Jayne Nicholls Redhot Yoga Mark Freeth I thought I share this with you and anyone who is interested....... My Hot Yoga experience! Hot Yoga – everybody is talking about hot yoga?! Why? What is so great about hot yoga? A Fitness Yoga instructor myself I was certainly curious. I enjoy teaching Fitness yoga in a fitness studio environment and love the feeling of relaxation and inner peace after a class. Still what is so special of teaching/experiencing yoga in a heated environment? What else does it bring to the yoga experience? So many questions to answer! Will I be able to stand the heat? I’m not normally the person that can stand a lot of heat and am worried it would get too much (i.e. would I pass out?!) What is so special about hot yoga? Why not just experience it in a normal comfortable environment? Which other benefits will I gain from hot yoga? What do I wear/take with me? So I just had to find out for myself after putting it off for a while, probably as I was sceptical and a bit scared too.... After a colleague said we are going to hot yoga to try it out I was scared but excitement soon took over! I really started looking forward to this new challenge/experience but in the back of my mind this niggle remained whether I would be able to stand the heat. The day before I thought better prepare for it and made sure I drank plenty of water/herbal teas to hydrate sufficiently as I knew I would sweat buckets. The day came and we set off to hot yoga in the morning. I made sure I had a healthy breakfast (but not too heavy) and more water to hydrate before the class. On the way we were chatting about the room and experience and I was getting more and more excited (still with the little niggle in my mind which I knew would not pass until I had experienced the class). I found out the room would be heated between 36 and 40 degrees C with a humidity of around 60%. The studio would provide water and coconut water for hydration and I would have to complete a PARQ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) to ensure I had no underlying health problems. We finally got to the studio and walked into reception which was very calming and made you feel instantly welcome. We were then greeted by a bubbly receptionist who again would make you feel relaxed, explained everything and gave you the chance to ask any questions. I then got changed (wear comfortable clothing such as shorts and TShirt/vest or specific hot yoga clothing) and filled out the PARQ. I was advised to take a towel and water into the studio. The towel to place over the mat to avoid slipping and the water to stay hydrated as I will sweat a lot. As soon as I entered the studio the warmth greeted me and it felt very pleasant. My fear of a massive heat wave coming towards me faded quickly. The lovely warmth enveloped you like a blanket and it was suggested I sit or lie down to start with to adapt to the heat. So I placed my towel over the mat and sat down and took in the room and the warmth (the heat felt drier than I expected which made me feel more comfortable). The room was sparingly lit which aided the calming ambience and no music was played. Other participants started to enter the room and took a seat. After a few minutes the instructor walked into the room and the experience began........ Did I love it? Yes I did! Did I faint? No I didn’t! Did I find out what makes hot yoga special? Yes I did! Would I recommend it? Yes I would! It’s a personal journey, for sure, and different for each individual. Personally I was able to work as hard as I normally do but what made it special to me is that it almost seemed easier to hold the poses and the sequences felt more fluid (the heat will allow for greater range of movement). The sweating did not hit me until about half way through the class, then it just poured out (hence the towel on the mat so you don’t slip!). I did have to control my breathing several times throughout the class but a good hot yoga instructor will remind you to ensure you don’t hyperventilate as it does get a lot warmer as time goes on. Modifications were offered constantly to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. At some point in the class you do hit a wall and just feel like lying down. The option is there if you need to, so please don’t feel pressured. The instructor will advise this too. It just gives you the opportunity to refocus and calm if necessary. Strangely I was able to focus a lot more on my workout than I normally do in a studio environment. Not sure if it was linked to the heat or the fact it was so quiet in the room or that you focus on your breathing a lot more? After the 60 minute class I felt like a newborn. My skin felt smooth, my mind was clear and calm, my body so relaxed I was near enough floating out. I just felt great! All I can say is give it a try, you have to experience it for yourself. You either love it or loathe it. I certainly loved it! If you suffer from any medical conditions please check with the studio first before attending to ensure it’s suitable for you. People suffering with arthritis, back pain, stress and anxiety will certainly recommend the soothing heat. If you are pregnant please do not attempt to try hot yoga as you will overheat which is not healthy for you and baby. My questions have certainly been answered, what about yours? NAMASTE! Blog by Diana White – Freestyle Fitness Yoga instructor and owner of Mobile Fitness (mobilefitnesspilates.co.uk) Date: 7th March 2014
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 15:27:32 +0000
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