Is Hot Yoga Right For You?
If you are a fan of yoga, you may be considering trying a hot yoga class, because of its growing popularity. However, while many people enjoy normal yoga classes, hot yoga isn't right for everyone, because there are some disadvantages. If you would like to see if hot yoga is right for you, ask yourself these three questions.
Do You Have Joint Pain?
If you have joint pain, such as arthritis, hot yoga could be just what you need to help alleviate more pain. Yoga alone is great for arthritis, and with hot yoga, you get all those benefits plus the added benefit of heat, which increases blood flow to the joint to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Plus, the heat also helps to boost blood flow to muscles, which helps relax them, making it easier to stretch. With deeper stretches, you get stronger muscles that can help unburden those painful joints.
Do You Mind Sweating?
In a hot yoga class, you sweat, and some people don't want to sweat during a yoga session, for various reasons. However, if you don't mind sweating during yoga, hot yoga could be a great way to flush toxins. While you sweat, your body flushes out toxins through your pores. This includes alcohol, cholesterol, and many others. On top of that, it helps to remove any buildup in your pores, which reduces blemishes and pores appear smaller. Keep in mind, however, that because you sweat, you may become dehydrated, so make sure you drink plenty of water before and after a hot yoga session.
Do You Have the Time?
Hot yoga classes are usually longer than normal yoga classes, so if you're having a hard time squeezing in yoga now, you probably want to pass on hot yoga. Not only are the classes longer, but it takes more time after class. With normal yoga, you can usually change back into your clothes and continue with your day. With hot yoga, you'll want enough time to take a shower, either at the gym or at home. Unless you have plenty of time, hot yoga may be better as something you do once in a while, instead of replacing your current yoga regiment.
Hot yoga has many benefits, and it is popular, but it isn't right for everyone. If you have some time set aside for yourself and you want to try hot yoga, contact a gym in your area today to see if they offer hot yoga classes.