After all, is it safe to practice hot yoga in the heat? – GOOD SHAPE

The darling of today, the hot yoga, is becoming more and more successful. But it’s not new, see? Created in the 70s by an Indian named Bikram Choudhury (that’s why it was initially called brikram yoga), it was composed of a series of 26 postures and two exercises breathing (repeated twice during a class) done in a heated room.

After a few years, new classes, inspired by other aspects, were being developed. And what we know today as hot yoga was created, which can include many styles. But don’t get confused: it has nothing to do with the steam room. It’s just a heated environment at temperatures ranging from 38 to 40ºC and with a moisture average of 40%. “In Brazil, for example, humidity tends to be higher, and that’s why we have to lower the temperature so that the thermal sensation does not exceed 40 degrees”, explains Andrea Wellbaum, professor and co-founder of the Hot Yoga Sao Pauloa pioneer studio in the city.

Just thinking about all that heat makes you sweat, doesn’t it? Even more so if we take into account that the hottest time of the year is coming. So is it really safe to bet on practice now?

Can I practice hot yoga in the heat?

According to the conversation we had with Andrea, the answer is simple: if you already practice hot yoga, you have nothing to fear. After all, even if the weather outside is higher, the room will have the same temperature that you are used to. That is, if you’ve never been sick during the cold, you probably won’t now.

Those who still want to start need to go through an acclimatization phase, which usually lasts 10 sessions. The body will feel the difference of exercising in a different environment, and you may even think that you won’t be able to adapt. But after that period, things will get easier. And it’s worth the rule: always look for reliable places with trained professionals. “In class, the cardiorespiratory system is quite encouraged. And it is the teacher’s responsibility to be careful not to put anyone at risk. In addition, there are already tested and approved series that do not leave the heart in continuous accelerationbut offer moments of rest”, says Andrea.

Another tip she gives is to pay attention to hydration, when we really enter the summer. “Due to the external heat, many people enter the room with a warmer body and dehydrated. Therefore, it is worth reinforcing water consumption and rest.”

And what are the benefits of hot yoga?

There are countless! Andrea Wellbaum lists some:

“A lot of people think that hot yoga is only for the strong, but the heat makes the practice more accessible for everyone. It relaxes the muscles and helps in flexibility of the body, which allows performing postures in a safer and easier way”;
“People with injurieschronic joint problems and back pains will benefit greatly. This is because the high temperature relaxes the body, muscles and tissues, giving us more mobility to move areas affected by tensions. In addition to irrigating various regions of the body and aiding in recovery”;
“There is also a greater Fat Burning. Studies prove that practicing physical activities in the heat increases the dilation of blood vessels, causing fat to be effectively expelled from the body”;
“It can relieve symptoms of asthma and bronchitis”;
“The benefits of traditional yoga are enhanced. That includes muscle toningalignment of the skeletal system and improvement of posture”.