Ask The Hot Yoga Doctor!

The Outside Cold after The Heat

2008-04-30T04:54:30-08:00

Hi Hot Yoga Doc,

I had my second hot yoga class today and the shock of reacclimatising to the cold after class (its nearly winter here) was harder to get used to than the heat itself. Is it healthier, and better for self-mastery, to rug up and face it or ease in gradually?

Bikram Yoga in the summertime

2008-03-25T18:14:12-08:00

I think this thought alot:
“The only thing better than a Bikram class is a Bikram class in the summertime.”
Anyone, everyone, agree? ? !

Don’t sweat it.

2008-03-06T09:21:01-08:00

Posted by beauxx

Hi Gabrielle,

As mentioned in a previous email I am signing up for my 3rd year at Bikram and since my first class it has become an important activity in my life--hence spending my spare time emailing from continents away to your excellent hot yoga Forum!!

From the beginning of my practice I had researched physiological issues to do with intense exercise in hot settings and sweating, to see if people were dropping off like flies--they are not I concluded, myself as well. I have read Ms. Funk’s article.

I sweat significantly--work hard during my sessions and still wonder if the amount of sweating myself and others do, especially on 30 day challenges is healthy for the human body-do the sweat glands have unlimited ability to keep up? Also, will the skin not be more susceptible to irritation from being heated and moist during these workouts with everyday type practice? I find the friction from doing situps et al causes a sweat rash at times.

I have gone 5 days per week but found it left me feeling drained even with due diligence regarding food/fluids etc--questioning whether I have a form of mild heat exhaustion or?
It may be in my mind but I do not know of any other form of exercise that takes place in an environment like hot yoga--unless you are labouring in a Saudi oilfield!!

In gratitude,

BL

Wiping the sweat

2008-03-06T07:58:19-08:00

Posted by Barb

Hi Gabrielle,

Wonderful job with the web site.

I’ve been doing Bikram for 4 months and really love it! I have a question about wiping the sweat. I noticed in one of the other threads, that you advise against students to wipe off sweat while their practicing. I sweat profusely and couldn’t imagine not being able to wipe the sweat off of my face or my hands, especially during standing head to knee. I never wipe my body, just hands and face. I know that sweat acts as a natural “air conditioner”, but why not be able to wipe just my face?

Thanks!

Barb

Is the studio I go to over-heating the room?

2008-03-06T06:38:44-08:00

I have just started Hot Yoga. At my Yoga center they heat the room between 102 & 105 degrees. I feel this is too hot because mid way through the class the room gets so hot that I can’t get a good breath. Most of the reading I have done says the room should be 90 to 100 degrees. Is this extreme heat too hot? What can I do to get my breath? Should I ask my center not to let the room get so hot? Many people have to leave and go out for a few minutes. It’s not just me.
Posted by Judy on 01/23 at 04:25 AM

Hello Judy

I would firstly like to start out talking about your ability to breathe in the class. Please remember that my answer may or may not be your truth but I invite you to consider this. Just about everyone who starts Hot Yoga has to acclimatize to exercising in the hot room. This can take between 10-14 days. There are certain physiological processes that evolve in that time that help you.

When we first get to the room, most of us mere mortals have under-developed breathing ability or capacity and use only a very small percentage of our lung capacity. We start the Hot Yoga, and embark on ‘breathing lessons’. For me this was the BIGGEST learning curve. As an aside it took me 5 months and almost 150 lessons to get through Pranayama breathing without taking an extra breath.

So here you are, learning to breathe. The room is heated and somehow you find you can breathe down into the recesses of your previously smaller capacity lungs.

Here comes the humdinger… I believe that sometimes the sensations that are associated with opening up this previous unused lung space can bring on feelings of anxiety that are very much like not being able to breathe properly. But I think, having watched many, many students over the years that it is that they are actually unconsciously fearful of (or simply unfamiliar with) their newer larger breath capacity. This may or may not be the case with you, but certainly, most students will ‘blame’ it on the heat.

So let’s get down to the conditions in the room…

It is my personal belief that a studio only needs to be heated to about body temperature. In my opinion if a room gets heated to above 100 degrees (38.5) then it is simply unnecessary. I have noticed that some studios almost brag at how high their temperatures are.

