Get Hot: How to Prepare Yourself for Hot Yoga
Get Hot: How to Prepare for Hot Yoga
Bikram yoga, or hot yoga, is offered increasingly often at many yoga studios around the nation, but only a small fraction of yogis have taken the initiative to try this challenging but rewarding practice. Bikram can take a bit more preparation, since you practice a series of 27 poses in a room that is heated to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The preparation and execution are some of the most rewarding elements of a yogi’s practice. Here are a few things you’ll need to be prepared for a Bikram class:
Appropriate Clothing
Since the room is so hot and everyone will be sweating, don’t be self-conscious about how you look or what you’re wearing. You’ll probably want to wear yoga shorts and a sports bra to dress appropriately while wearing as little clothing as possible. Check out Sweaty Betty for some great and affordable options. You will be barefoot, so no need to purchase special socks or shoes. Most people say that a nonabsorbent fabric is best, so your shirt and shorts don’t collect all of your sweat.
Water
Since the room is so hot, water quickly warms and isn’t as refreshing as a cool sip. Many individuals who practice Bikram recommend getting a large water bottle with a straw and freezing it for several hours before your class. Most of the water will turn to ice, and you’ll have a gigantic ice cube in the middle of your water bottle, which can melt throughout the whole 90-minute class, keeping your water cool. Don’t drink too much of it before your practice, but sip on it when the instructor gives you an opportunity.
Gear
You don’t need much for Bikram. You’ll probably want to bring your own mat, because the amount you sweat during Bikram may dissuade you from using community mats. A simple yoga mat will do, with a towel over it. Many companies make highly absorbent yoga towels, which you may want to look into. You’ll also want a small hand towel to wipe your sweat if it starts to get in your eyes. Most instructors will tell you that you probably don’t want to wipe off all your sweat during your practice, because sweat is what cools the body naturally.
Smudge Sticks
White sage smudge stick is a cleansing agent to improve the air, cleanse the energy of a space, and create a calm atmosphere. The regular practice of smudging is essential for anyone who wants to banish negativity. Yogis throughout the ages have believed that sage increases our intuitive powers. Our intuition, when focused, can guide us along our soul’s evolutionary journey through the many ups and downs of life.
