Even if you don't have time to go to a studio, you can still reap the benefits of hot yoga by practicing at home. If you want to start practicing hot yoga at home, here are some tips to help you get started.
What Is Hot Yoga?
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Hot yoga is an intense type of yoga that is performed in a hot, humid setting that is typically between 80 and 100°F
The two main forms of hot yoga are Vinyasa and Bikram.
Bikram yoga is a form of yoga that was invented by Bikram Choudhury. To practice Bikram yoga, you need to perform 26 postures (twice) for 60-30 seconds. Contrary to Bikram, Vinyasa yoga is a breath-centered practice that changes with each session. It incorporates more of a cardio component into your hot yoga practice.
What Are the Benefits of Hot Yoga?
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Due to the heat, hot yoga helps to target major muscle groups and encourages flexibility, lung capacity, and heart health. The heat can also loosen stiff joints, improve blood flow, strengthen the immune system, and release endorphins, which have been shown to reduce pain. Plus, since hot yoga causes you to sweat a lot, this helps your body get rid of toxins that have built up over time.
How to Practice Hot Yoga at Home
Most hot yoga studios are either expensive or far away. If you don't have the time or money to travel to a studio, don't be concerned. Instead, you can use our step-by-step guide to create a hot yoga space in the comfort of your home.
1) Create Your Space
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To create your own hot yoga space, start by picking a room with the highest temperature such as the bathroom. The smaller the bathroom, the better it is since it will cause you to sweat more. Your attic, the top floor of your home, the kitchen, and other spaces are additional rooms where you can practice hot yoga.
2) Turn Up the Heat
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The next thing you should consider is how you're going to heat up your room. Obviously, a lot of this will rely on the local weather conditions. If you live in a cold area, buying a small space heater will make it easier to heat your room to the right temperature. Additionally, you can use a humidifier in conjunction with your heater to create the ideal steamy environment seen in most hot yoga classes. If you're practicing hot yoga in your bathroom, you can just run a hot shower.
3) Introduce Yourself to the Workout
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Now that you have set up your hot room, you need the know-how.
There are a few resources that can be used to master hot yoga at home, such as beginner-friendly videos/books or online tutorials on YouTube. Keep in mind that excessive perspiration and dehydration might happen during the exercise if necessary safeguards are not taken. Therefore, it's essential to stay hydrated throughout your session.
How to Get the Most Out of a Home Hot Yoga Workout
Here are some tips to make sure you practice hot yoga safely and comfortably at home:
1) Start Slowly
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If you're new to yoga or hot yoga, in particular, give your body some time to adjust to the positions and the warmer surroundings. To see how your body reacts to the heat, start with a 20 to 30-minute practice. As your body gets used to it, you can extend the duration by up to 75 minutes.
2) Modify Your Technique by Using Props
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Getting into deeper poses can be challenging if you have never practiced yoga before. Attempting to get into these more difficult postures not only makes things more frustrating but also puts you in danger of getting hurt. Yoga props like a yoga wheel or yoga strap allow you to modify your poses and feel your best while performing them.
3) Wear the Proper Clothes
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To have a comfortable experience, hot yoga requires you to wear sweat-wicking clothes that are not too baggy or heavy. Although many people prefer to practice in minimal clothing, wear whatever feels most comfortable to you as long as the material is not excessively thick.
Summary
Hot yoga has a number of benefits, including lowered stress levels, improved balance, and flexibility. By practicing hot yoga at home, you can profit from these benefits whenever you want without having to go to a studio.
Do you have trouble easing into challenging yoga poses? Try using yoga props. Shop at Acupoint for yoga gear that you can use for your at-home practice.