So 2 things, because we need to approach this in a balanced way, and I don’t want ANYONE to think I am being critical...

1) Most studios don’t actually have accurate and relevant temperature readings in the room. They may quote a particular temperature but it could be something totally different. Firstly, go and see someone at your studio and ask them to show you how their heating system works and how they know what temperature their studio is at at any moment. Thermometers would need to be at middle height. We have 2 sensors at opposite ends of the room, that average their readings. One sensor/thermometer on the floor or right up high, or near a door, wall (depends on wall material) or window, could give false readings. AND the thermostat has to be positioned INSIDE THE ROOM.

2) Your perception of temperature is always going to relate to the humidity in the room. The higher the moisture content (or even, the fuller the class) the hotter you think the temperature is. It may not actually be hotter. The converse is true. The lower the humidity the lower your perception of the temperature. Sometimes you could get to very high temps in a dry room and hardly break a sweat. When it is dry many ask to hike up the temperatures. I am putting in a link to our other website that talks further about the temp/humidity relationship.

Notes on heat and humidity

In a studio, it is best to keep the temp at a safe level and try to play with moisture levels to give the optimal experience. Don’t play with the temperature!

Last point on moisture. If the room is very crowded, or has high moisture PLUS the temperature seems high AND it seems hard to breathe, maybe the studio is not well enough ventilated (and may need an extraction fan and vent for fresh air or at least a window cracked open).

It is dangerous physiologically for the temperature to be too high. I have included the reference to an article that we have express permission to reproduce. It is on my other website. Please go and read what Lesley has to say about exercising in the heat.

Lesley Funk’s article on exercising in the heat

With the right conditions you will find most people stay in the room. If they need air they should be able to simply stop and breathe, and maybe only have to sit on the floor or lie down.

Leaving the room is not necessary. You are right to bring these things up. Be wary of judgment though. If a student leaves the room and the teachers allow it, it often encourages others to leave the room. I don’t condone militancy in the room and don’t force people to stay in, but I do encourage them. Besides I can keep an eye on them and make sure they are safe. It could either be that students find it easy to walk out, OR it really is too hot in there. I cannot make the final call on that one.

I hope that gives you something to work with. You need facts on both sides of the equation here. Go and make your investigations.

Kind regards
Gabrielle

How do I stop people freaking out about the heat when I explain Hot Yoga?

2008-03-06T05:42:08-08:00

Hi Gabrielle,

I teach “Hot Yoga” - when I mention to students, who ask about it, that the room is heated between 85 and 100 degrees, they freak out. I do explain about hydration, etc. but many are afraid to try it. Is there anything I can say to convince them to at least try it once??

thank you,
YoginiMarcie
Posted by YoginiMarcie on 01/21 at 09:26 AM

Hello Marcie

Thanks for posting your question… It is with trial and error and behavior observation that we developed a way to describe the benefits of the heat and the conditions in the room.

Here are some things that worked for us…
1) The yoga is practiced in a room heated to body temperature. This allows you to keep safe and stretch more easily, plus tons of other benefits (insert as required )
2) If it were boiling hot outside then you would never dream of gardening for hours in the searing heat. We are exercising without the sun beating down and in a CONTROLLED environment. (and then hopefully Marcie you CAN control the heat with a set and forget thermostat!)
3) Any exercise in difficult or different conditions requires a period of acclimatization. In the first 1-3 classes quite a few students can’t get past their “it’s hot” thoughts. But very shortly as the series becomes familiar we forget that it is hot.
4) In fact… one time at the studio there was a power cut for 3 days. We had students ringing every day saying “I’m not coming if the heaters aren’t working”. True story, you can use it. LOL
5) It’s all in the way you frame up your ‘story’, try to avoid the explanations and dont’ jump to a defensive position. Tell them that this way of doing the yoga leads to immediate benefits, but they do need to acclimatize.
6) We always walk each new student into the studio, find them their spot, put the mat down and take them out again to continue their orientation.
7) Ensure that clothing is appropriate. I actually had extra clothing on hand for those poor souls that wore t shirts or long tracksuit pants etc.

Anyway Marcie hope that helps. I could go on and on. It is really the subject of a whole book.

Namaste
Gabrielle