My Awards

How I Learned to Love Hot Yoga

Posted by Kat Lenhart on June 25, 2009

As you might have heard in the TeachStreet forums, I have thought about starting Hot Yoga, as there is a new facility near my apartment. Well, I did it!

Before the class, I didn't know much about yoga. Let me re-phrase that... I didn't know anything about yoga, let alone Hot Yoga. I had looked online for some basics, but found the same description ("Hot Yoga is a series of Bikram yoga poses done in a heated room, which is usually maintained at a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit.").

Ok, so it's hot. I did know that much.

But what do I bring? What do I wear? Are there different levels of yoga classes at this particular facility?

I managed to wrangle a male friend into the Hot Yoga experience, and the two of us discussed our reactions over dinner. The things we took from our first experience:

Bring your mat, water, and a towel. A bunch of poses have you moving to one end of the mat or the other, and it's good to have that extra towel laid out beforehand. As far as clothing goes, don't wear shorts (my mistake)... that poor teacher may have had some exposure of my ultra-white upper thighs based on what positions we were taking. I will be wearing my loose capris next time. Bring extra clothes as well, as it's chilly once you exit the studio! You're probably covered in sweat. Gross.

We felt great. It's exhilerating to get out of that hot room and be completely stretched out. Unfortunately, it was raining when we left the studio, but we discussed how throwing a frisbee in the park would be the best thing to do following our Hot Yoga experience! And surprisingly, neither one of us experienced tightness the next day, even though our in-class experiences were different. It's cleansing, since the body is completely rid of toxins following the class.

We are totally doing this again. It's so refreshing, and hey... if you're not a yoga pro (cough cough), it's ok. You're in a dark room anyway, and who really looks that good while sweating profusely? Not the two of us, anyway.

Category: Yoga

Tags: yoga, hot yoga, fitness, yoga equipment, bikram yoga

- Posted by Dave Schappell on June 25, 2009
- Great intro post, Kat -- I've been wanting to explore Bikram/Hot Yoga for awhile; I think this is the post that's finally getting me over the hump. Where did you take the class? Was it expensive?
  
  I know that this place has been recommended for folks on Capitol Hill, in Seattle:
  http://www.sweatboxyoga.com/
- Posted by Kat Lenhart on June 25, 2009
- There's a soft opening of a Hot Yoga facility in Green Lake, called I Love Hot Yoga:
  http://www.ilovehotyoga.net
  I did their 10 classes in 30 days signup... it was the same price to do that as it is to drop in on 1 class after their hard opening in July! Talk about affordable, $20! That's my price range.
- Posted by freds on June 26, 2009
- Sweatbox has a similar promo -- one week unlimited access for $20 for first-time students.
  
  I've been practicing Bikram from about 2 years -- it's a great way to keep in good physical and mental shape, a great form of maintaining balance. That said, here are my recommendations for first timers:
  
  1. Bring a *frozen* water bottle, not just a bottle of water. Fill the bottle to about 75% full and freeze overnight before you practice. Before the class starts, fill the remainder of the bottle with running water. The water will melt over the course of the 1.5 hour class and provide refreshing cool relief from the heat.
  
  2. Wear shorts or spandex or form-fitting clothing. Think about it this way, if you were to go running, would you want to be running in a wet, baggy T-shirt or a tight-fitting performance top? You're going to sweat a lot, so wear something that will wick water. In my studio, men usually don't wear tops. Also, in the practice of the standing balancing postures, it's important to have a good view of your legs as your muscles have to be flexed and stable. Wearing shorts gives you a better view of your body in the mirror.
  
  3. Relax. Breathe, relax and breathe and relax. Take it easy, don't stress yourself out. Don't work too hard. Don't hold your breathe to go deeper in a posture. Don't strain yourself. Most people try to go too far too quickly with Yoga. Don't stretch too far, don't try for the full extent of a posture right away -- let your body grow and adapt over time. And please, breathe and relax. Take it easy!
- Posted by Ruth Mayer on June 29, 2009
- I am living in the Catskills near Monticello/Liberty and am searching for a hot yoga class. Does anyone know of anywhere within 30 miles?? I miss my Bikram terribly (my home is in CA)!
- Posted by Dave Schappell on June 29, 2009
- I'm not very familiar with the area, but maybe you can find something close on here? And, if so, invite them to add themselves to TeachStreet (or, you can suggest them, using the link at the bottom of over page on TeachStreet):
  
  http://bikramyoga.com/ClassFinder.htm