What Is Hot Yoga—And What Are Its Benefits? (Health)

Posted: Apr 19, 2023 in In the News

This article originally appeared in Health on April 19, 2023.

 

What Is Hot Yoga—And What Are Its Benefits?

By Sherri Gordon

Hot yoga is one type of yoga that evolved from traditional yoga. It's performed in heated rooms where the temperature is usually between 85 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

This type of yoga was first popularized in the 1970s by Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram yoga (or hot yoga), but it has since expanded to include a variety of different hot yoga styles. Aside from loosening your muscles, research indicates that hot yoga can reduce stress, decrease lower back pain, and even help relieve depression.

However, despite its many benefits, hot yoga is not right for everyone. Pregnant people and those with certain medical conditions should not participate in hot yoga.

Keep reading to learn more about the types of hot yoga, its benefits, and how to get started.

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Keep in mind that hot yoga often takes place in extremely high temperatures, which can put you at risk for dehydration and heat illnesses. What's more, a study on Bikram yoga by the American Council on Exercise found that hot yoga participants experienced both an elevated heart rate and an elevated core body temperature.

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Read the full article here.