Hot yoga is the form of yoga that is practiced in a room heated to between 95 and 105 degrees F., with a humidity of around 40 percent. Hot yoga is distinct from other forms of yoga in its practice inside heated quarters. It combines exercise and meditation, and exercise through yoga in the heated conditions of is considered to create unique physical and mental effects and benefits. Yoga generally promotes flexibility and strength, along with an increased sense of calmness and stress reduction. As for the elevated temperature, a prime benefit is seen as enabling the body to sweat out toxins. Practitioners sweat profusely during sessions, and through this sweating they are seen to release toxins at a high level. Hot yoga is also believed to improve upon typical practice in the enhancement of physical flexibility and mobility. The notion is that stretching heated muscles is superior to stretching unheated muscles, and that in this way flexibility and mobility are more greatly enhanced. As for mental benefits of the practice, it is also believed that the heightened concentration needed to maintain poses during sessions aids the mind in reducing stress and relieving tension.
Of particular interest to practitioners is the prospect that it will accelerate weight loss and offer greater weight loss benefits than when practiced at room temperature. Science and medicine have not yet rendered any authoritative judgment on the topic, and so it remains a matter of opinion and debate. A fundamental thought about weight loss is that as the body functions at a higher temperature, it will naturally consume more calories than under normal conditions. The body, in this way, would be expected to "burn off" calories. This theory holds that because calories are lost, weight is lost, too. However, the theory that calories are lost simply through the increase in temperature is not itself free from dispute. In fact, some theorists hold that an increase in temperature actually reduces calorie burn, as calories are conserved by the body. Regardless, those seeking improved fitness levels over a sedentary lifestyle will see results with dedication.
Hot yoga is also thought to lead to a general improvement in metabolism and body efficiency, thereby encouraging a shedding of excess weight. However, a particular weight loss benefit through it is unclear. In some cases, there will actually be no weight loss, but even perhaps an increase in weight, as fat is replaced by new muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. This practice, however, offers the benefit of improved muscle tone and an overall improvement in body shape and physical conditioning. This is, perhaps, a greater real benefit than the loss of just a few pounds of weight.
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