Surprising Benefits of Hot Yoga
Everyone knows practicing yoga is good for you. But what many people don’t realize is just how many health benefits there are to gain from practicing it—especially when it comes to the hot yoga classes in Oldsmar offered at Flow Pilates. This physical activity isn’t just for those looking to find more balance and peace in their life, although those surely are common reasons to attend. It also isn’t just for the flexible!
Hot yoga classes will tone your muscles and burn around 1,000 calories per class. But they also have more specific health benefits to consider:
Depression/Anxiety
The postures of Bikram help to improve lung functioning; breathing is restricted to the nose which helps reduce your body’s “fight or flight” response that makes you feel worked up and out of breath. Instead, you will feel calm and concentrated through your workout. Also, the nervous and endocrine systems become harmonized which will help you gain control of your emotions, and sleep better. It has even helped people who consider themselves insomniacs, which makes sense because insomnia is usually attributed to a lack of exercise, depression, and/or imbalances in your body’s chemistry.
Arthritis & injuries
Extending and twisting your joints in the heated room (between 85-105 degrees) will alleviate any stiffness and pain throughout your body. It can also help with back and neck pain, headaches, scoliosis, etc. because it improves the alignment and functioning of your spine.
Skin
By continually attending hot yoga classes in our Oldsmar studio you will soon start to notice a “glow” about yourself; your skin will look clearer and your eyes a little brighter. This is due to the lanolin released during the workout, which improves your skin’s elasticity. The abundance of sweating cleans your skins of toxins which lowers your chances of infections and works as a natural moisturizer. It even has anti-aging benefits!
Weight loss
Some people are skeptical about the effectiveness of taking hot yoga classes to aid in weight loss. Although hot yoga can help us lose weight, it’s not in the traditional sense we normally link between working out with losing weight. This workout doesn’t help you slim down solely because of the hundreds of calories it burns each class. It also helps improve your thyroid, digestive system, and metabolism which help regulate your appetite and reduce cravings. Continued practice will also improve your concentration, which will allow you to become more aware of your consumption habits on a day-to-day basis.
With a continued yoga practice you will feel more balanced and focus seeping into all areas of your life—even when you step out of the studio. Whether you are interested in improving your cardiovascular health, seek more control and focus in your life, or just want a new workout regime to try, check out our schedule for hot yoga classes in Oldsmar today.
