» Hot Yoga
Zara Baker feels the warmth but also the feel-good factor of a hot yoga class at Yogahaven
Other than taking a dip in the swimming pool or sea to cool down, there is very little I do on a hot summer’s holiday abroad. Playing tennis in 90°F heat under the scorching midday sun? No thank you. So what would possess me to go to a yoga class in 35–40°C heat? Intrigue for one – and this wasn’t a holiday abroad, but a Monday morning workout at Yogahaven’s hot yoga studio in Hove.
What a great way to start the working week. Arriving early with plenty of water to hand, I mentally prepared to spend 90 minutes in the hottest temperatures I’d been in since last year’s summer holiday.
The class was mixed, made up of men and women, hot yoga devotees and newbies, the very flexible and… me. It was a great variety, and I immediately felt comfortable. Stepping into the studio is similar to the air in a sauna, but not as close. I immediately guzzled down the water, but once the class began it was a different story.
Our teacher, Niki, guided us through a series of asanas (yoga poses). The heat relaxed the muscles and allowed us to stretch that little bit further. Some asanas were more complex than others but Niki stressed about working only as far as is comfortable. What I loved about this class was that we were there as a group together, but the experience is very much for the individual.?
There were times I had to sneak a peek at my neighbour to see how they transitioned from one asana to the next, but Niki’s coaching also made this a very personal experience as she moved about the class, quietly correcting an asana so you could get the most out of the hot yoga. Focusing on the position of the body and small things like the alignment of the spine or legs made the asanas more effective.
The ongoing heat gently coaxed the body into stretching that little
bit more. Internal organs and glands were gently massaged and the heated room ensures that participants will sweat, helping
them to flush toxins out of their system. Fresh, oxygenated blood was brought into every part of the body, cleansing and rejuvenating the entire system. As for the physical benefits, back pain is eased and joint mobility and posture is improved. Also, any tension held in the body can be eased. My shoulders, so often hunched from sitting over a desk and carrying the weight of shopping bags and life in general, were eased into asanas they’d hardly been in – if ever.
Because of this, it did feel challenging, and I did ache the next day, but what a difference it made. I thought of my body as a whole and how I use my feet – my poor feet that are frequently closed in shoes that make me walk incorrectly; at last I could focus on my body’s alignment and its sensitivity by stretching every part of the body from my toes to my calves, hands, shoulders and head.
And yes, you feel the heat. It was amazing that slow, co-ordinated moves could make you perspire so, but in that heat, I did, and the yoga felt all the more effective for it. There were plenty of times I wanted to reach for the water, but Niki coached us all the way through: when I felt my concentration dropping from trying to focus on maintaining an asana in the heat, I was told to focus on the breath instead, drawing in slowly and deeply. The breath is fundamental in all forms of yoga practice, and while this felt more strenuous than other classes because of the heat, as soon as the focus was transferred to the breath, I could suddenly hold a pose for longer. Increased concentration, willpower and mental clarity are just some changes commonly reported through this form of
yoga. Afterwards, the sense of accomplishment was great. And the good news is that once you’ve experienced the heat, it’s easier to
tackle it the next time round.
Yogahaven, Kendal House, Donkey Mews, Brunswick Street East, Hove, BN3 1AW, 01273 329642, www.yogahaven.co.uk
