Being a UI Design professional, I often keep to myself a lot – not intentionally, of course, but due to the nature of my job. I found yoga and it did two things for me; keeps me fit from all the twisting and turning, and it also keeps me sane, thanks to the peace I find in the practice. Three months ago, an online pal challenged me to try hot yoga classes and report back to her. As a lover of challenge, I accepted and this is my take-away from the three classes I have attended.
Hydrate, Hydrate, and Hydrate!
As the name suggests, this form of yoga involves being locked in a room that is between 90 – 105 degrees hot and so you will lose lots of water through sweating. So, you want to be sure that your system is well hydrated days before the class and then hours before it to make up for all the water you are likely to lose. Drinking water is not the only way to go about it as fruits rich in water – oranges, watermelons, and cucumbers – are even better for the nutrients and electrolytes your body will need. If possible, choose a class for later in the day as opposed to mornings.
Choose the Right Class for you
If you are a yogi, you know yoga comes in different classes – bikram, vinyasa – and so you want to align your classes properly. If you are a Vinyasa enthusiast, then you would be better off taking a Vinyasa hot yoga as you are already well acquitted with the postures, deep breaths and the flow. The only real change will be the higher temperatures. If you choose Bikram yet you haven’t done it before, you may struggle through the class.
Bring Cold Towels
If you are lucky – as I am – the yoga studio will have a fridge. If it doesn’t, freeze a few and pack them on a Ziploc bag with ice to keep them cool during the class. Occasionally dabbing your forehead with a cold towel will give you some relief but bot for very long –sorry. After the first two classes, you sort of get used to the heat and cold towels become a thing of the past.
Wear Breathable Clothes
A brallete may not be your thing but it works well in a hot studio. You want to minimize the number of clothing as much possible to prevent you from heating up and feeling dizzy. On my first class, I wore a tank top and a fitted crop top because that was my usual attire, but I had to get rid of the layers within the first hour. Oh, don’t worry about how you look in less clothing. Everyone is too busy sweating it out to care.
Don’t Yoga on an Empty Stomach
I found out the hard way that hot yoga and an empty belly don’t really go together. You don’t have to eat too much – just snack on a banana for energy, some peanut butter for protein, and cheese of you like.
Also, don’t forget to breath and have fun! Namaste.