Stress Reducing Benefits of Hot Yoga

What are the stress relieving benefits of hot yoga? If you've just heard about Bikram yoga, you may be thinking it would cause you more stress to attend a class than it's worth. Twenty six poses?  Ninety minutes of challenging asanas? Temperatures of up to 100 degrees? Forty percent humidity? How can any of that reduce stress? How does that relieve tension? What are the stress relieving benefits of hot yoga?

Apparently, it does reduce stress really, really well.

Those who participate in Bikram yoga on a regular basis typically experience lower heart rates, lower blood pressure, lower levels of cholesterol and better sleep at night. Why? Because the strenuous exercise actually reduces stress, resulting in an amazing feeling of well-being after a class.

Bikram yoga is designed so that you will release a great deal of toxins from your system, resulting in feeling much healthier. During the 90 minute class, your body will flush its lymphatic system, flush even more toxins from the bloodstream through all that sweat, and then replenish your system with the massive amounts of clean, pure water you are sure to drink before, during and after the class. The release of all those toxins also results in the release of stress-induced hormones such as cortisol, a hormone produced by the body when under extreme levels of stress.

Bikram yoga classes are also conducted in such order that each position (asana) leads into the other in a flowing manner, acting as a tourniquet and release, flushing the body, releasing tension in the muscles, and relaxing the body through the stimulation of pressure points. At the end of a class, you will emerge feeling exhausted but renewed, challenged but ready to sleep like you never have before.

The controlled breathing exercises taught in these classes, pranayama and kapalbhati,  also enhance your ability to relax, release tension and experience serenity of a clear, focused, relaxed mind. You will be taught how to meditate while exercising, a very valuable skill when dealing with stress in everyday life. Because of these results, Bikram yoga classes are valued by those who want to learn how to handle the stresses of life while bettering themselves. 

What Makes Vinyasa Yoga Unique?

Yoga has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with studios popping up all over the country and plenty of style variations to choose from, depending on what you’re looking for. Vinyasa yoga, a form of Ashtanga yoga, is a fairly broad description for many different yoga classes, but what makes this form of yoga unique from others?

Sun Salutations

The sun salutation is a series of three yoga poses typically associated with Vinyasa. These three poses are the Plank, Chaturanga and Upward Facing Dog. This series of poses is what the instructor is referring to when she tells you to “go through the Vinyasa.” The Vinyasa is the one aspect of Vinyasa yoga that will always be included.

Versatility

Unlike many other forms of yoga, Vinyasa yoga allows for a more artistic approach. It is up to your instructor to choose which poses will be included in the class, the pace at which you will go through the poses, whether or not there will be chanting, and several other factors. The ability of the instructor to choose how they would personally like to conduct their class can be a unique and beneficial experience for students.

There is no rule book guiding teachers on exactly which poses to do at which times, and in what order. Vinyasa gives teachers the ability to alter their routines based on personal preference or mood. This means that no two Vinyasa yoga classes you attend will be exactly the same. This is a great benefit to those who tend to grow bored of the same routine.

Another great characteristic of Vinyasa yoga is that since poses and movement are at the instructor’s discretion, it can be tailored to target certain areas of the body, like the core. The intensity can also be adjusted by your instructor, whether she chooses a slower, more spiritual pace and intensity, or a more challenging routine.

Vinyasa Flow

By definition, Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement.” This means that the instructor will tell you when to inhale and when to exhale based on the movement of the particular pose. This is referred to as “Vinyasa Flow.” The connection of breathing to poses creates smooth movements that come together in a spritual, artistic manner. Vinyasa separates itself from other forms of yoga through this smooth movement, including more than stretches alone.

Vinyasa During Pregnancy

Overall, yoga is a gentle enough exercise that can safely be practiced before, during and after pregnancy. Again, due to its high degree of versatility, Vinyasa yoga is an excellent exercise option for women who are, or wish to become pregnant. Practicing Vinyasa yoga before and during your pregnancy can help prepare your body for childbearing, childbirth and postpartum recovery. Classes and DVDs are available all over the country and online.

Each type of yoga has unique benefits, and Vinyasa is certainly no exception. Due its high degree of versatility, Vinyasa offers innumerable options for instructors and students alike. Namaste!