Hot Yoga is a 26 posture yoga sequence developed by Bikram Choudhury, and is also called Bikram Yoga. According to the Bikram website:
"It has been proved and experienced by millions that these 26 postures systematically work every part of the body, to give all the internal organs, all the veins, all the ligaments, and all the muscles everything they need to maintain optimum health and maximum function. Each component takes care of something different in the body, and yet they all work together synergistically, contributing to the success of every other one, and extending its benefits."
The difference between a normal yoga class and hot yoga? Hot yoga is performed in a room that is kept 105 degrees (F) and 40 percent humidity. The classes are 90 minutes long and are taught by Bikram Yoga Instructors.
Some of the benefits of hot yoga are as follows:
- Works every organ, gland, nerve, tendon, ligament and muscle in the whole body every Bikram Yoga session
- Expands your capacity to breathe deeply and fully
- Prevents injury and may prevent or improve chronic illness
- Promotes better sleep, you may even need to sleep less
- Fabulous body toning effects
- Weight loss or gain depending on your body's needs
- Improvement in posture and body awareness
- Improve the healing and regenerative powers of your body
- Improvement in T-cell function and your immune system
- Lengthening and strengthening of muscles
- Increased flexibility
- Improvement in metabolism / digestion
- Gives the body a cardiovascular workout without negative impacting forces
- Nervous system is exercised
- Endocrine and exocrine glands are massaged and stimulated to better function
- Muscular and skeletal network are enhanced
- Weight bearing exercise will help prevent osteoporosis
- Improves heart and lung function
- Improves back conditions of pain and misalignment
- Improves flexibility of your spine in its range of motion in all directions allowing the improvement in function of your central nervous system. Better nervous system communication means a better functioning body and mind
- Helps cultivate a sense of well being and a more peaceful mind
- Integration of both sides of the brain to improve memory, learning, body coordination and balance
Today, after pumping myself up for a week, I was finally ready. Rachael and I walked into that studio and I was totally not intimidated...until I walked into the actual yoga room...my jaw dropped. IT WAS SO HOT. When the instructor was greeting the class she said to me, "And Lauren, since it's your first time, your biggest goal is just to stay in the room the whole time." Hello, confidence breaker.
Finally, after 90 minutes of learning about what sweat REALLY is, the lights went out and we were left to breathe and leave at our own pace. I felt tired, and sticky, and gross... but I also felt overwhelmingly great.
I signed up for a 7 day yoga class, and I'll definitely be doing a follow up post after my seven days are up to let you know what it's done for me. I'm really looking forward to the results.
Until next time,
Lo
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