6 Health Benefits Of Hot Yoga (So Get Ready To Sweat)
Bikram yoga has its own special health benefits.
Pexels If you’re one of the more than 36 million Americans who practice yoga (according to a 2016 survey conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance), then you’ve likely tried, or at the very least considered, hot yoga.
So, what is hot yoga?
Hot yoga, also known as Bikram yoga, is a 90-minute class consisting of a series of 26 poses performed in a studio heated to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 40 percent. And it’s the heat that typically keeps people at arm’s length.
Some also question whether hot yoga is any different than “regular” yoga in terms of health benefits. One study published in January 2018 in Experimental Physiology suggested that it’s the physical practice of yoga that’s good for you, not the heat.
1. Increase in flexibility, leg strength and balance
According to a 2008 study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, young adults who attended three Bikram classes a week for eight weeks showed improvements in flexibility, leg strength and balance — more specifically, the ability to balance on one leg. This makes sense considering how many yoga poses and sequences of poses, such as the Sun Salutation, are known to strengthen and tone your body.
2. It’s good for the heart
Hot yoga may be good for the heart, according to a 2015 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Australian researchers studied healthy young adults, some of whom showed a decrease in arterial stiffness. Researchers also studied a small group of older participants who showed a decline in insulin resistance.
Another study, published in 2013 by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, saw similar results regarding arterial stiffness. The study also found that insulin resistance declined among a small group of older participants who did Bikram yoga.
3. It reduces stress
In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 51 adults between the ages of 20 and 54 reported less stress after doing 20 Bikram classes over the course of eight weeks. Participants also showed improved mindfulness, suggesting that hot yoga positively affects psychological and physical health.
4. It’s good for your bones
“Hot yoga is actually really good for your bones,” Dr. Gordon MacGregor, one of the two professors at the University of Alabama in Huntsville who published research in 2017 titled “Calcium Lost Through Sweat: Is There Evidence of Bone Remodeling Due to Cutaneous Calcium Loss During Bikram Hot Yoga?” said in a statement.
MacGregor and Dr. Shannon Mathis studied eight premenopausal women with a mean age of 47.4 years who had practiced hot yoga for about two years. Not only did it show that “only just a little bit of calcium is lost” during hot yoga, but Bikram yoga also “appears to be a safe practice for premenopausal women,” Mathis said in the statement. “We still recommend that fluid, sodium and calcium are replenished after hot yoga practice.”
5. It improves your mood and decreases anxiety
According to The Washington Post, Casey Mace Firebaugh, a public health researcher at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, surveyed 700 people in an ongoing study and found that 48 percent of participants said hot yoga improved their mood. Further, 47 percent reported improved flexibility, 34 percent felt less anxiety and 33 percent reported clearer skin.
6. It can possibly lower blood pressure.
A 2016 study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that raising one’s body temperature via regular sauna use could lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. There might be a case for hot yoga providing the same benefits, but this has not been studied directly.
Ready to give hot yoga a go?
While hot yoga does have its health benefits — major weight loss not one of them, unfortunately — there are a few things to keep in mind before you head to your first class: Know your limits, know when to take a break and, most importantly, stay hydrated.
“Everyone is encouraged to drink at least eight glasses of fluids per day in general,” Kamala Nayeli, Director of Spa & Wellness at Hotels & Resorts of Halekulani, tells SheKnows. “When you exercise, this amount should increase by two to three cups. If you raise your core temperature or partake in a hot yoga class, I would [also] recommend including a small dose of salt prior to the class. Or have a natural ‘sports drink’ that will replenish the sodium you lose when sweating.”
So, if you’ve been considering trying out hot yoga for health and wellness, now’s as good a time as any. And, like everything else, if you don’t feel well during the class, just excuse yourself and sit for a moment or head out. (At least you’ll have tried it!)
Kristine Cannon is a writer and fitness enthusiast who focuses on health and wellness. For more of her fitness and health content, visit her on Twitter.