| Hot yoga is one of the many variations of yoga | | | | you experience during a workout session is highly |
| practice which involves doing poses or asanas and | | | | beneficial because it rids your body of toxins and |
| pranayama or breathing exercises in a heated room. It | | | | leaves you generally feeling lighter. |
| is one of the most popular weight loss and fitness | | | | As you know, yoga is not a purely physical practice - it |
| programs offered in Chicago yoga studios because | | | | is also meditative and takes a great amount of |
| the added element of heat allows practitioners to | | | | discipline and focus in order to carry out the exercises |
| release more sweat. The temperature in the studio | | | | and complete a session. You have to pay close |
| depends on the specific kind of hot yoga that is being | | | | attention to the breathing exercises especially because |
| practiced. For example, hot Vinyasa yoga is | | | | the heat in the studio will make you take deeper |
| performed with the temperature set at anywhere | | | | breaths throughout the session. This is also one of the |
| between 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, while other | | | | benefits of hot yoga: the deeper breaths you take will |
| variations of hot yoga will have the studio heated at a | | | | boost the blood's oxygen content and thus improve |
| temperature of at least 40.5 degrees Celsius or 105 | | | | overall blood circulation. Focus is required in order to |
| degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | effectively carry out yogic exercises while practicing |
| According to instructors, the addition of the element of | | | | proper breathing. |
| heat in yogic workouts helps participants increase lung | | | | Another variation of yogic practice commonly offered |
| function and capacity, and aid in the release of body | | | | in Chicago yoga studios is Acroyoga, a practice that |
| toxins. In addition, hot yoga is also known to enable | | | | incorporates the elements of yoga, acrobatics, and |
| participants to do deeper stretches because the heat | | | | Thai massage. Acroyoga is practiced with a partner, |
| relaxes and stimulates the muscles and joints of the | | | | and has been gaining popularity as a recommended |
| body. As with other variations of yogic practice, | | | | fitness program for couples because it engenders |
| performing hot yoga also involves doing exercises that | | | | trust and connection-building between the partners. |
| focus on postures or asanas, and pranayama or | | | | The duration of hot yoga sessions usually ranges from |
| breathing exercises. | | | | 50 to 90 minutes or so, although clients may |
| What to Expect In a Hot Yoga Session | | | | sometimes set an appointment and schedule a longer |
| If this is your first time to try hot yoga, you may | | | | session. However, this will of course depend on the |
| experience a little dizziness or nausea. This, however, | | | | availability of your chosen instructor and the level at |
| is normal because your body is still getting used to the | | | | which you are currently practicing yoga. Most Chicago |
| combination of doing exercises in a heated room. As | | | | yoga studios also offer classes on other variations of |
| mentioned, hot yoga causes participants to release | | | | yogic practice including yoga core or yogalates, which |
| more toxins and sweat from the body so it is | | | | combines the movements and exercises of yoga and |
| important to stay hydrated throughout the session to | | | | pilates with the aim of improving overall body condition |
| avoid fainting and light-headedness. However, as any | | | | and strengthening the deep core muscles. |
| hot yoga enthusiast will tell you, the sustained sweating | | | | |