We’re big fans of hot Yoga here at One for All.  And while hot Yoga is one of those things that is appealing to some people and not to others, I have a lot of respect for those people that give it a go, putting any fears to one side and just getting on with it.  This practice asks you to leave expectations at the door and get out of your comfort zone, so let’s talk openly about a few of the struggles that hot Yoga lovers know all too well.

LETTING OUT A FART

In any kind of Yoga, this is something that many people fear happening.  And gas may well find a way to escape as you twist your body into new shapes.  If it does happen, chances are it’ll be a silent one that doesn’t carry a potent aroma and as there’s usually music playing, it may well go unnoticed by your neighbours.  The truth is that everyone farts in Yoga at some point. The kind thing to do is to watch what you eat before practising so if anything does slip out it’ll be innocuous.

FEELING INTIMIDATED BY THE HEAT

You’ll be surprised how hot the room actually is in your first hot Yoga class.  You will be sweating before you start moving.  You may start to wonder what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into.  With more people in the room it can feel even hotter, but rest assured there is a thermostat so the heaters will go off if necessary.

THE TEMPTATION TO DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Proper hydration is sometimes the difference between a hard and not-so-tough hot Yoga session.  However, chugging a bottle of water right before class or even worse, during the class, will only give you an incredibly full stomach, inevitably making the practice much harder for you, especially in poses that require you to engage or lie on your belly.

FIDGETING

Yoga aims to reign in your focus.  Transitioning between the poses cultivates patience and calm.  But when you focus instead on fixing your hair, adjusting your mat or towel, drinking water or wiping away sweat your mind inevitably wonders.  And many people get into these habits particularly at an awkward pose, for example drinking water when everyone else is working hard on a standing balance.  If you can let go of these fidgets, your practice will start to come together really organically.

THE FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PERFORM A POSTURE

Fear holds you back.  While you may be amazed by someone in the room who can hold a tricky balance beautifully, there will have been many times when that person was learning the pose and they fell out of it, just like you.  Hot Yoga is a practice that can help you to embrace fear and keep going when things get tough.   Once you learn this on the mat, you can take that lesson and skill with you when you leave.