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| Downward Dog |
In October last year, I went back to Hot Yoga. I had originally started Hot Yoga back in 2012, maybe 2011 and I fell in love! Being a poor student doing a final year project, I couldn't always afford to keep it up. So I went to it for a few months at a time and then take a break. Now I have been back for a few months and plan to stay at it, I can really feel some differences.
Positives
- Flexibility: Within three or four classes, I always notice my flexibility has significantly increased. The heat allows you to move deeper into your postures than yoga in regular temperatures. After a few months back, I am very close to folding in half with a straight back!
- Energy: When I finish a class I always feel so much more energised than I did going in. It also helps me get a better sleep.
- Mood changes: Going to yoga always helps me relieve any stress I had. Whether I sweat it out during class or meditate it out at the end of class, doesn't matter. It works!
- Metabolism: Hot Yoga or any kind of exercise speeds up your metabolism. I always have less bloating as well when I keep up with classes.
- All over body tone: I was very surprised with how much body strength I built up with yoga. Just holding one posture for a few breaths can strengthen so many muscles. My core is the most notable change :D
- Immunity Boost: I feel run down less when I practice yoga. The heat is meant to boost the immune system. I used to get about four or five colds a year now I get about two at most.
- Patience, breathing, focus: This was a perk I didn't know I needed in life. Yoga teaches you a new way of breathing. During a class this breathing helps you focus and move deeper in a posture. I noticed I started to use this breathing technique out of class. When I'm in work and I have back pain I have started breathing and stretching the pain away. If my computer freezes I've started to not get as frustrated because of this breathing. It comes in so handy!
- Detox: The sweating detoxes your body of toxins. Also many postures detox your organs of all the bad stuff.
- Weight Loss: Weight loss is a small benefit compared to all the other reasons above. I began Hot Yoga for this reason and I stayed for all the other reasons.
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| Wide legged forward bend |
Negatives
- Time: The class is just over an hour long but from the time I leave my house to the time I get home, its over two hours. Then I have to shower and with thick hair like mine, it takes forever to dry my hair!
- Dehydration: You sweat a lot in class which means you can get dehydrated easily. Sometimes its hard to get that hydration back. During class sometimes I can feel dizzy or nauseated. I just have to drink more water and take a break on my yoga mat to feel better.
- Limited times: In the Yoga studio I go to, they usually have around three classes a day. One in the morning and two in the evening. Keeping to their timetable is a negative compared to being a gym member and going whenever I pleased.
- Price: I currently pay €150 every two months for unlimited classes. This is a lot compared to when I went to the gym and paid around €300 for the year!
As you can see I was really grasping at straws looking for negatives and they certainly shadowed by all the positives. I would definitely recommend Hot Yoga to everyone! Old, young, fit, unfit, men, women, EVERYONE! I am finally at a place in my life that I can stick with it and hopefully I can become the best I can be with time and practice. Hope this helped anyone who was thinking of joining Hot Yoga. Talk soon!
Uiscebawn x
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