The Benefits of Practicing Hot Yoga by Lily Ford

The practice of yoga has many benefits. We all know it. What we need to fully understand are the benefits that come with a hot yoga practice. From strengthening your body, reducing stress, and detoxifying. We will jump into all the great things that will happen to you after consistently practicing hot yoga.

First comes first, yoga can always be challenging. You have to work your body as you slow down your mind. This takes time and patience. When you finish a class or get into a posture you never have been able to before, there is always a sense of accomplishment. When you add heat to the room the challenge gets even harder, and there are added factors. The sense of accomplishment when in a hot yoga class can and should be felt greatly. As you get stronger you can gain more and more confidence. That confidence will gradually start to be taken with you throughout your day to day.

Again, adding the heat makes the classes more difficult. This helps improve your cardiovascular health. The added challenge makes your heart beat faster and pump more blood throughout the body. The heated room makes you breathe deeper into your lungs. This helps your lungs over time and allows more oxygen flow through your body. Also, when your heart rate increases you will burn more calories!

Fun fact: The sweating and movement of oxygen through the body helps nourish your skin from the inside! When you are sweating like you do in hot yoga, it can be very detoxifying and re-energizing.

You can push stress to the side. When the room gets that hot the only thing you will want to focus on is your breath. It helps bring yourself inward. It drives you to feel that mind to body connection. As I have said earlier, practicing in the heat slows down the mind as you move your body. All the thoughts about things you need to do, something that happened earlier the day, will gradually leave the room. Once you are in final Savasana all your body will want to do is rest and breath, leading to relaxation. To less stress. To a calmer mind.

Another benefit you will see is the increase in flexibility and strength throughout your body. With the increase in blood circulation and the warmth in the room you will see your flexibility grow overtime, and a little quicker than in a regular yoga practice. It also increases the range of motion in your joints. Yoga also strengthens your body.

This practice pushes your limits. Through this you gain strength through your muscles as you practice consistently. You target specific muscles, meaning you will slowly watch your muscles tone and become more defined. It also strengthens your endurance as you push that heart rate. 

The benefits of hot yoga seem endless and with a consistent practice you can see yourself gradually start to change for the better. Your mind will slow down, reduce stress, and your body will strengthen. Don’t forget your skin will glow! We challenge you to be consistent with your practice. Give yourself the opportunity to take in all of these benefits. Don’t forget you have a strong community backing you at all times!