At HEALTHWAYS Yoga we teach a variety of vinyasa styles of yoga including Baptiste, Bikram and Ashtanga . Many of our classes are taught in a heated environment. We occasionally get asked what the heat is all about, so we wanted to take a moment to share the philosophy and also some of the specifics of practicing yoga in a heated room.
The heat helps our bodies warm up (sort of like stretching before running) and makes it easier to get deeper into postures more safely. In our experience, the many benefits of practicing yoga asana are amplified by doing so in the heat. Sweating helps us clean out our systems, because toxins are carried to the surface of the skin in sweat, where they float magically away during the process of evaporation.
The heat also:
·Helps us burn fat more effectively by boosting metabolism and melting away water weight in sweat
·Dilates our capillaries to boost the oxygenation of all our cells tissues, muscles, organs, etc.
·Boosts circulation and gets the heart rate up, at times rendering yoga an aerobic activity
·Enhances our immune system by slightly elevating the temperature of the body, which increases T-cell functioning
·Elevates the functioning of the nervous system and decreases anxiety by relaxing the body