Hot yoga uses traditional yoga poses in a specially designed studio heated to minimum of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and kept at 40 per cent humidity throughout the 90-minute class. The practice consists of a specific series of 26 traditional hatha yoga poses. Hot yoga founder Bikram Choudhury believes that that practicing yoga in a heated room helps to ease muscles and prevent injury when stretching.
Basics
Choudhury, former National Yoga Champion of India, designed Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga. This form of yoga became popular in Los Angeles during the early 1970s and as of 2011 had spread worldwide. The 26 poses, known as asana, are designed to warm and stretch muscles, ligaments and tendons, in the order in which they should be stretched.
Benefits
Regular participation in any yoga class helps to improve general fitness, increase flexibility and improve strength and muscle tone. Choudhury claims that hot yoga promotes total health through detoxifying the body through sweat and balancing every system in the body. Fresh oxygenated blood is passed through each of the organs, which can improve cardiac and pulmonary systems. It can also help improve the efficiency of the body's digestive system, metabolic rate and promote weight loss he states. Choudhury states that "you will not get the intended benefits until it is done 100 percent" correctly.
Psychological Aspects
With all forms of yoga, the balance of mind and body and the focus on breathing during classes can help promote better sleeping patterns, reduce stress and help people who suffer with high levels of anxiety. The brief meditation phase after each pose helps to focus the mind and allow the body to process the benefits of the previous pose.
Warnings
Obtain the advice of a doctor before taking part in Bikram yoga. Practicing hot yoga can make new participants feel dizzy and nauseous. This initial feeling passes once the body has adjusted to the temperature. Pregnant women should not practice Bikram yoga, due to the rise in core body temperature it causes. Drink plenty of water before and during the class to prevent dehydration and sit out if you become overheated or dizzy.
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