm up the muscles. In other words, you are better ready to practice yoga asanas and don’t need to work hard to warm up your body for further yoga practice.
If you are a beginner to Hot yoga, you might think that it would be hard to breath. However, Hot yoga includes breathing exercises that increase your lung capacity. In the long run, you need not worry about catching your breath.
Daily hot yoga sessions in a heated room increase your heart rate and makes the body work harder in comparison to other yoga styles. A hot yoga class is a bit more strenuous, but it does help improve your cardiovascular health.
Although numerous yoga practitioners think the act of sweating during a hot yoga session would detox your skin, that is not the case. The detoxification happens through your lungs and kidneys. However, after every session of hot yoga you sweat a lot and have to consume a good amount of water. This in-turn helps improve your metabolism and flushes out the toxins from your body.
However, as a beginner, you might find it a bit confusing about preparing for the first hot yoga session. Yoga experts have come up with a small guide to help you understand what is hot yoga and prepare for the first session.
Taking a hot yoga session can be a lifetime experience only if you are prepared well in advance. The first thing is for you to stay hydrated. It means consuming lots of water before the session, during the session, and even after the class is over.
Make sure you carry a 500ml bottle to the hot yoga class. Yoga experts recommend you should not eat too much before the session. Have a little snack like a smoothie or banana to keep your energy levels up for the session.
Even during a hot yoga session, you should take breaks if you really need it. Remember, hot yoga takes time getting used to so it is best you take it slow during the beginning. Keep in mind that yoga is an art that requires patience a little bit more than skill.
Ensure you follow these tips as it helps you understand what is hot yoga in a better way.
Since you are doing yoga in a room heated to 100+ temperature, your muscles become flexible due to the excess heat. However, keep in mind not to overstretch as that can lead to an injury. Also, since you sweat too much, make sure you remain hydrated for the entirety of the class.
Moreover, if you have cardiovascular issues, then do not practice Hot yoga. Also, pregnancy is not the right time for you to enroll in a Hot yoga class as too much heat puts the growing fetus at a serious risk.
Lastly, enroll in a certified yoga school to know what is hot yoga and how you can benefit from this yoga style.
However, there is a common misconception that hot yoga is just like regular yoga. You should know there are some differences between the two.
Considering the above statement, yoga experts have come up with some vital information to put the debate of Hot vs Regular Yoga to rest.
The main difference between regular yoga and hot yoga is the room temperature at which both are practiced. On the one hand, you practice traditional yoga within room temperature whereas in Hot yoga, the practice takes place in a heated room with a slightly higher temperature.
In the debate of hot vs regular yoga, another key difference comes in the form of which yoga style helps you burn more calories. Hot yoga has become quite popular as it is a great stress reliever that also improves your flexibility. In other words, hot yoga helps you burn more calories.
Moreover, hot yoga stimulates your body to do workouts much better than the regular yoga. This yoga style flexes your muscles much better than regular yoga. In other words, your body responds much faster to the conditions necessary for proper weight loss. After each session of hot yoga, your muscles and metabolism perform better than the last time.
On the other hand, regular yoga requires you to practice a warm-up set to ready the muscles and joints for the session ahead. It is a slow process that takes time when it comes to losing weight.
Also Read: What is yoga therapy? How it works for mental health?
Conclusion
Do you want to know what is hot yoga? Enroll in a yoga school and learn all about this yoga style also know about hot vs regular yoga.
