Weddingbee boards

Hey Fitness Bees,

I know a lot of you out there love yoga and I'm a yoga lover too so here's to the happy yogi bees!

I have been trying to get hired on to teach at various yoga studios and I was hired to work at a hot yoga studio.  I've been teaching yoga for years, but I've never even taken a hot yoga class!  I'm stoked because I got a lot of shifts there, the owner is great, it is nearby home, and the classes are packed. 

I plan to take a class before I actually teach one, but I wonder from those of you out there what you like about hot yoga.  What do you expect from a class?  Why do you choose hot yoga instead of going to a regular yoga studio?  What has a teacher done in a hot yoga class that's been super rad for you?

Thanks for any information on this, Bees!  I appreciate it! 

Good question, Miss B.

Hot Yoga is yoga practiced in a heated room, the room temperature is maintained at 105 degrees.  The idea is that the class uses vigorous and strengthening poses and the heated room facilitates sweating and detoxification.    Some also say that the heated room makes it easier to stretch into the poses. 

There is also Bikram's yoga, which is a special series of 26 poses which is copyrighted (yeah, seriously- copyrighted yoga!) and can only be taught at a Bikram yoga center.  This yoga is also practiced in the hot room and claims that the practitioner will never have a health problem if they practice daily. 

I don't know about all of that, but I imagine it feels like a great workout and is mentally challenging to practice in such a warm room! My concern is that students will expect the Bikram series class and I am not trained in that series, which I made clear to the owner and he said is fine. 

What do you expect from a class?  Why do you choose hot yoga instead of going to a regular yoga studio?  What has a teacher done in a hot yoga class that's been super rad for you?

I don't take classes in a studio any longer, choosing to practice Iyengar at home, but I used to do Bikram (I have a love-hate relationship with Bikram). I've been to 4 studios here in the city and have one favorite that I would go to if I ever returned to Bikram. At my favorite studio the teachers always asked if there were people with injuries in the room and modified my poses (knee injury) to something that was comfortable for me. These teachers always looked out for me during certain poses and told me to back off or take it easy. These teachers had nice, soothing voices and didn't lecture during the asanas.

Pren79 is right in that people certainly do overstretch, especially type A people who are so used to pushing themselves. It's always nice to get reminders from the teachers that this class is not about who can stretch the furthest, who is most flexible, but that the practice is very personal and listen to your bodies. I've been turned off by the teachers who bark asanas and push really hard or act like they're teaching an aerobics class, one teacher told me that doing a certain position would help me even after I said it was painful.

I don't think the popularity of hot yoga or Bikram is due to the flexibility thing, but definitely due to the illusion of weight loss (though plenty of people have lost weight doing Bikram regularly, including myself) but also because some people just can't get into yoga. I know people who would never do a "regular" yoga class but would take Bikram in a heartbeat because they think it's more challenging (people stereotype yoga a lot).

So, be aware of your students, be a guide and be firm but don't push too hard. Hope that helps.

Thanks pren.  I've heard all the same cautions about hot yoga and feel the same way.  My teachers have trained me in a way of being very mindful of differences in every body and also to prevent injuries in yoga class and no way am I going to forget all of that!  We practice yoga to be healthy well into old age, not to hurt ourselves at a young age!  I've also learned how to practice and teach hundreds and HUNDREDS of poses, while yes, Birkram is just 26 poses.  BUt I don't have to teach that series, I was told I can teach whatever I want but in the hot yoga class to just slow down and have students hold the poses for a long time. 

Thanks for your support.  I'm excited about the opportunity and feel that at the very least, I'll learn a lot about teaching and will get more experience. 

I did Bikram for about a year. IT WAS WONDERFUL! I loved it. It took about 5 consistent classes for me to get used to it, but walked out of the room floating...drove home and felt like I was floating...I just felt great the entire day. When I get a chance to drop in a yoga class, I tend to choose hot or Bikram over just a regular class. I just feel like it pushes me more. Most of the instructors involved with Bikram have always been patient and are able to help students at all levels--so it doesn't feel like they are being pushy or trying to push you too much out of your comfort zone....all in all, they just make me feel more comfortable. Good luck! 

