Okay, I have to admit, hot yoga originally sounded like my absolute worst nightmare — as someone with a water bottle always attached to her side, I never wanted to feel hot and thirsty. My opinions, now obviously unfair, were always negative towards Bikram yoga. I couldn’t justify putting myself in an 104 degree room for 90 minutes. I would think: who in their right mind would subject their body and their time to a torturous and intense workout that leaves you gasping for air and limitless amounts of H2O?

As you may as have guessed, this all changed once I actually participated in a hot yoga class. After just a few minutes into the class, I noticed how absolutely therapeutic 104 degrees can make your body feel. Even more so was the sensational feeling succeeding the class. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t go willingly. My best friend, a yoga all-star, talked me into it last year and I have been searching for a perfect yoga studio here in Chicago ever since.

If you aren’t ready to fully commit to Bikram yoga, check out these little tips about the health benefits behind the practice.

Your flexibility is improved

Yeah, it’s yoga, so this is pretty obvious and no, it’s not because of your soppy, sweaty body that is making your limbs slide into uncharted positions. Ligaments, muscles, and tendons warm up quickly during a hot yoga class which allows for you to move more comfortably — muscles become more elastic and ligaments are lubricated. Bikram yoga includes a set sequence of 26 postures which allows for you to focus on your endurance and flow.

Detox your body

By practicing yoga in higher temperatures, the lymphatic system is stimulated and the body’s toxins are properly flushed. Before the class begins, it is recommended to drink several liters of water throughout the day to prepare the body, thus hydrating and detoxing before even entering the heated room. The air your breathe, cleaning supplies, electronics, and your overall environment can contribute to the toxins that are within your body.

Improves mental health

After hot yoga, I feel relaxed, calm, and triumphant. I embrace my sweat-drenched body — fogged glasses and all — and can’t wait to participate in my next class. The heat during the class encourages mental focus and concentration. Focus on breathing and posture are amplified in a heated setting and allow for the mind to be fully present.

Before you take your first hot yoga class, make sure to start out slow. You don’t need to be an active yoga participant or someone who is highly skilled, but don’t push your body beyond its limits in your first class. In addition to yoga, make sure you are healthy in other ways. Pilates, staying hydrated, and spending time outside are ways to enhance flexibility, detox, and improve your mental state.

 

Cover image courtesy of Getty Images.

By S. Nicole Lane on June 7, 2016
Nicole is a women's health journalist living in Chicago. Her sex and art column, "Intimate Justice" can be found on Sixty Inches from Center. She also contributes to The Establishment, HelloGiggles, GO Magazine, and elsewhere. In addition to writing she is an artist who works with assemblage and sculpture. She tweets at @snicolelane.