The Benefits of Hot Yoga For Beginners

Hot Yoga | The Benefits of Hot Yoga | True Hot Yoga North Scottsdale | True Hot Yoga Arrowhead Ranch

Imagine waking up in the morning feeling excited to get the day started. It’s no longer your morning coffee that’s motivating you to roll out of bed. It is knowing that you are about to enter a room that feels like a warm hug. The community atmosphere is like nothing you’ve experienced. You feel grounded and uplifted at the same time- something that you did not know was possible for you!

That’s what it is like to take a True Hot Yoga class and join the THY community. 

True Hot Yoga is on a mission to foster an empowering and transformative environment for all of our Yogis. Committed to our craft, we are determined to provide instruction that goes above and beyond. Generating that authentic community and promoting all-around well-being. Mind. Body. Spirit.

At True Hot Yoga, we share the benefits of traditional hot yoga and Ashtanga-inspired vinyasa flow. We have created a space where individuals can be their highest selves, thriving mentally, physically, and emotionally. 

What is Hot Yoga?

Hot yoga is a practice that originated in the ‘70s. Founded by a man named Bikram Choudhury, this practice is done by practicing yoga movements in a heated environment. Bikram yoga specifically takes participants through 26 poses in a 90-minute period. 

Since Bikram yoga began, there have been countless variations of hot yoga that you have probably heard of. True Hot Yoga is one of them, along with CorePower and other Vinyasa flows. 

What are the Benefits of Hot Yoga?

1. Increased Blood Flow

The foundational benefit of hot yoga is increased circulation. This benefit impacts cardiovascular health and keeps the body regulating blood pressure. 

As you go through your flow, the different yoga poses flex and release muscles in a way that causes it to flex and contract, strengthening the tissue. 

Being in a heated room amplifies the process because the blood vessels are more prone to dilation. For example, if you reach down to touch your toes and your toes are cold, the room is too cold for yoga. The room must be warm enough for the blood to move freely so that no blood is forced back toward the vital organs. 

With that being said, blood oxygen also plays a factor. By moving blood as we flex and release muscles, this Prana (the air that we breathe) is moved to every part of the body. This brings life and vitality back to you, keeping the body functioning. 

2. Joint Health and Recovery

If the room is heated properly to move blood without restriction, the range of motion to joints is increased. When the blood and Prana flow, the muscles are filled with vitality. 

Stress, be gone!

This gets rid of stress that has accumulated in our joints. This increases the range of motion, lubrication, and joint health. 

With this being said, beginners especially need to be wary that this newfound range of motion can cause us to overextend our bodies at times. It is important to be very aware that we are not pushing ourselves too hard that we pull something or injure ourselves.

3. Aids in Mental Health Management

There have been some objectively incredible studies done on the benefits of hot yoga when it comes to mental health. For one, it has been proven to decrease stress. A 2018 study found that adults who had enrolled in a 16-week hot yoga program showed significantly reduced stress levels.

Hot yoga has also been proven to decrease symptoms of depression. A 2023 study shows that a group of moderately to severely depressed adults who participated in hot yoga sessions experienced a significant reduction in their depressive symptoms. 

How incredible is that? Hot yoga truly is for the mind, body and spirit. 

4. Burns Calories & Promotes Weight Loss

Another benefit of hot yoga is that it aids in weight loss and calorie burning. On top of this, it aids in the body’s natural detoxification process.

When we think of losing weight, we typically consider doing cardio exercises or high-intensity workouts. Yes, yoga can help you lose weight by burning calories, but it can also help you lose weight by improving your sleep, reducing your cravings, and reducing stress, which all contribute to losing weight.

Because hot yoga is well, hot, it is going to burn more calories during a session than non-heated yoga. 

No matter where you are in your journey, we encourage you to listen to your body and not to overdo it. 

Safety Considerations

While we welcome everybody and every body, to True Hot Yoga, it is important to consider pre-existing conditions such as dehydration or heart disease, before booking a class. At True Hot Yoga, we give our students the opportunity to push themselves, but that is never enforced. You get to flow at your own pace and your own comfort level. If you need a water or bathroom break, we encourage you to take it. If you need to step out and get some fresh air, please do. Only you know if you are going too far or pushing too hard.

What to Expect from Hot Yoga

True Hot Yoga is a yoga studio dedicated to providing an enjoyable and hot yoga experience for both beginners and seasoned yogis. True Hot Yoga combines the benefits of traditional hot yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa flow to give you a space to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Hot yoga classes are usually taught in rooms that are either traditionally or infrared-heated between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. True Hot Yoga temperatures peak between 102-105 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity of hot yoga ranges from 40-60%. True Hot Yoga humidity stays at 50-60%, helping to warm up the muscles, promote detoxification, and increase flexibility. 

We have locations in both North Scottsdale and Arrowhead Ranch, and you can book with us on our website at www.truehotyoga.com or on our True Hot Yoga app.

How to Get Started with Hot Yoga

If you are interested in trying a True Hot Yoga class, we offer a 3-for $33 special for new students! Book with us at www.truehotyoga.com or download our app.

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Heated Versus Non-Heated Yoga

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Hot Yoga and the Seasons | Adapting to the Arizona Heat