I go to different hot yoga studios in NYC and what I find enjoyable varies in each place.  I think the teacher really matters in this case.  I do hot vinyasa yoga and I tend to enjoy the teachers that don't breeze through each pose.  Since I'm at a beginner's level, this is very important.  I like to know what my body is capable of without overdoing it.  I'm a frequent visitor at Big Apple Yoga (where Alanis Morissett's brother plays the guitar and sings for us live!)  It's a small studio but the teachers pay attention to each person's capacity.

Although I somewhat agree with the comments above about hot yoga, it works out great for me because I normally don't sweat.  Yes - it takes being in a heated room to sweat and it feels great!  It may not be for everyone but it really does work for some!

Thanks everyone for the comments and information.  This is so helpful! 

latoya:  Thanks for your perspective! I also really appreciate it when teachers check in individually w/ everyone, whether it is about injuries or to see if anyone is feeling a certain way that day.  And yes, the US mainstream culture tends to breed type A folks and bringing that attitude into yoga can certainly result in injury, so it is good to remind people to honor themselves and be kind to themselves.  The weight loss aspect of hot yoga seems to be really pushed, but it seems like a lot of that will be due to just losing water weight through sweating!  Then it is just like anything else- eat fewer calories than you burn! 

emg: That's awesome that you had such a postive experience from doing this type of yoga, that is so good to hear.

pinkparfait: I don't sweat very much either!  Isn't that funny?  I do get really red though!  I'll see how much I sweat in these hot and humid rooms, it'll probably feel really nice! 

I'm a big fan of hot yoga (Bikram and Vinyasa)...in fact, I only prefer to practice hot yoga.  I love it because 1) makes me sweat! (I also don't sweat much usually, but hot yoga has done wonders improving my circulation and promoting sweating/detoxing.) 2) raises heart rate and can combine yoga and cardio. 3) feels like a work out. 

One thing that I needed my instructor to remind me constantly at first was to keep my eyes open and focussed.  Being in hot room, you don't want to close your eyes and relax (at least not until the very end when cooling down). 

Good luck w/ your new job and have fun!

Thanks, guys!

Jessie, the class is at a studio called "I love Hot Yoga" in Seattle, in the Greenlake neighborhood.  I'm teaching there a lot in the next few weeks, if anyone is in this area and want to check it out, just message me and I can let you know more details! 

I tried one of the classes last night just to see what it is like before I teach and I'm so glad I did!  The studio is so hot, there really is not way you can move really quickly in there.  And I sweat SO much, it was amazing how much sweat came out of me.  But it felt really good, VERY challenging and you simply have to focus on your breathing or you'll get too lightheaded.  I felt great and refreshed afterwards!  When I got home, my FI said "Your face is SO RED!  Are you okay?!"  Ha ha. 

Hey peops,

I just checked back in on this post and wanted to update.  My class is going well, I've learned a lot about how many classes to take on and whatnot.  I have had some classes where I felt really on top of things and other where I didn't at all, so I've learned a lot about the type of preparation I need to do for a class.  A few times,  I did 3 classes in a row and in the heat of the room, and also having to talk a lot, was a bit much for me.  I have settled on doing 3 classes per week at this studio and am also pursuing some teaching opporunities to add onto those classes at other places in the city.  I'm about to leave my full time job and considering just teaching yoga for a while, esp. with the wedding coming up.

I love hot yoga - I would definitely suggest that you remind newcomers that the most important part is staying in the room, that they can sit down if they feel faint, etc.  The first time I took it I made the mistake of leaving the room when I was too hot and it was insanely more difficult to stay afterwards than if I had just sat down and breathed into the heat.  I also second everyone's suggestion that you remind everyone to go at their own pace, but also assist those who want to push themselves.  I had a teacher who would help straighten your back or push you slightly if you were just getting to perfect your pose.  It was SO helpful and I appreciated it a lot.