Hi!! This is a post for anyone wishing they could get past the fear of trying their first warm or hot yoga class. A daunting task for some, a must be in the schedule for others.
I love love love WARM and HOT yoga! I used to wonder if it was safe or there were too many rules or whatever else someone told me about their experience, I had only heard about it. After I went to my first class, tho, I had a very clear and different understanding of why the rules and the stuff. I had been trained and was teaching yoga but had never experienced the heated classes first hand.
Here are a few coaching tips to make your experience the best…
If you are not properly dressed, it might be very uncomfortable. Glad I got over it, but I used to wear two tank tops over my bra with groove pants. If you are unfamiliar, they are the long flare pants, so in a room set to 105 and going up from there, plus high humidity, my legs were suffocating and I felt like I had on ALL of my shirts and my headband jumped off midway through the class. I did not have on the right clothes. I dialed it in for my next class, and by the third, I had a full “hot yoga uniform” to exclusively wear to hot yoga class.
You absolutely do not need to go for a whole special new outfit, but being comfortable in a hot yoga class does not include your regular leisurely outfit. Baggy clothes will get in your way, hold sweat or flop over your head, pants should be fitted and short or cropped. Men usually wear shorts and a tank top or no shirt. My headbands have grip underneath now so that they stay in place. Whew!!💦 also, Bring a dry change of clothes for your ride home.
You will need a yoga mat, long yoga towel to cover the mat and water. If you show up without any of these, you can rent or buy them when you get there, but you will need them even if you think you won’t sweat much. If you do yoga, you know the mat is important. If you need one, here is a nice yoga mat and also yoga mat towel…
Drink lots of water the day before. Come to the class fully hydrated, not having just guzzled one full bottle of water and you think that will be enough. Some days, I lose four pounds of water through sweat in an 80 minute Hot yoga class. The water you have the day of the class my not be enough to keep you hydrated for that long in the extreme heat.
Avoid heavy fragrances or perfumes.
Know that it will make you think you can’t but you can do it. Mind body is one thing, but when the temperature is just below 100, it is easy to begin talking to yourself about how you are not ok with this and going to pass out. Be aware that everyone is feeling this way, and it will end very soon when there will be a break to cool down and catch your breath. This is the design of the class. The class will help to build your endurance and make you feel strong and detoxified. It is safe, but not for everyone. If you have low blood pressure, this is not the best form of exercise. If you are already practicing, and become pregnant, your doctor should know about hot yoga and give approval. If you are new to exercise, most hot yoga classes are 80 minutes, so maybe it would be better to begin with a 60 minute class.
Take care of yourself. You are the only one that knows how you feel. If you become overwhelmed, sit down, drink water and breath slowly in and out of your nose. If you feel that isn’t helping, lie down with your feet toward the back wall. Do not feel like there is anything wrong, it does take practice getting used to the heat and doing downward dog. Everyone is different and we all have different experiences.
At the end of class when the instructor lets you know that you can stay as long as you like in savasana (laying down and still on your back with eyes closed), you will think to yourself “Wow, that was tough but I did it!!!”
People will cheer and might ask for your autograph.
Not really but, I would be proud of you.
One of my girlfriends used to say she may have seen the baby Jesus, it was so hot.
It will be hot and this coaching is meant to help you be prepared for your sweat session.
Thank you for reading, let me know your first warm or hot yoga experience in the comments! xoxo 😚
Have you seen my other posts about yoga?? click here
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