Heart Rate & Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga takes place in a hot room, typically above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. As a warm-blooded mammal, your body works to maintain a relatively stable internal temperature, approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. During a bikram class, your body will attempt to cool itself through a variety of mechanisms. While you may experience a myriad of health benefits from the exercise, one parameter is certain -- your heart rate will increase from the heat.

Heat and Body Temperature

According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, or CCOHS, most people feel comfortable when the air temperature is between 68 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the when relative humidity ranges from 35 to 60 percent. When the temperature or humidity rise above these levels, you may feel uncomfortable, but you are typically not in danger. If your body is able to cope with the heat, you will not be adversely affected. If your body is overwhelmed -- if you are dehydrated and exposed for extended periods of time -- you may experience a variety of serious and possibly fatal conditions.

Heat and Your Heart

In hot conditions, temperature sensors in your skin signal your brain to send more blood to the blood vessels under your skin to regulate your internal temperature. With more blood in your skin, less is going back to your heart. This process causes your heart rate to increase and cardiac output to decrease. The amount of beats per minute speeds up, and the amount of blood your heart sends out -- your stroke volume -- is lower.

Bikram Yoga

The bikram style of yoga was developed to encourage your body to become warm, and more flexible, as well as to sweat to speed the release of toxins from your body. True bikram yoga is performed at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, but many facilities cannot provide that much heat. Rooms are often heated to 80 degrees or higher. Performing the 26 postures associated with bikram for approximately 90 minutes is both an aerobic and weight-bearing workout. Add the warm or hot room temperature, and you will see an increase in your heart rate.

Influencing Factors

How much your heart rate increases depends on a variety of factors. Your overall physical condition, hydration and energy levels will play a role in how your body adapts to this warm environment. If you are dehydrated, for example, you have a lower overall blood volume. Dehydration also contributes to lower cardiac output. Medications can also complicate normal processing in hot environments. Vasoconstrictors and beta blockers inhibit the body's ability to send blood to the skin for cooling. If you are taking these medications, are in poor physical condition, have a heart condition or are dehydrated, your heart will experience more stress during physical activity -- particularly in extreme hot or cold environments.