This January marks 5 years since I started my 200-hour yoga teacher training! And this year I will be co-leading our studio’s 200-hour teacher training, which starts tomorrow! I think I can safely say that while I love all of my many jobs, teaching yoga is the one that lights me up the most and it brings me so much joy. I really want to focus on bringing you more yoga content in 2016 so I can share my passion and my knowledge!
Today we’re going to talk about hot yoga. I recently received the following topic request from a reader…
“Hi Jen! Topic suggestion – you frequently post ‘Hot Yoga’ as a workout in your weekly routine. Would like to hear any recommendations or insights how to safely start practicing “hot” classes – especially tips for pre/post hydration, and any benefits or downfalls to the experience altogether. Thanks for a fun and inspiring blog! Cheers!!”
I love hot yoga. I dabbled in yoga for many years because I knew it was something that I “should” do as a runner. Hot yoga finally got me hooked. I started practicing about seven years ago when I moved to Charlotte and have never looked back. It’s a huge part of my overall fitness and has made me a stronger person inside and out. If I could make time to practice every single day, I would. It’s that good for my head, heart and body.
Our studio is primarily a hot power studio. We do offer non-heated power flow classes, deep stretch and an ashtanga program but hot is our bread and butter. As a teacher and the marketing director, one of the biggest barriers to entry that I see with hot yoga is intimidation. People are so terrified to walk through the doors for the first time. They create all of these stories in their heads about why they can’t do it.
“I’ve never done yoga. What do I even need for a hot yoga class? I can’t touch my toes. I don’t know if I can take the heat. Will I get dehydrated? What do I wear?…and on and on and on…”
I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN!
Here’s my insight and advice for breaking the barrier to entry and starting a hot yoga practice.
Why hot yoga?
Why practice yoga in a 90-100 degree room (humidity levels will vary depending on studio, some do dry heat, others add more humidity). Great question. As much as you may hear about “sweating out the toxins,” the real reason is to get you out of your head and more in your body. You don’t sweat out toxins. You sweat out water, salt and electrolytes. Does it feel good sometimes to sweat a ton when you’re feeling especially water-logged and bloated? Yes, absolutely. But you’re not eliminating toxins.
The real purpose behind the heat is to provide a distraction from the thoughts in your head and what’s going on in the world outside. When you are drenched in sweat and focused on maintaining your breath and posture, you can’t do much thinking about other stuff. It helps the mind not to wander. Also, the heat provides assistance in warming your muscles so that you can move a little deeper into the postures. That said, mindfulness and awareness of how your body is feeling is still crucial and it’s important not to get a false sense of openness and push too hard.
What should I wear to class?
I recommend comfortable, sweat-wicking/dry-fit, fitted clothing. You can find this type of clothing for all budgets. Look anywhere from Target to to Lululemon…and many places in between! Here in Charlotte, I love The Track & Field Store for functional and fashionable hot yoga gear. I’ll do a post with my staple/favorite yoga apparel soon.
Hot yoga is not the time to wear your baggy sweats and t-shirts. Avoid cotton clothing because it will become extremely heavy and water-logged and avoid really loose clothing because it can get cumbersome in dealing with both sweat and it flying up and moving around while you’re practicing.
If you feel comfortable, guys can go shirts off and girls can go sports bra only. I also like to practice in shorts. A headband can also be helpful for keeping sweat and hair out of your face.
What should I bring to class?
A yoga mat, a hand towel, a water bottle, a mat towel and an open mind. Start out with any mat that you have available (or rent one at the studio). Once you’re ready to invest, I recommend the Manduka Pro or ProLite mats.
Mat towels are a MUST in hot yoga and are a game changer for not slipping on your mat. Again, many studios have these available to rent but once you’re ready to invest in your own, consider a YogiToes or Manduka eQua mat towel. I promise these are 100% worth the investment.
Leave your keys, bags, shoes, phones, personal belongings and self-doubt outside of the studio!
How do I survive class?
1) Child’s pose is your home base and safe place.
If at ANY TIME you are feeling overwhelmed or like you need a break, take child’s pose. No teacher will EVER, EVER, EVER judge you for taking child’s pose and it’s likely you’ll get a nice back rub while you’re there.
2) Try to stay in the room, but leave if you have to. Have you ever heard stories about teachers locking students in a hot room and not allowing them to leave? That’s a little extreme (more common in Bikrim yoga) but not the normal. Staying in the room is beneficial, even if you have to sit in a cross-legged position and observe class or stay in child’s pose. This allows your body to acclimate to the heat. But if you need to step out, don’t stress! Get some air and come back in.
