Melt away winter blues (and extra kilos!) with hot yoga

Hot yoga is becoming ever more popular in South Africa, but is much more than just a fad: it has tangible benefits for its students.

Hot yoga is practised in a heated studio, which allows for greater flexibility and reduces the chance of injury when attaining difficult yoga postures. The profuse sweating encouraged by the 38-degree, humid atmosphere also has a detoxifying effect.

Hot yoga was originally developed by Bikram Choudhury in the US in the 1970s, and it has also been proven to relieve stress, increase energy levels and focus, improve circulation, digestion and sleep, as well as strengthening, toning and reducing excess weight.

Although Bikram's style of yoga was the first to be developed for practice in the heat, studios now also offer other styles of yoga to be conducted in the same way.

Can anyone do it?

I went to a Bikram Express Yoga class at Yoga Zone in Cape Town to test these claims, and was pleasantly surprised. I haven't practised yoga in many years, and my flexibility leaves much to be desired - so was understandably a bit apprehensive about exposing my general incompetence to the impossibly strong and flexible women in the class. The Express class is 60 minutes long, as opposed to the full 90, and incorporates 26 postures.

Although I did struggle to maintain some of the more difficult postures, especially those that require zen-like composure and balance, on the whole I was impressed with how easy it is to adapt to the style on your own terms. Says Fulvio Grandin, owner of and teacher at Yoga Zone, "We support you at your own pace for your own body, because everybody’s journey is unique."

If any of the postures proved too difficult, the instructor often had suggestions for how to do it in a different and less strenuous way.

Women in the class who attend regularly say that it does not take long to become accustomed to the postures, and find that it takes only a few classes to achieve the more difficult positions with ease.

What you can expect from practising hot yoga

Bikram-style yoga is not as punishing as some work-out routines you will do at the gym, but it definitely does work you hard.

The stretching and balancing, combined with the oppressive heat, makes for some excessive sweating! I am someone who takes a sweat towel to the gym more to avoid being judged by fellow gym-goers than to mop my forehead, so I was astonished at the effect the heat and physical exertion had on me.

Attending classes regularly can also contribute to significant weight loss, as the routines include both strengthening and cardio factors.

A physical and mental exercise

As is always the case with yoga, the physical aspect is just one side of the coin. Classes are generally designed to combine physical development with mental and spiritual growth, and if done correctly, should help to improve will power, focus, clarity, and achieve peace.

The heat, rather than making me feel wooly-headed as I had expected, actually helped me to focus. The closeness of the atmosphere has the effect of shrinking your world down to the size of the studio, so that any external worries and stresses cease to exist for the time that you are there.

Hot yoga has been described as 'addictive' because of the feel-good vibes you leave with when the class is over. Doing a class in the morning will have you floating on a cloud for the rest of the day, while a nighttime session will have you falling asleep with ease at bedtime.

Where can you do it?

Capetonians are lucky - Yoga Zone is currently celebrating its 8th birthday by offering free beginner classes on a Thursday evening and other introductory offers. For more information visit the Yoga Zone website.

Durbanites, try Liquid Yoga, and if you're in Joburg, either Bikram Yoga Jozi or Bikram Yoga of Fourways. Be sure to drink loads of water before and after class to avoid dehydration!

Says Yoga Zone's Grandin, "Yoga is challenging, and integrating its practice into our lifestyles is rewarding beyond measure – we become our best selves."

Note: Pregnant women are advised against practising hot yoga as it can raise your core body temperature. Generally if you have a medical condition you should consult your doctor before taking a class.

Images courtesy of Yoga Zone

Author info: Rebecca Dodd

All4Women's new assistant editor Rebecca Dodd completed her undergraduate degree in Print Journalism and her Honours in English Studies at UCT. She has worked as a writer and copy editor for a publishing house and a PR agency, but has recently gone part-time in PR in order to dedicate more time to her passion – writing for women and for the web. In her spare time she reads (books and blogs), cooks, watches vacuous teen dramas and eats ice cream straight from the tub.