The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Are some people just intolerant of the heat?
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Are some people just intolerant of the heat?
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Hi, I just started Tuesday and went to class the last two days. I have major flexibility issues, so I can’t get in to any of the poses, but that’s why I’m taking the class. I did feel very good after each class. My problem is the heat…I did OK the first class, had to sit out the last 15 minutes or so, even though I had a fairly heavy cardio workout earlier that day. Yesterday, however, even after hydrating a lot, I had to stop at the second set (lunges & triangle pose). I don’t feel tired or frustrated with not being able to do the pose, I just feel – way too hot & slightly nauseous. I stayed in the room lying down but not feeling very good at all. Frankly, it felt moderately unsafe. Although I monitored my pulse & skin temperature to make sure I was OK, my chest felt hotter to the touch than normal hours later.
I am fairly fit, & used to working out & living in unairconditioned spaces — I grew up where the temperature often reaches 100 and can hit 110-115, and it doesn’t bother me. Then again, when it gets to be that hot you have a breeze to sit in, or shade – you don’t lock yourself up in a sealed room where the sweat can’t evaporate.
Reading the other posts, it seems other people, even new people, don’t have a big problem with this. Are some people just more heat intolerant than others? Or does this change with time? Or am I more sensitive to heat because I grew up in an area where it can be a real danger & you learn to watch the warning signs more carefully?
Thinking about it, even when I was working out before in unheated spaces I frequently got headaches, and if I am the least bit dehydrated I get nauseated even without feeling hot.
I would love to continue, but not if I end up sitting out half of every class (and actually, the positions I actually can halfway do! The first set is the hardest for me). And I’m not interested in being nauseated and dizzy as a precondition of doing yoga.
Hello
I am new to Hot Yoga, and Yoga period. I too have kept relatively fit in my life, but always have been unflexible. I have been going for about a month now, regularily (3-4 times a week).
I love the sun and the heat and have never had a problem being hot until I joined hot yoga. I was horribly ill the first time, I had to sit thru most of the class. I was determined to go back and make it thru the second class – I never did. Nor the third, or the fourth. I think it was about my 5th class before I could complete all 26 poses without having to rest, a lot. I was dizzy, felt ill, and am sure I almost passed out at least once, I had to sit before I fell a couple times. Honestly, having done tons of different sports, including heavy training to box, this hot yoga was the worst experience. It is for THAT reason I knew I had to stick with it – I just figured the worse I felt, the more I needed it. There was a class full of successful people who were enjoying the benefits of it, so I knew it wasnt going to kill me :0)
I am happy to say that I am somewhere between my 15 – 20 class and can feel myself really improving. Having said that, I still feel times where I am like “Holy Cow, I feel funny”, but I just breath and slow for a second or two until it passes. I never have to rest anymore, but still do come close sometimes
I must say, it has turned out to be the heat that has kept me going. The one or two times I tried yoga years ago, I was too bored with it. The heat has given the yoga practice another level of challange – that is what I find appealing and keeps me engaged.
I cant do any of the poses either, but I am sure getting better.
Also, I found when I drank the water during class it made me feel worse. So now I dont have any water at all during, only lots all day before and lots when I leave. Having said that, I have never been one to drink water while excercising as it always makes me crampy.
good luck !!
BabsiHaiku:
My tolerance did increase over time, but I noticed that the main factor in how well I handled the heat was what I ate during the day. “Good” food made for a good class, “bad” food (too much dairy, meat, processed food or alcohol) made for a nauseating marathon. I also once made the mistake of eating too close to class time, and it was a mistake I never repeated.
I’d say don’t push yourself, rest as much as you need to, and you’ll probably find that you need to rest less and less the more you practice.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the comments. I went again today and had no problems, I was careful to water early and not in class and I took a spot near the window. Some regulars mentioned in the locker room before class that the studio had been unusually hot for the last few days, and when I went in I realized the spot I took last time was in one of the warmest areas. So, probably a combination of the temperature being a little high and not being hydrated enough.
Thanks again!
The heat in the room can sometimes make you uncomfortable. The body takes time to acclimatize. Keeping oneself hydrated, before and after the class, should help. Food should not be taken just before the class.
Babsi here again, After 5 weeks of hot yoga, I felt I was really adjusting to the heat, but my last two classes have been really tough, infact reminds me of the first two classes, I have had to rest a few times.
I was speaking with the instructor who was saying this is somewhat normal and it could be a result of new areas opening up inside me, and it too will pass. Apparently we can take 4 steps forward and 3 steps backwards for quite some time. All part of the challenge I tell myself and the reason to keep going
cheers
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