3) BREATHE. Breath first, posture second. If you’re not breathing properly, your body will react. The breath calms the body so deep breaths first, deeper postures second.
4) Monkey see, monkey do. Your instinct will be to set up shop in the back corner of the room but that’s the worst place you can position yourself! Try to practice in the middle of the room so that no matter what direction you look in, there’s someone to see and mimic. The first few classes you will feel like “what is this secret language and how do all of these people know it?” but with every class you will quickly pick up more and more on the yoga lingo and postures.
5) Remember that every single person in that classroom once endured their first hot yoga class.
How will I feel?
You may experience a range of physical and emotional feelings and this is totally normal. When I walked out of the first hot yoga class that truly hooked me, I seriously felt high. But during the class I went through a ton of feelings from self-consciousness to physical shaking (what are my muscles doing and why are they shaking like that!?) to nausea (oh my god my heart is going to beat out of my chest) to elation to tears (watch out for those hip openers).
Everyone’s experience is so different. Just remember that it may take you a while to acclimate to both the postures and the heat. It probably took me a good 2-3 months before I could get through a practice without being pushed to my absolute edge. In the beginning, I sometimes experienced mild nausea and headaches after class, this is mostly learning how to hydrate.
How do I hydrate?
Proper hydration is a huge piece of the key to success with hot yoga. And you can’t just chug a bunch of water during class, PRE-HYDRATION is where it’s at. You’ve heard that whole thing about “if you’re thirsty then you’re already on your way to dehydration” right? This is especially true for hot yoga. Make sure that you drink plenty of water in the hours before class. During class I recommend drinking an electrolyte replacement drink, especially if you are a heavy sweater. My favorite is Ultima (grape is my flavor of choice). I put a scoop in my water bottle, give it a shake and I’m good to go. Remember, you’re sweating out water, salt and electrolytes so it’s important to replace all three.
On a related note, it is advised NOT to eat before practicing hot yoga. I’m sure you can imagine why a heavy meal and sweating and twisting in a hot room is not advised. If you need a light snack, try fruit, almonds, a green juice, a light smoothie but avoid heavy meals within 3-4 hours of practicing until you know how your body will react.
Closing thoughts.
Like everything in life, hot yoga isn’t for everyone. Give it more than one chance but if you just don’t enjoy it, don’t do it! There are SO MANY amazing styles of yoga to explore and I firmly believe there is one for everyone.
But watch out, if the bug bites…it bites hard! In the first few years of my practice I would physically crave the practice and count down the minutes at my desk until I was on my mat. It’s an exhilarating practice of learning how strong you are and how much you are capable of.
Hot yoga…love it, not so much or never tried it? If you love it, why? If not, why? And if you’re one who hasn’t tried it, what’s holding you back?
As always, I would love to answer any other questions you might have or provide insights.
*Backbend, teaching and class photos are courtesy of my amazingly talented friend and photographer, Wanda Koch.
Hi Jen – This is a great post especially since I would like to re-introduce hot yoga back into my life. A few years ago I was really in a good groove when it came to my hot yoga practice, and that feeling of craving you described was exactly what I was feeling too. Until I had a really bad class, felt dizzy, extreme nausea and almost blacked during the class…since then I have never been back. I have been trying to build up the courage to give it another try for quite a while and I think after reading your post I will. Proper hydration and nutrition before a class was always something I wondered about so thanks for your insight. Looking forward to reading more yoga related posts from you in the future!
Nutrition and hydration will play a huge part in how you feel during class! You also have to keep in mind that your body will feel different every time you come to your mat. You’ll have days where you feel great and days where you don’t. That’s why I always talk about how important it is to listen to your body! I hope you’re able to get back into it!
ah, this came at the perfect time! i used to be in a great groove of hot yoga 1-2x a week and one day, maybe two years ago, i received bad news during class. i have only been back 1-2x since…i have been considering my triumphant return for a loooong time…think i’m finally ready!
generally i love hot yoga and i think you are spot on. it does take some time. in my area they have meet the heat workshops where over time they increase the heat and give plenty of breaks so its less intimidating which i think is awesome. its always odd to me that sometimes the same temp feels so much different. this AM i looked over at the temperature thing on the wall and was convinced it was already at upper 80s or 90 (i got at 530 AM so the room isnt fully hot when we first get there) but it was 77 ! and i was already sweating. other days 77 would have me freezing ! i’ve heard its due to stress or even what you’ve eaten but its always funny to me that sometimes it seems hotter than normal.
I love that idea of adjusting to the heat! The room will definitely feel different based on what and when you eat. Part of the reason I’ve scaled back on smoothies is because I’m always cold! How hot the room feels can also have a lot to do with the humidity.
