One unique benefit of (proper) HOT YOGA is the way it promotes circulation throughout our body, from inside-out. Imagine wringing the water out of a wet towel. The postures work with the (proper) environment to extend the length of muscles & tissues, while stimulating organ function. That includes our skin, as our largest organ. Hydration helps flush waste (vis a vis uric acid) from the body.
Gyms & studios without the right training, experience, or equipment for Hot Yoga, tend to compensate with stuff like space heaters & IR panels. These ad hoc & inappropriate heating methods can damage the skin. For example, IR heating panels penetrate the layers of the skin; triggering inflammation, dehydration and the degradation of collagen and elastin.
You are NOT a frozen burrito. Avoid the IR panels & microwaves.
Among the many risks of (not so) hot yoga is the harmful depletion of your skin. IR panels & space heaters will dry the uric acid ON and IN your skin. (And, P.S. sweat molecules form compounds known as thioalcohols; body odor. Yuck!) If you finish a yoga class with that clammy, itchy skin feeling; steer clear of the not-so hot & not-so healthy practices.
Hydration is key to maintain a healthy body. Proper hydration even helps our minds. (Yes, your brain is roughly 80% water.) According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, just 2% dehydration can degrade brain function, including:
Memory loss
Poor focus
Slow processing of information
Irritability
Headaches
On the flip-side, drinking water before cognitive tests has been proven to increase focus & reaction time. All of our organs & tissues need H2O.
So, how much water should you drink? Hydration is directly related to your level of activity & body chemistry, since sweat rate is proportional to metabolic rate.
Adults lose about 100 ounces of water per day – just being alive.
Double that, if you work up a sweat for an hour.
Are you drinking 200 ounces, cumulative, each day? Even more important in winter months, as the air is dry & moisture is drawn from the body to stay warm.
Hot Yoga works from the inside-out, and the benefits are hand-in-glove with proper hydration. Clean water helps our body function efficiently & effectively, as we are designed to function. (Proper) Hot Yoga is way more than just stretching in a heated room.
So, let’s roll! Trade the soda & coffee for your water bottle & yoga mat. It’s time to hydrate & sign up for a legit Hot Yoga class with Sol!