3 Benefits of Hot Yoga

3-Benefits-of-Hot-Yoga

Turn up the heat with a hot yoga class at Elite Sports Clubs! Yoga is traditionally a spiritual practice with the goal of attaining greater control over one’s body and mind. Hot yoga is less relaxing as it is more physical exercise. But why would you want to expose your body to such harsh conditions? Here are 3 benefits of hot yoga.

What is Hot Yoga?

The terms “hot yoga” and “Bikram yoga” are often used interchangeably, although they aren’t quite the same thing. Bikram yoga is a specific type of hot yoga with temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The class follows a specific flow of poses for 90 minutes. “Hot yoga,” on the other hand, is a more generic term referring to any yoga class with an increased temperature. The types of poses (asanas) and temperature of the room can vary from instructor to instructor, or studio to studio.

Milwaukee Yoga Studios

There are many options when it comes to yoga classes in Milwaukee. Convenience, experience of instructors, and price all factor into the decision where to go. Elite Sports Clubs prides itself on offering many types of yoga classes, including Beginner yoga, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and hot yoga just to name a few. All of our yoga instructors are certified with many years of practice prior to teaching their first class. Members of Elite Sports Clubs can enjoy unlimited group exercise, including all yoga classes, unlike many Milwaukee yoga studios. Whether you’re looking to take hot yoga classes in Brookfield or hot yoga classes in Mequon, we’ve got the entire Greater Milwaukee area covered!

3 Benefits of Hot Yoga

1. Increase Your Flexibility

One of the many goals of any yoga practice is to increase flexibility. What sets hot yoga apart from other practices is the heat. The increased temperatures allow your muscles to warm up and stretch much easier. Therefore, you can increase your range of motion, getting a much deeper stretch within every pose. This will also reduce the likelihood of injury. However, it’s important to note that you must know your body’s limits as it can be easy to overdo it without realizing.

2. Cardiovascular Boost

By cranking up the temperature, hot yoga will give your heart a greater workout than doing the same poses in a lower temperature. This increase in heart rate will turn your body into a calorie-burning machine!

In a traditional yoga practice, you’re trained to focus on your breath to coordinate with the flow of asanas. During hot yoga, you’ll need to exercise greater control of your breath because your lungs will also have to work harder in the hot temperatures to supply enough oxygen to your blood.

3. Nourishing for the Skin

All the sweat that pours out of you during hot yoga is detoxifying for the skin. Your pores will open and expel dirt, bacteria, and any other pollutants. You might notice your skin “glowing” or feeling softer following a 60-minute hot yoga class. Leave the makeup bag at home, and choose hot yoga to get radiant skin!

As we mentioned above, your increased heart rate will also improve your circulation. The increase in circulation means your blood will carry more oxygen to your skin cells, nourishing it from the inside. Hot yoga is a great method to achieve younger, healthier looking skin.

Risks

There are still some risks that you should be aware of, especially if you’re new to hot yoga. Please consult your doctor if you know of any pre-existing conditions that might not be suitable to perform hot yoga classes. If you are pregnant, diabetic, or have cardiovascular issues, it’s recommended by the American College of Exercise that you stick to conventional yoga to avoid any medical problems.

Due to the extreme heat and the physical exertion, you are going to sweat….A LOT. Therefore, it’s extremely important that you are adequately hydrated before and during the class. Bring a water bottle and grab a towel to wipe off your yoga mat. It’s also important to wear clothes that breathe, preferably made of sweat-wicking fabrics. The heat may also cause your blood pressure to drop. If you feel faint, dizzy, lightheaded, or have blurred vision at any point, stop and take a break to get some water. Use common sense if you feel out of sorts. Alert any Elite staff member if you need medical attention.

Check out our calendar for a full list of exercise classes at each Elite Sports Clubs location. Printable versions can also be found here.