I started practicing yoga about weekly over the last two years. I started religiously going to classes that were put on by my university. Now, in my last semester of college, my favorite yoga instructor is studying abroad in a different state. Super exciting for her! But a bummer for me as I just quite haven’t found another instructor that is through the school that I have really liked practicing with. I started to explore outside of just going to school and decided to look into more local places that have yoga. That brings me to HOT YOGA!
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Since starting yoga about two years ago I have been itching to go try hot yoga. This is when you practice yoga in a room that can range from 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit.This is a class that consists of different poses. A little different from vinyasa yoga which I typically go to which is going through the practice in a more flowing matter synchronizing your breath and flows you go through. I have heard such good things about it and how it affects the body (not to mention yoga is really good for your body in general). I went last week for the first time and I FELL IN LOVE! This is a class that truly challenges you, but not too hard. And my favorite part is that you actually sweat. Like a lot. It felt like such a good workout and I already cannot wait to go back!
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Now onto the benefits of Hot Yoga and why you should push yourself to try it:
1)Â Â Â Improves flexibility
This is true to the fact that having warm muscles helps you stretch just that much more when you are posing, and you can achieve a greater range of motion in doing so!
2)   Burns more calories – yaaas please!
You can nearly double the number of calories burned in hot yoga! I know this is true because I saw it first hand in my experience.
3)Â Â Â Builds bone density
Supporting your weight in different yoga poses can help to create bone density. This is true in the neck, hips and lower backs of folks.
4)Â Â Â Reduce stress
In the two years I have been practicing yoga, I have found this to be MONUMENTAL! School, work, and life, in general, can tend to stress a person out but having yoga as an outlet is an effective way to naturally deal with stress at hand. Plus, it is a HEALTHY way to deal with stress.
5)Â Â Â Eases depression
This ties in with #4. Yoga is a technique to help people relax and improve their mood. This is a proven way, for some, to help to reduce depression.
6)Â Â Â Provides a cardio boost
When you strike different poses in high heat you can give your lungs, heart, and muscles a more challenging workout than doing the same poses in normal room temperature. Hot yoga also revs up your metabolism and respiration.
7)Â Â Â Reduces blood glucose levels
This may be an especially helpful tool for people at risk or even have type 2 diabetes. This is true due to the fact that you can burn energy and reduce circulations levels of glucose, sugar.
8)Â Â Â Nourishes the skin
One of the benefits of sweating in a warm environment is that it may help bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your skin cells. A natural remedy to acne problems if one may have them.
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I have come to fall so much in love with yoga in general. Yoga benefits a person in more ways than just listed above. I have found I have become much more flexible and yoga challenges me in different ways than the gym typically does. I highly recommend yoga AND hot yoga to anyone and everyone. Who cares you have never done it before? If I would have never put myself out there to go to classes, I never would have known I would love it so much.
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~Namaste~