I recently started doing hot yoga consistently, and it's amazing for my body.

As soon as you walk in the room, it is uncomfortably hot at 105 degrees and you want to walk right out, but when you lay on your mat you become so relaxed the heat no longer seems to matter.

You begin with two relaxing breathing exercises, to get in touch with your inner body. You continue with 26 poses that will take you through the 60 to 80 minutes of your practice. The heat creates a sense of relaxation in your muscles and allows you to enter into a much deeper stretch.     

People may ask, "wWy do hot yoga when you can do yoga without the uncomfortable heat?"  Well, hot yoga, also known as Bikram yoga, helps stimulate general and mental health. It is extremely meditative and an amazing source of cardio.       

According to Lululemon Athletica, “Some benefits students of Bikram yoga enjoy, include enhanced flexibility, successful recovery from injury (due to deep stretching), and the endless flushing of toxins due to increased perspiration.”     

The heat can be overwhelming for beginners, however, with a few classes it becomes tolerable and even turns into a pleasurable sensation. You must stay hydrated before, during and after class! Hydration is extremely important in order to not become dizzy during the class.       

Expect to sweat in places you never thought you could. There will be people of all levels in the class so, if you are a beginner, do not be afraid to get in there! The most important thing is to listen to your body throughout the class. If you become overwhelmed, don’t push yourself too hard. Relax when your body needs to.       

Being inside of a meditative environment, with the warmth and other students there to better themselves, is a wonderful thing. The nice part is, that unlike any other group activity, there is no competitiveness, only a drive to push yourself to be better for your own good.       

I highly recommend trying a class or two because it will leave you feeling energized and relaxed for the whole day. =You will soon become a yoga fanatic like me! Namaste.