Hot yoga may seem like a very intense workout – or at the very least, a very wet one. You’re not entirely wrong about that. Having been around for years, hot yoga packs a lot of benefits physically, mentally, and even spiritually. If you’ve ever thought about what it would be like to exercise in a steam room, hot yoga might be something for you to try.
For novices, hot yoga is essentially the practice of yoga in a heated setting. By adding heat, it creates more intense benefits but also increases difficulty. Bikram yoga is one example, with elevate heat up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit at 40% humidity. By performing yoga in a heated environment, you increase blood circulation and activate muscles in a bigger way. This aside, there are over a dozen key benefits to hot yoga in a steam room or similar heated room environment.
Just like sitting in a sauna or steam room, hot yoga boosts heart rate and increase metabolism which in turn, burns more calories.
Heat relaxes muscles and reduces pain while hot yoga focuses on breathing techniques, resulting in a significant decrease in stress. Studies have found hot yoga also boosts one’s serotonin levels.
Enhance lung capacity through deep breathing techniques, which over time can train one’s lungs to take in more air.
Hot yoga also increases flexibility, as regular non-heated yoga does. That said, when we add in a heated room, it also helps to warm up the muscles and joints which can help improve mobility.
Working through a hot yoga session, you’re less likely to have an injury as heat reduces muscle tension, joint stiffness, and increases blood flow at the same time.
Strengthen the immune system, as yoga will increase immune cell counts and antibodies. Heat will also reduce cortisol production which takes less stress off your systems and allows you to get full benefit from the physical activity you’re doing.
Lastly, infrared sauna detoxification combined with hot yoga helps to get your sweat on and stimulates the sweat glands to open up to eliminate harmful toxin build-up.
Performing hot yoga in a sauna, you’ve got to prioritize your safety. Don’t push yourself beyond what it can accomplish. Be mindful of the body’s limits. Bring extra towels to soak up additional moisture. Don’t go in on an empty stomach. To this point, you want to have a light meal at least 2-4 hours before your session to avoid muscle cramping, nausea, and uncontrollable fatigue. Lastly, stay hydrated. Drink water while you’re in a steam room or sauna to keep replenishing electrolytes.
There are some real benefits to practicing hot yoga in a heat therapy room however, as mentioned, one must be cautious with how they prepare beforehand, their conduct during, and immediately afterwards, they should ensure they rehydrate and give their body time to acclimate to the change in temperature.
Are you ready to jump on board with your own steam room, infrared sauna, or steam sauna? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re a yoga practitioner, a manager of a fitness facility, or are a homeowner looking for a great way to get the blood flowing, expand the advantages of yoga by pairing it with a steam room. Shop yours today at Steam Sauna.