Hot Yoga

I've recently gotten addicted to Big Ron's Hot (Bikram) Yoga class here in Satellite Beach. I have found it to be both immensely challenging and rewarding. There are times during the class where I'm nearly at my limit but when it's all over I've never felt better. I have noticed improvements in much of my athletic performance since doing the class, especially flexibility for my kicks in jujutsu and strengthening muscles that are difficult to challenge doing other activities.

One of the many great things about hot yoga classes is that literally almost anyone can do them and derive benefits. What benefits might you expect to get from doing hot yoga? I've compiled a list!

1) Detoxification - The tremendous amount of sweating that occurs during hot yoga along with the wringing out of your entire body doing the poses purges your body of all kinds of toxins. Oils, salts, and water evacuate a miriad of other substances out of your pores and onto your mat. The result is a cleaner body and clearer skin!

2) Weight Loss - Hot yoga addresses many aspects of weight loss from stress reduction to gaining strength and flexibility. Hot yoga increases your pulse and escalates calorie burn gently and without impacting the joints the way running or other cardiovascular activities can. Some studies allege that hot yoga amplifies oxidation of fat cells as well.  Additionally, one of the overall effects of Bikram yoga is a general improvement in diet as the body craves healthier food. As the practice itself sharpens our perception of the mind-body connection, so does our overall awareness of what the body needs, reinvigorating the body’s natural processes to long for healthier food.

3) Muscle and Joint Pain - Yoga promotes joint lubrication and alleviates stiffness. Our natural ability to create lubrication for joints slows in our thirties and continues to decline. Hot yoga reverses these effects and keeps your body nimble and pain free.

4) Mobility - Because of the temperature at which hot yoga is done (85-125 degrees Fahrenheit) you can move deeper into poses to receive more benefit. You gain range of motion, prevent injury to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and heal better from injuries.

5) Stress Relief - The focus and deep breathing required to do hot yoga wipes your mind clean of all stress and anxiety. Blood pressure and heart rate improve as well as your mood. Hot yoga helps clear the cobwebs that make our brain feel fuzzy.  Poses that involve forward bending sends blood rushing to the brain which increases blood flow to brain and gives the heart a break.

6) Immune System - Raising your core temperature simulates a fever-like environment in your body, elevating white blood cell production and fighting viruses and bacteria. Your body also makes additional interferon, which raises the production of antibodies. Stress weakens the immune system, as a result activities that lessen stress also reduce vulnerability to health issues.

7) Increased Performance - Many athletes take up hot yoga to improve their levels of accomplishment in additional activities. Well-stretched muscle tissue have improved range of motion and are less at risk of tearing. Joints in good alignment are less pain-prone in high impact physical activities. The breath control of yoga improves execution in cardio and anaerobic activities.   But these massive physical benefits are just a “side effect” of this mighty exercise. Hot yoga benefits your body by harmonizing the psyche with the body and ends in authentic quantum benefits. It has become an open secret that the determination in the mind has enabled individuals to attain extraordinary physical feats, which proves definitely the psyche and body relationship.

8) Increased Vitality - If you want to gain more spring in your step and recover the “vim and vigor” of youth, the Bikram series practiced in a heated room is a great form of yoga. It has the potential to reverse the elements of aging, giving you the ability to take much deeper breaths to navigate your way through a hectic modern world or simply run up a flight of stairs! Keep up with a consistent practice and you’re guaranteed to look and feel younger.

So if you're interested, check out your nearest hot yoga class! I highly recommend Big Rons in the publix plaza south of Patrick AFB by Satellite Beach Cinemas. It's 100 minutes at 100 degrees for 10 dollars. Current class schedules can be found at www.bigronsyoga.com.

Cassandra Wyzik
ACSM - CPT
www.FitToYouBrevard.com
"all is full of love"