Top 10 Health Benefits of Hot Yoga / Bikram Yoga

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Set in a room with a temperature of 104 degrees and a humidity of 40 percent, bikram yoga, or hot yoga, is practiced in 90-minute classes and consists of a series of 26 postures, including two breathing exercises. It is beneficial for both inner and outer health, as it improves the entire body. Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:

  • Detoxification: Heavy sweating helps flush toxins from the body, so you get a good detox during a hot yoga session. The heat also allows you to go a little more deeply and safely into the postures because your muscles are more relaxed. The stretching, balancing and elevated body temperature helps flush the circulatory system and rid the blood of toxins.
  • Increases heart rate: Working in a heated room elevates the heart rate, which makes the body work harder. It is an intense workout that helps develop strength, flexibility and tone, along with a cardiovascular workout.
  • Weight loss: Doing yoga poses in a 105-degree room allows you to rid your body of all the water weight and some fat. You can also lose weight from the improved metabolic and digestive functioning.
  • Balance and mobility: Bikram yoga increases joint mobility and range of motion. It also strengthens the skeletal system as you hold poses to balance against gravity.
  • Increases blood flow: The heat allows the muscles to loosen up and increase blood flow throughout the body. This effect boosts the lymphatic system by massaging lymph nodes and distributing white blood cells throughout the body, thus improving the body’s immune system.
  • Increases flexibility: The heat will allow you to safely reach new levels of personal flexibility in beginner’s postures, which is therapeutic for your body. Being flexible allows you to perform daily activities easily.
  • Improves breathing technique: With the added element of the heat, you won’t make it far if you don’t breathe deeply! If there is no breathing, there is no yoga. It won’t take long before you learn to breathe in a full and controlled manner. Better breathing technique can also carry over into other workouts such as weightlifting. In fact, studies have shown that participants in bikram yoga have improved deadlift and squat strength due to better breathing.
  • Improves focus: The routine helps you to advance your practice through repetition. As you advance, you gain tremendous focus and determination. The ability to focus carries over to your daily life.
  • Promotes healing: The primary purpose of hot yoga is therapy. With a regular practice, these postures can help to heal old injuries and also prevent them in the future. This is especially true for, but not limited to, back pain.
  • Improves strength: Bikram yoga is low impact and uses many muscles you might not even know you had. Also, a prime focus is on spine strength, which is key to a long healthy life! By holding the poses and stretches for a longer period of time, associated muscles are strengthened, giving you a more complete, full-body strength.

To see more of our Top 10 lists, click here.

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