People who are looking for a new workout routine may want to try hot yoga. For beginners, hot yoga is a great choice since new students can gently adjust to the routine. The many benefits of hot yoga include improved flexibility, weight loss, and general health; gentle and relaxing movements which are ideal for beginners; and stress reduction for a higher quality of life. Someone who is interested in hot yoga should follow these five easy steps to begin.
Step 1: Assessing Current Health
Hot yoga for beginners is often quite difficult to adjust to due to the heat. Many beginners will at first suffer symptoms of heat stroke: nausea, light headedness, and dizziness. For those who are not already in good shape, these symptoms may be more serious and discourage them from continuing. These people might consider first improving their health with traditional yoga, and then easing into hot yoga once they are comfortable doing so.
Step 2: Preparing For the First Class
Once someone has decided to try hot yoga, they need to make sure they are prepared to participate. They should make sure they have the following items:
A full water bottle. Hot Yoga involves heavy sweating, so it’s important to stay hydrated.
Yoga clothes which are light and allow a full range of motion without being too baggy. The instructor should be able to see the shape of the body beneath the clothes.
A yoga mat. These may often be rented at the studio, which may be preferable if a prospective student is not positive about their commitment.
A hair tie, if needed. Long hair should be tied back, out of the face.
Depending on the studio, specific dress codes may need to be followed. A student should contact their local studio and ask about any regulations which they will need to adhere to.
Step 3: Trying it Out
Once a student has prepared for the first class and scheduled a date to visit, it’s time to actually take a class. It’s important not to overwork since hot yoga for beginners often causes physical discomfort at first. If a student begins suffering from heatstroke symptoms, they should sit down for a break and make sure they are well hydrated.
Step 4: Becoming a Regular
If the student decides to pursue hot yoga, they will likely want to invest in their own mat and probably in some yoga-specific clothing as well. Ideally, classes should be attended at least once a week.
Step 5: Enjoying the Benefits
The benefits of hot yoga include improved health, weight loss, greater flexibility, and stress reduction. Regular students can take full advantage of everything hot yoga has to offer for a healthier, happier life.
The many advantages of hot yoga make it an enticing consideration for anyone in need of a new workout routine. People who are interested in hot yoga can follow these five easy steps to begin their journey to fitness.
What to Wear to Hot Yoga
Hot Yoga Clothing
Hot yoga students will have special clothing needs due to the hot and humid environment. Clothing for hot yoga should ideally be lightweight, breathable, and have sweat-wicking, anti-bacterial properties. It is best to wear minimal clothing to a hot yoga class, as the sweat should be allowed to flow freely from the body.
Women will generally wear a sports bra or tank-top combined with shorts or yoga-style lightweight pants. Men usually opt for athletic-style shorts. Some men combine this with a t-shirt, while others prefer to go shirtless, depending on their comfort level.
Eco-Friendly Yoga Clothing
Many yoga apparel manufacturers are opting to produce yoga wear that is environmentally sustainable by using eco-friendly fabrics that are both good for the earth as well as comfortable and functional for the wearer. Three of the most popular eco-friendly fabric choices include hemp, bamboo, and soy.
Hot Yoga and Hemp Fabric
Hemp is becoming increasingly popular in the clothing industry due to its significant eco-friendly qualities. Hemp is highly renewable, is much easier to grow than cotton, without the use of pesticides or other chemicals, and is an extremely tough, natural fiber that is both durable and versatile.
Hemp is an excellent fabric choice for hot yoga. It is both extremely soft and incredibly long-lasting. Unlike cotton, hemp wears in with age and becomes stronger the more it is used. Hemp is also easy to clean and does not break down through repeated washings, making it an ideal fabric for the rigorous hot yoga practice.
Hot Yoga and Bamboo Fabric
Bamboo is relatively new to the clothing industry. The bamboo plant grows quickly and easily without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. Bamboo has been described as similar in feel but more affordable than silk.
Bamboo clothing is soft, naturally moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic, all of which are desirable qualities for ideal hot yoga apparel. Bamboo can be expensive, however, and there is some concern about the chemicals used to process the raw bamboo into clothing fibers.
Hot Yoga and Soy Fabric
Soy fabrics are made from the by-products of the soy food industry, and thus production of soy clothing has minimal environmental impact. The soy plant is easily renewable, and soy fibers are quickly biodegradable.
Often referred to as “vegetable cashmere”, clothing made from soy is soft, breathable, and has excellent absorption qualities, making it another excellent eco-friendly option for hot yoga clothing. The main drawback to soy clothing is the price-tag. As soy clothing is not yet widely available, it can be a bit expensive to purchase and harder to find.
Educated Choices in Yoga Clothing Will Increase Clothing Options
As consumers of yoga clothing are starting to demand more environmentally friendly yoga-wear, the marketplace is responding with more sustainable fabric options. There is a wide selection of comfortable, earth-friendly yoga clothing in today’s market, which will only continue to grow as consumers become more educated about the effects of the clothing industry on the environment.