What a great post, Jen. Before reading this I had never even considered taking a hot yoga class but now I’m determined to try one out. Thanks!
It makes me so happy to hear that! 🙂
Love hot yoga!
Looking forward to more yoga content in 2016!!!!!
Jen-this is a fantastic post! I did hot yoga for years (a few at the old Y2) but after a few stressful years in my life which brought some weight gain and a general feeling of being out of shape and feeling blah- I moved more to a restorative practice-something I had only done in a blue moon, as an avid hot yoga and ashtanga taker. I am slowly getting back into shape taking barre classes and hot yoga is again something I have been thinking about. Your informative post has me excited to hopefully get back to to a little stronger flow class soon. Since I’ve only taken restorative I may do some non heated flow to start and then see how I feel with the heat. I like the prehydration advice, I definitely did NOT do that in the past. I’m feeling stronger, and healthier by the day, and I agree there is yoga for everyone, and as life ebbs and flows, so does your yoga at times, the important thing is to choose a style that fits your life at the moment. Hope to see you at Y2 soon!
I’d love to see you at the studio soon!
I love the mental clarity of hot yoga, I just wish it fit in my budget !
You might be able to find some free or donation based classes where you live! Charlotte has at least a few classes that happen regularly that are either free, donation based, or only $5.
This is an excellent post for hot yoga newbies!! 🙂 I’m definitely sharing it with those that need it 🙂
Thank you!!
Great post. I really appreciated the information.
I’ve been doing occasional studio yoga classes for the past year. I’ve done yoga at home with DVDs because my schedule never allowed me to go to classes.
I’ve shied away from hot yoga because of my asthma. It doesn’t do well in heat. Have you ever dealt with anyone with that problem?
It depends on the severity of the asthma. I have a friend and fellow teacher who has asthma and has no problem with hot yoga at all. It’s hard to know until you give it a shot!
Jen, my first hot class ever was at Y2 yoga. When I was living in Athens I needed to go to Charlotte for a day, and I emailed you to see if you had any tips. You recommended taking a class at Y2. I grew up in a place where yoga was a little bit “snobby”, and I was nervous… but the experience at Y2 changed my life. I have never felt so welcomed. A lot of other students in the class said hi to me and introduced themselves. During the practice I felt strong, and like I was part of something bigger than myself, if that makes sense. Then, the most amazing thing happened at the end: several people came up to me and said, “hey are you new? Great job. Please come back”. I loved that
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m so glad you liked Y2! That’s exactly the kind of experience we hope our students have.
Hello Jen. First I have been a long time reader and I have gotten so much from reading you – recipes, workouts, inspiration, golden retriever pics (btw there can never be too many!!!!) but I wanted to actually comment here because I just signed up, thanks to you, for my first hot yoga class! It’s tomorrow morning. I’ve nervous but excited. Thank you for all of your inspiration!
– a daily reader and fan
Thanks so much for commenting and for your feedback!! I hope you enjoy the class!
Thanks for this Jen! I was a bit rusty with hot yoga and needed a bit of refresher info 🙂
You’re welcome!
I’ve shared in blog comments before — but your blog is one of the major catalysts for my trying yoga. Last January I committed to 2x/week for the first quarter of the year. I said I’d let myself reassess at March 1… Well March 2 I set up my automatic unlimited monthly plan at my studio. I LOVE yoga. I ended up doing 60 days straight at one point. I haven’t given up running but now run 3x/week and occasionally fit in sculpt classes and add in a little weight lifting here and there. I feel more peaceful, believe if myself and give myself a little more grace. I learned how to BREATHE!? How funny it all is when I thought I was just going to gain more flexibility and try something new.
I know! Most people start practicing because they’re looking for the physical benefits and then the practice creates change they didn’t expect at all!
Fascinating insight into a style of yoga I haven’t tried yet, mainly because I like to take the practice at my own pace, and while I love the warmth in general, warm air doesn’t suit me while I exercise, I like fresh breeze, even practicing outside (weather permitting) or at least by an open window.
I feel about kundalini yoga the way you described how you felt counting minutes to your practice. It’s the kind of yoga that has such a deep effect on me, when I don’t do it for a while, I literally get a sobbing fit half way through practice, most often when doing active meditation. It’s an amazing feeling, like connecting to the primordial soup, and feeling the love and embrace of the universal mother. As you can tell, a lot of yoga for me happens in my head, and meditation is a really big part of it for me. I’m going to attempt a 40 – day kriya practice soon, focusing on the throat chakra, to help me with my writing, and staying true and positive.