The About Hot Yoga Infomercial

I read an “About Hot Yoga” article in our local Sunday newspaper that I just found simply irritating.  The article was part of a regular Health & Wellness Spotlight series that runs with some regularity in the local rag.  Quite frankly, the thing read more like a late night infomercial.  It was peppered with statements like “…high school students can’t go…at school without hearing a conversation about hot yoga…” and “…you aren’t compromising your joints, ligaments, and muscle fibers, thus eliminating the need for recovery.”  Even better is that “many regulars track caloric burn with monitors and have reported up to a staggering 1,000 calories expended in a single class.”  Reading this crap, you’d be left thinking that doing hot yoga is the greatest thing since pockets on a shirt.  Why bother with weight training, running, cycling, walking and all that other nonsense when you can just solve all your ills by doing yoga in a heated room 7 days a week?

Common Sense About Hot Yoga

Let’s dispel a few myths first.  Hot yoga is doing yoga in a room heated to about 105 degrees F, and 40-48% humidity.  The theory being that by working in a heated room, participants will 1) have improved flexibility by virtue of the warmer environment, and 2) have an elevated heart rate for the same reason.  Two very true statements.  What’s not discussed are the possible downsides of the activity.

What are some of the concerns?

High Blood Pressure/Heart Problems

Working at an elevated temperature increases blood pressure and heart rate.  If you have high blood pressure to begin with, this makes the activity very dangerous indeed.

Dehydration

The increased heart rate and temperature will promote dehydration very quickly.  This works hand-in-hand with the high blood pressure and heart problems.

Over-stretching

Yep.  You heard me.  Working in a heated room will make you more flexible because the muscles are good and warm.  It will also encourage the possibility of moving beyond your level of ability and promote possible injuries.

Bottom Line About Hot Yoga

I’m not saying that hot yoga is all bad.  I’m sure that many people get an excellent workout from the activity.  But reading nonsense like was printed in our local paper would make you think its a panacea of fitness and health.  That’s simply not the case.  Yoga, in general, is a very safe and healthy activity.  I know many people that have benefited from it, and truth be told, I could probably do worse than start taking regular yoga.  But before you start into a full-on hot yoga regimen, talk to your doctor and go for a normal yoga class.  If you can’t do the room temperature stuff, you certainly shouldn’t be trying it in a heated room.  Most people don’t realize that there’s a great deal of controversy among the yoga community regarding the activity.  If they can’t agree about it, then we poor lay-persons should think about it long and hard before jumping in.

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