It's Getting Hot in Here: The Benefits and Considerations of Bikram Yoga

With March finally here, spring is basically in session. On March 20th, the official spring season will arrive. As the scent of spring cherry blossoms fills up the light air, many of us will be laser-focused on developing leaner and slimmer waistlines. Sometimes that early-morning run through a field of garden roses isn't enough; if you're getting serious about weight loss, you might want to consider yoga.

If you're interested in yoga, you've probably heard of a few various forms out there that are worth trying. You've probably read up on hatha yoga – which is ideal for beginners – or perhaps even the more structured form of ashtanga yoga. One of the more common forms of yoga is Bikram yoga, which is more frequently referred to as "hot yoga."

There's a huge chance that you've heard of hot yoga. However, many of us seem to be afraid of hot yoga. After all, working out is already an intense act in itself; adding even more heat to the mix can seem like an agonizing and uncomfortable task. However, hot yoga has a great list of benefits that are worth taking into consideration for a multitude of purposes. If hot yoga has held your interest for a bit of time now, here are just a few reasons to incorporate it into your life.

The First Benefit of Hot Yoga: You'll Burn off Some Major Calories

Burning off calories is one of the key components of losing weight. If you enroll in just one hot yoga class, your diet will truly thank you. Indulging in hot yoga will help your metabolism to speed up, and the heat will help you to burn off a very decent amount of calories! As a matter of fact, Bikram yoga can help you burn off at least 716 calories for ninety minutes, according to LiveHealthy.com. For many people out there, 716 calories is almost half of your daily caloric consumption. According to HealthLine.com, the average woman needs to eat about 2,000 calories a day to maintain her weight, and the average man needs to eat about 2,500 to maintain his weight. Burning off that extra 716 calories during Bikram yoga is definitely a massive help!

The Second Benefit of Hot Yoga: You'll be Confident and Accomplished

One of the biggest benefits of hot yoga is the feeling of accomplishment you'll get after finishing a sixty or ninety minute class. Any exercise is good exercise, but after spending some time doing hot yoga, you'll feel a tremendous amount of accomplishment. After all, you'll be burning off some major calories during hot yoga, so you'll be feeling the heat as you sweat off nearly half of your daily calories. After your hot yoga session, you'll definitely feel a sense of achievement, which can quickly turn into confidence.

The Third Benefit of Hot Yoga: You'll be Less Anxious

If you're in need of a stress-reliever, you'll be thrilled with hot yoga! After a class, you'll be amazed by how quickly the experience seemed to go by. Hot yoga definitely helps to build a sense of inner confidence, which can lead to lower stress levels. With hot yoga, you can say goodbye to your glasses of wine (which have roughly 123 calories per glass, by the way), because you'll have reached your inner Zen naturally. You'll have experienced a true endorphin rush by the end of the class.

Here's What to Consider About Hot Yoga

Although hot yoga has plenty of benefits, there are still a few considerations to take note of. One of the most important things to consider about hot yoga is the heat. Generally, hot yoga takes place in a room that is 105 degrees with 40% humidity. If you feel this is "too hot to handle" then you might want to speak with your doctor first before going through with hot yoga. It might not be the right fit for you.

Before going into a hot yoga class, make sure that you stay hydrated. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times before and after attending a class. Throughout the work day, take sips of water from your bottle and allow time for your body to absorb it before class. You'll be sweating quite a bit during class, so you'll want to be hydrated before, during, and after. One of the best ways to keep track of how much water you drink throughout the day is with a water bottle.

Don't forget to bring at least two towels with you. This will help while you sweat through those calories.

What Should I Wear During Hot Yoga?

First and foremost, if you're one to dress to impress, you can forget about it at the hot yoga studio! If you're looking for an excuse to go bare-faced and au naturale anywhere, hot yoga is your go-to reason. Now that we've discussed that you don't need to wear makeup or do your hair while at hot yoga, let's talk about clothes. The lighter the clothes are, the better the session will be during hot yoga. We strongly recommend a sexy halter top sports bra, since you can wear one alone as a top during Bikram yoga. While purchasing a sports bra for Bikram yoga, make sure that they are quick to dry, since you'll be working up a sweat! You'll also find yoga shorts to be incredibly helpful while you're burning off major calories in a heated room. For a perfect pair of yoga shorts that can't be beat, we strongly suggest our quick dry drawstring shorts.

While you're practicing your Downward Dog asana in the hot yoga studio, you'll be happy that you followed these pieces of advice. Despite its many advantages, hot yoga can be a bit challenging, so make sure you stay hydrated before attending your class. Remember to dress light and bring your towels with you to wipe off the sweat you'll experience in class. Most importantly, enjoy your workout session – you'll be burning off some serious calories, which will make your body beach-ready in no time!