Not sure what you need before trying hot yoga for the first time? We asked Kristin Campbell, the yoga teacher behind the triyoga hot and the Tapasya hot yoga sequence, to give us some pointers before our first hot yoga class.
1. Come well hydrated.
2. Avoid eating a heavy meal 1.5 – 2 hours before a class.
3. Give yourself permission to lie down if you need to. It can take 3 – 5 classes to get acclimated to the heat.
4. Maintain a balance of effort and ease into your yoga poses. The asanas (postures) are designed to free our mind and body from tension and stress.
5. Breath regulation is key to heart rate. In the class, if your breath pattern gets choppy, you are having to open your mouth to breathe, or you find yourself holding your breath, you are likely "over-efforting", and this could result in having a sympathetic response (the part of your nervous system that is fight-or-flight). Make sure to back off your effort by about 10%, breathe with your mouth closed, or take a moment to lie down on your back until your breath pattern resumes one that is balanced and calm.
And what should you wear? Clothes that you are comfortable sweating in! Suggestions for women include: a sports bra, vest and shorts and for men: vest (or no vest) and shorts. Tip: Try wearing athletic clothing that has a "quick drying" feature, such as CoolMax® or Dri-FIT. And don’t forget to bring your water bottle!
We’re kicking off 2017 by featuring a different class style each week with our ‘everyone try yoga‘ campaign. This week, we’re exploring triyoga hot! Book yourself into the next triyoga hot class here.
