I’m on fire feeling hot hot hot!

My sisters would both rather run naked down main street than ever do another heated yoga class.  I, on the other hand, love the feeling of yoga in the tropics.  My sister challenged me with the following question…

“How can doing yoga in 100 degrees be healthy?”

My answer was stupid.

“Everyone is doing it.  How can it be bad?”

I have dug up my yoga teacher training materials and rediscovered some facts.

Pantanjali, was the founder of yoga, about 2500 years ago.  He explained yoga in eight steps.  Asana is only one of those steps.

What exactly is Asana?  Defined by Pantanjali, Asana is “Steady and comfortable posture or position.”  Relaxation is the key to finding positions that are steady and comfortable.  The pranic or bio energy is retained and increased naturally.  Yoga therefore, lowers the respiration rate, blood pressure and heart rate.

So what does a hot environment add to practice?  It raises respiration rate & blood pressure.  The large muscles expand and stretch more than in a “normal” environment.  This added strain on the muscles is a concern for some professionals in the medical community.  In this environment, there is always a chance that the increased flexibility is due to the ligament or muscles getting stretched beyond their natural limit.

Dehydration becomes a real threat.  Someone with an undiagnosed heart condition could certainly be in danger if potassium levels or electrolyte levels drop.  Those with M.S. or respiratory issues would also find a heated yoga class a problem.

So what is the answer to my sister’s question?

Be Informed ~ Do Your Homework! Make sure your studio is lead by a knowledgeable teacher who asks the correct questions of her students.  ASK YOUR TEACHER THE CORRECT QUESTIONS!   It is, again, up to the individual to choose the correct yoga practice and style.  We all have different bodies, issues, challenges and goals.  I won’t give up my love for a heated practice.