I know what you are thinking.  

Yikes! Hot yoga?  

What is it? What makes it different from any other yoga practice?  

Why does the temperature even matter? 

STOP!  

Before you panic and talk yourself out, there are many benefits to doing it.  

Now, I can go through the entire list of how hot yoga can benefit you. On that list, some of those benefits are how it could ease depression, nourish the skin, reduce blood glucose levels and build bone density. However, I’ll only go into detail on these three: 

• It Will Reduce Your Stress Levels 

• It Will Improve Your Flexibility 

• You Will Burn More Calories 

Reduce Stress Levels 

Okay, so naturally, you turn to yoga to reduce your stress levels. So why sign up for a hot yoga class when your other classes can get you the same result? A 2018 study of stress, physically inactive adults found a 16-week hot yoga program. As a result, it significantly reduced the participant’s stress levels.  

In other words, hot yoga will reduce your stress levels both on and off your matt. You’ll get through your workday with such ease and your negative reactions to life will lower because all that excess stress is sweating out of your pours during your hot yoga classes. In addition, while you are in the hot room, sweating your brains out, you’ll be focusing more on your breath.  Controlled breathing and breathing with intention are essential to stress relief and relaxation.   

Improved Flexibility  

Do you know how you warm up before a workout or a yoga practice? You do a series of stretches or jog to get that heart rate up and then dive into your workout. Whatever warming up looks like to you, it's necessary to get your blood flowing and your heart rate faster than usual.  

When you are in a hot room of 90F- 108F, your body will be warm. The heat allows you to stretch a little further. You will achieve a greater range of motion. While stretching on your mat, you’ll do a double-take because you will be stretching deeper than usual. You’ll feel like a  pro and think: wow, I didn’t know I could stretch that far!

Burn More Calories  

It’s no secret that you burn calories when your body heats up. When you add a heated yoga studio to an already heated body, you can burn as high as 460 calories if you are a man and 330  calories if you are a woman.  

The room's heat intensifies your practice even if you are doing similar poses and flows that you’d typically practice in a non-hot yoga class. The heat will also make your heart pump way faster than usual. So you are flowing through your poses, your heart rate is increasing AND it is burning up in there. As a result, let's say you'll burn a ton of calories and you may lose weight over time (intentional or not). 

Still on edge about signing up for your hot yoga class? Talk to your physician and do additional research. Here at YTB, you’re never alone and we can answer any concerns or questions you may have about your first hot yoga class. 

Tip! Be sure to drink plenty of water before your class and eat light (like drinking a smoothie or eating pieces of fresh fruit). There is a first time for everything. You. Belong. I can’t wait to see you at Yoga Tribe Brooklyn.

References: 

Roland, James. “Hot Yoga Benefits: Science-Backed Facts and Safety Tips.” Healthline,  Healthline Media, 11 Sept. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/hot-yoga-benefits. 

Siclait, Aryelle. “5 Benefits of Hot Yoga That Are Actually Legit.” Women's Health,  Women's Health, 2 Nov. 2021,  

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a26226148/benefits-of-hot-yoga/.