For Li Yang, yoga has become an integral part of her life; it's not just "Indian gymnastics," but also a philosophy. 23 years of consistent practice have made Li Yang a leading master in Chengdu. Faced with the diverse range of yoga options offered by Chengdu's fitness centers and professional yoga studios, Li Yang advises everyone to choose a style that suits them best. This time, Li Yang recommends—hot yoga.
Recommended by: Li Yang
Recommender's profession: Yoga instructor
In layman's terms, hot yoga is a combination of sauna and yoga, but because the humidity in a hot yoga studio is far lower than in a sauna, practitioners won't feel particularly stuffy. However, since it's practiced at temperatures exceeding the body's normal range, it's important to note that hot yoga isn't suitable for everyone. Those recovering from serious illnesses, those who are weak, and those with severe colds, fevers, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, epilepsy, heart disease, or high blood pressure are also unsuitable for hot yoga.
Hot yoga was founded by Bikram, an Indian, based on Hatha yoga, a branch of yoga. In the Hot Yoga series, Bikram retained the 26 postures of the original Hatha yoga and arranged them scientifically. These 26 postures are scientifically arranged according to the characteristics of the human body's muscles, ligaments, and tendons, in a sequence designed to stretch and warm them up. Therefore, it is essential to follow the instructor's guidance in the correct order during practice; otherwise, errors may occur. For those with poor balance, hand-eye coordination, or who lack regular exercise, some postures may not be immediately perfected when starting out.
The greatest benefits of hot yoga are weight loss and detoxification. Some techniques stimulate relaxed glands to increase hormone release, accelerating fat metabolism. Yoga's deep breathing exercises also increase oxygen absorption by cells, increasing oxidation and burning more fat cells. Furthermore, stimulating the lymphatic system and promoting profuse sweating helps eliminate toxins.
The biggest difference between hot yoga and traditional yoga is that hot yoga is practiced in a high temperature of 38-42 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is good for practitioners to have a towel to wipe away sweat and a sports drink to replenish electrolytes at any time. If you feel unwell, you should stop practicing immediately.
[ Editor's Pick: A Quick and Effective Way to Flatten Your Stomach in One Minute]
