So, What the Hell is Hot Yoga and Why Should You Do It?

I'm so excited because my favorite yoga studio, Hot Yoga Saratoga, recently opened a studio only 5 miles from my apartment. This is so much better than their previous location, which is about a 40 to 45 minute drive from where I currently live.

I've talked a lot about them before, as you can read in this post, but recently two of my favorite instructors made videos about the two types of yoga I do most often, Bikram and Barkan. If you have no idea what I'm talking about or you're just curious, I suggest you watch them. In fact, watch them anyway, because they are fun.

If you're considering trying out Bikram or Barkan, here are a few tips and suggestions for your first Hot Yoga class from someone who practices regularly.

• Bring a large towel (if you don't have a yoga towel bring a beach towel, if you don't have a beach towel bring your largest bath towel) and a hand towel to wipe your face.
•  Bring at least one large water bottle, but more importantly hydrate the day before and day of your class. You need not only water but also electrolytes. I find that no matter how much water I drink, if I don't have enough electrolytes I get light headed. My favorite solution is Nuun, which are tablets you drop into your water. They give it a little fizz and flavor and are also sugar free. My favorite flavors are Grape, Fruit punch, and Triple Berry. It's a lot more cost effective than coconut water or Powerade or Gatorade, and Tony and I drink it constantly.
• Have a small snack a couple hours before class, but try to avoid eating the hour before, if possible, as many people find this upsets their stomach. Personally, I like to have a kashi bar or protein shake a few hours before, but most people stick to toast or granola. No matter what, I suggest you do not follow Tony's method of preparation, which was to eat 2 cheeseburgers the afternoon of his first Bikram class. He chose...poorly (yes, that's an Indiana Jones reference).
• Wear shorts and a tank top. If you're not going to wear shorts then wear spandex or lycra leggings. Many people wear cotton, but it absorbs a lot of liquid and can become hot, heavy, and uncomfortable. Loose clothing can also fall around and be distracting.

Most importantly please keep this in mind: Yoga is a personal challenge. Your goal, especially for your first few classes, is just to stay in the room then entire time. It often takes several classes to adjust to the heat. Many yoga instructors will reiterate this. Don't get caught up in what others are doing in the class, if you need a rest take one! I do it all the time and I've been practicing for years. My biggest challenge is not to let my ego get in the way (and to remember to breathe)!

Anyway, I am off to my favorite class, Silent Bikram. 90 minutes of listening to music, sweating, stretching, and relaxing. Feels so good!

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