I’ve always been curious about the hype behind hot yoga. I’ve done my share of heated classes and yoga outside (in SE Georgia) and some people at the studio absolutely cannot get enough and in my experience, the only classes that are heated are the fast, in your face super hard twisty arm balance poses.
Summary
- Hot yoga enthusiasts rave about the intense workout, great stretch, and meditation in one.
- Some find hot yoga detoxifying, challenging, and a way to enhance flexibility and endurance.
- Others caution about heat stress, hyper-extension injuries, dehydration, and headaches.
Raving About Hot Yoga
RainingRabbits finds hot yoga like a warm hug, offering focus and anxiety relief, especially in the Midwest winter snowstorms.
Twists & Bliss
Kayleelw shares a love-hate relationship with hot yoga: torture during class transforms into bliss post-class, invoking a yoga high.
Workout Fusion
Lladobrillante describes hot yoga as a mix of workout, stretch, meditation, and massage, all in one session.
For me, Bikram yoga forces focus on a way that vinyasa doesn’t. It’s me and the dialogue. The heat helps me focus on what I’m doing and helps me tune out the rest of the world. As wild as it sounds, it has really helped me deal with general anxiety. And, like hot yoga, it feels so good in a Midwest winter. There’s something nice about walking into the studio during a snow storm.