Temperatures go down and you start craving extra heat. Maybe you are already a big fan of hot yoga or maybe you’ve just been curious about it. But it’s not just about feeling warm and cozy. There are many benefits to hot yoga.
Here’s the obvious one (and probably the reason why many people are attracted to hot yoga): It burns calories. A high intensity hot yoga class can burn up to 237 calories in just 50 minutes. That’s higher than standard yoga, though not by much.
It promotes heart health and minimizes the risk of diabetes: exercise can help regulate blood sugar levels and a regular hot yoga routine will improve glucose tolerance in older adults with obesity.
Hot Yoga makes you more flexible: heat while stretching warms up your muscles, giving you greater range of motion in your shoulders, low back, and hamstrings.
Hot Yoga is particularly beneficial for middle-aged and menopausal women: hot yoga can help preserve bone density and slows down bone loss.
It helps manage stress and improving depression symptoms: regular yoga releases those feel-good chemicals in the brain that help us manage stress better, while also helping with depressive symptoms including hopelessness.
Hot Yoga does require more than just showing up to class, however. You need to properly hydrate ahead of class and after. (Check out our delicious and mega-hydrating stock of LMNT!) Avoid large meals before class and watch your physical reactions closely. If you feel light-headed, nauseous or weak, take a break.
Hot yoga does run from 60 to 90 minutes, so prepare for sustained heat and exertion for longer periods. The smaller the room and the more students in class mean for amplified heat. Wear clothing that wicks moisture and keep a towel close to wipe off perspiration. And if you have long hair, we suggest tying it back in a bun or ponytail.
Continue to hydrate throughout class, and let your instructor know if you’re a hot yoga newbie. If it feels overwhelming, you are free to stop, rest, cool down and hydrate. We don’t mind if you ease into it. We will help you pace yourself for maximum benefits.