HOT YOGA MAMA

1) Heavy/Overweight/Fat -

YES. There are plenty of people who think they won’t be able to handle a hot yoga class because of their weight.

What most people don’t know about hot yoga (or bikram yoga) is that it was designed to be a beginner’s class so that anyone can do it. So just when you think you can’t do hot yoga because you’re carrying 15, 20, 50, or 100 extra pounds - it is a class you CAN adjust to, reach some personal goals, and get really good at.

2) Not Flexible -

YES again. I started doing yoga when I was lifting weights and running about 10-13 miles a week. I had zero flexibility because I was never good about stretching. Yoga has made me very strong, has increased my endurance, and has made me very flexible.

It’s just something you gain over time. You have to practice to get good at it. Bottom line - practice. You’ll notice a huge difference by the third time you’ve done it.

3) Terrible with balance -

Of course. Almost EVERYONE tells me they have no balance. Again, balance is another aspect that comes with practice. Balance is more difficult to attain because it has little to do with strength. It’s mostly in your head. It takes time to develop patience, concentraton and mental fortitude.

When I instruct my students - I try to tell them to get rid of whatever they’re thinking about. I tell them to just focus on something simple, like their fingertips or the space between their brows. I ask them to listen to what I say and follow instruction. If you fall out of your pose, come right back in.

But we easily get in the rut of “I can’t do this” or “I’ll never be able to get this”. Well - if that’s what you’re thinking, that’s where you’ll be, so you have to get out of that mentality.

4) Intolerable of the heat -

Doing hot yoga is overwhelming for everyone in their first class. But the heat promotes joint health by getting us nice and warm. The beginning exercises gets the joint fluid (synovial fluid) moving - warming up to get into each of the poses. The heat also prevents ourselves from injury.

After the 2 or 3 classes, you will find the heat addicting. And you will crave to move and exert yourself in a hot room!

One thing to remember about hot yoga - is that as a beginning class, you modify your poses at first - then with the instruction of the teacher - you will be able to move to your maximum pose as you dedicate more time to your practice.

Don’t be afraid to continue your practice at home. Work on the poses you feel you really want to see improvement.

Anyone can do hot yoga - so stop wondering if that’s you and get on a mat!

Namaste.