Heating Up

A room heated to 40 degrees with a humidity level of 40 per cent might not sound like the ideal place for a workout, but that’s exactly where practitioners of hot yoga prefer to perspire. While yoga has prehistoric roots, hot yoga was created by Bikram Choudhury just 40 years ago, but this more strenuous heated version of the ancient art lights a fire under yoga’s traditional health benefits.

Hot yoga is designed to balance the mental and physical well-being of the practitioner through a series of 26 asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises). Weila Wu, the owner of Yoga Space, recommends hot yoga for the inflexible cubicle-bound workers of Shanghai. “Hot yoga is especially beneficial to people who work in an office with air conditioning,” says Wu. “These are the people who deal with the most stress and don’t get the chance to sweat during the day.”

Desk monkeys can stretch their way to skinny in the hot yoga environment as it increases core body temperature which speeds up metabolism and encourages weight loss. It’s not unusual for newcomers to shed centimetres within a few months of regular hot yoga practice. The heated environment also makes muscles more elastic, producing a deeper and more effective stretch that results in increased flexibility and improved range of motion. “Normal yoga takes at least 15 minutes to warm up the muscles, but hot yoga heats up the muscles and connective tissues much faster,” Wu says. “This helps prevent injuries.

Other physical benefits of hot yoga include better circulation and a strengthened immune system. The circulatory system is affected by the high temperatures, as capillaries dilate and raised heart rates boost blood flow. The body treats the increased temperature as if the practitioner had a fever, thus enhancing T-cell function and improving the overall function of the immune system.

One of the more controversial health claims of hot yoga is its ability to eliminate toxins from the body. Some believe that increased sweating does lead to detoxification through the skin and the pranayama breathing techniques are also alleged to have purifying qualities.

In addition to the physical perks, hot yoga also helps cultivate mental well-being. Students of hot yoga have noted an improvement in concentration, willpower and discipline, and a reduction in stress. The relaxation techniques practiced in hot yoga also have a positive impact on sleep patterns.

While hot yoga has indisputable health benefits, it isn’t for everyone. It is a strenuous exercise that requires exceptional willpower; Bikram, the founder of the practice, is known to call his studio the “torture chamber”. Wu notes that it is typical for newcomers to feel light-headed or dizzy during the first session, saying, “After all, you’re doing yoga in a sauna!” She recommends hot yoga two to three times a week at most for beginners, but explains that it gets easier, and eventually comfortable, for regulars. Hot yoga classes are off limits for people with hypertension, hypotension or heart conditions, as well as pregnant or lactating women.