Why do we practice Hot Yoga at WI Power Yoga?
Why on earth would you practice yoga in a 95 degree room with 70% humidity?? It sounds a little crazy right?
We often hear people say “I don’t like to sweat” or “I don’t like to be hot” to concerns such as “I’m worried about overheating/fainting.” We do understand all of these concerns! But let me share with you why we practice Hot Yoga here at WPY and how to safely approach our class.
1st - Why Hot Yoga and What are the Benefits?
We use the heat and humidity to help put you right into a mental state of “being here now.” Yes, there are some great physical benefits to a power yoga class and to sweating, but those aren’t the main reasons we love it. The environment of our studio creates a mental challenge that we, as your teachers, help guide you into using scientifically proven mindfulness techniques such as Breath Awareness (We’ll get into this in our next blog). Our teacher trainer Phillip Urso, from Live Love Teach Yoga Teacher Training and Rhode Island Power Yoga, says “I can tell you about the Grand Canyon, or I can put you right in the middle of it and show it to you.” Our goal is to not just tell you how to be present with your awareness but to give you a real experience of it. Yes, the heat creates a challenge, but when you focus on your breath, you learn: to settle into the heat, to settle into the uncomfortable, and to not fight or struggle with where you are and what you are doing right now.
So, if that wasn’t enough of a reason to come try a hot yoga class at WPY, here are more about the physical benefits to Hot Yoga from an article on www.healthline.com
Hot Yoga Benefits include:
Improves Flexibility
Stretching when your muscles are warm is safer than when cold.
Burns more Calories
Builds Bone Density
Reduces Stress
Yoga is a natural way to lower stress and anxiety.
Eases Depression
Yoga is proven to help you relax and improve your mood.
Provides a Cardiovascular Boost
Hot Yoga also increases your respiration and metabolism.
Reduces Blood Glucose Levels
Nourishes your Skin
“One of the benefits of sweating in a warm environment is that it can improve circulation, bringing oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to skin cells.”
*Information from article posted at https://www.healthline.com/health/hot-yoga-benefits
2nd - How do I safely approach our class?
All of that sounds pretty great, right? So the next step is to approach the class from your own mat.
A few tips for everyone to follow:
Hydrate! Before, During, and After Class!
Electrolytes are a great way to replenish.
Modifications!
We all have a body, and all our bodies are different. We do not expect everyone to do all poses the same. Take the modifications to make the flow best for you.
Feel free to ask us prior to class if you have a specific concern!
Consult with your Physician if you have a medical condition that may make you prone to overheating or to dizziness/lightheadedness.
When unsure if hot yoga is safe for you, always ask your doctor.
Listen to your body and your breath.
It’s one thing to challenge yourself but we do NOT want you to struggle or suffer.
Take breaks during class, step into the lobby whenever needed.
Come with ZERO Expectations.
Only do what feels good in each moment.
If you’re still unsure if WPY is the right studio for you, try one of our Intro to Power Workshops first! It is a NON-Heated workshop where we break down the class and poses, answer questions, and get a chance to try out modifications to make the class your own.
Briefly about how we heat our studio:
At Wisconsin Power Yoga, we heat our studio with a state of the art HVAC system designed specifically for our space. We use a boiler system with a commercial steam humidifier set to 95 degrees and 70% humidity. One of our favorite features is we added the AERUS AirScrubbers to our system. The AirScrubber “uses AERUS’s proprietary ActivePure® Technology and has been tested in independent labs and proven effective on bacteria, viruses, mold and fungi on surfaces and in the air.” These have even proven to eliminate 99.99% of the airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus within 3 minutes of treatment. (https://www.activepure.com/scientific-proof/). As we are heating our space, the air is constantly being pulled through our HVAC System and being treated with these AirScrubbers before being blown into our studio. Pretty cool, right?
We are living in a time with the highest levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the United states. Much of this suffering simply comes from our thoughts about the past or from what we want to control for our future. We are missing what is happening in the present. we are missing so many moments in our day to day because we are to distracted by our cell phones and busy schedules.
- Molly Ellsbury
