Hot Yoga on a Hot Day… The Science says – YES!
TWO BYC Articles backed by science
TWO BYC Articles backed by science
Hot Yoga on Hot Days: Why It’s Actually a MUST!
Don’t just take our word for it, here’s the science:
With the temperatures soaring, skipping hot yoga might feel tempting, but embracing the heat can actually help your body adapt better to it. Each session supports tolerance, flexibility, and circulatory health. It’s less of a struggle, more of a supercharge for your mind and body!
Each class, you can:
1. Build Real Heat Resilience
Consistent heat exposure, like practicing hot yoga in hot weather, trains your body to cool down more efficiently. This includes earlier sweating onset, better fluid retention, and enhanced thermoregulation. In essence, you’re teaching your body, to manage heat stress more effectively!
Sources:
- https://science.drinklmnt.com/did-you-know/heat-acclimation
- https://www.gssiweb.org/sports-science-exchange/article/sse-153-heat-acclimatization-to-improve-athletic-performance-in-warm-hot-environments
2. Boost Cardiovascular & Cellular Strength
A study done in 2021 found that hot yoga led to improved cardiovascular performance, increased production of heat-shock proteins (HSP70), and better stress hormone regulation compared to normal-temperature yoga. These phsiological changes help your body perform better in hot conditions. So this summer we hot yogis aren’t just going to survive the heat wave, we are going to thrive in it!
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34188383/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8191229/
- https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2018/10000/Efficacy_of_Hot_Yoga_as_a_Heat_Stress_Technique_for.26.aspx
3. Stretch Deeper and Faster
As hot yogis, you are all already aware, warm muscles are naturally more pliable. Hot yoga helps your body loosen up quickly, allowing safer and deeper stretching, this is especially valuable when muscles are tight from summer activity or long periods or sitting (unfortunately still a summer activity for those of us who have desk jobs!).
Source:
4. Enhance Mental Well-Being, Even on Hot Days
A RCT (randomised controlled trial) of 290 adults found that hot yoga significantly improved emotional well-being, mindfulness, general health, and peace of mind, especially for those who started with lower baseline well-being. Over just six weeks, participants reported notably higher positive emotions during and after practice. So when the temperatures get high, and all around you are loosing their minds, you can keep your cool.
Source:
Say Yes to Hot Yoga on Hot Days – Your Mind & Body will thank you!
- Quicker body cooling in future heatwaves
- Improved flexibility from the first pose
- A calmer, more focused mind—even when the world outside feels like an oven and everyone else appears to be acting (a little) “overheated”.
So yes—practicing hot yoga in hot weather might just be the smartest idea you’ve had today.
Hot Yoga on a Hot Day?
The Science says…
YES!
The hot weather making you tiered & listless – good news – hot yoga can help! Yes HOT yoga.
You are tiered because your body is expending more energy to keep you cool, so how can a hot yoga class help?
Santiago Lorenzo, a researcher, and former Olympic Athlete found in a study for the University of Oregon that exercising in the heat can boost aerobic capacity by 8% after 10 days of heat training. As the body and mind acclimatise to the heat, you improve your physical and mental endurance. So, after heat training, you find it easier to function on these beautiful, hot summer days.
For more information please see The Study
More Scientifically Proven Reasons to start/keep up a Hot Yoga Practice when it’s hot out:
1 – Hot Yoga Improves Your Flexibly (Study 1 & Study 2)
2 – Hot Yoga Can relieve Stress (The Study)
3 – Hot Yoga is proven to be a cardiovascular workout. It also therefore Increases cardiovascular fitness and has been proven to increase cellular thermotolerance adaptations. i.e. you can handle the summer heat better
Comparing heated and non heated Yoga this study found Hot Yoga improved Cardio vascular fitness and both significantly increased Serum BDNF. Increasing BDNF can have profound effects on cognitive function, memory, mood, and overall mental health (Study 1 Study 2 Study 3)
4 – Hot Yoga can be effective at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. (The Study)
5 – Hot Yoga Burns more calories (The Study)
6 – Yoga improves your sleep (Study 1 Study 2 )
7 – Hot Yoga can decrease blood pressure
IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING UP A HOT YOGA PRACTISE.
8 – Hot yoga ameliorates arterial stiffness in overweight/obese adults and can positively impact quality of life regardless of BMI. (The Study)
Remember to achieve any of these and/or reach health and fitness goals like weight loss, toning etc consistency is key. You have to have a regular practise, and this means not using the outside temperature as an excuse not to keep going.
The hot room wont be hotter because it’s a hot day. We keep the temperatures the same 365 (well 363, we are shut on boxing day and new years day). So you may even find it a little easier in the summer as you are already warm
If you are practising in the hotter months:
– Stay hydrated, replenish your electrolytes.
– Eat well. Make sure you are giving your body enough fuel before and after class.
-Be kind to yourself and listen to your body. Yes the heat is wonderful, but be mindful of your body’s personal edge and avoid pushing to hard. You want to nurture not injure your body.
– Enjoy!
Well see you on your mat today!
