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With dozens of types of yoga, it can be hard to choose the right variety for you. Practitioners of hot yoga cite increased fle
xibility and a decrease in bodily toxins as benefits. You m
ay also hear that hot yoga boosts your metabolism. While hot yoga is great for your health in many ways and may increase your metabolism temporarily because of the physical activity, it will not kick your metabolism into high gear by virtue of the heat in which you exercise. Your metabolism may actually suffer while doing hot yoga under certain conditions.
Metabolism 101
Metabolism is the method your body uses to process foods eaten into energy. It consists of two main activities: increasing energy stores and breaking down those energy stores for the purpose of energy generation. That energy provides the fuel for your body's natural processes and also gives you the stamina to go about your daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs and working. You can boost your metabolism, although Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. notes that efforts to do so will likely not lead to long-term weight loss.
About Hot Yoga
Hot yoga, also called Bikram yoga, consists of 26 poses, or asanas, performed over a 90-minute period in a room heated to 105 degrees F and 40 percent humidity. The founder of Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury, alleges that this type of yoga is a full-body workout that properly teaches oxygen use through a breathing technique known as pranayama.
Hot Yoga and Your Metabolism
Hot yoga makes you sweat. You may equate sweat with a tough workout, and vigorous exercise is associated with an increased metabolic rate, according to a September 2011 study published in the "Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise." You may find hot yoga to be a hard workout that will boost your metabolism temporarily; however, the heat does not provide positive benefits in this respect. Elevating the body temperature does slightly increase the metabolism, but your body regulates heat very closely to avoid organ damage. Sweating without replenishing lost fluids by drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease your metabolism, which puts you at risk of a lowered metabolic rate when doing hot yoga.
Considerations
Hot yoga is not appropriate for everyone. Diana Zotos, yoga instructor and physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, suggests you avoid this yoga practice if you dehydrate easily, or if you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, muscle or joint pain, or heart disease or abnormal blood pressure, as hot yoga may exacerbate these medical conditions.
xibility and a decrease in bodily toxins as benefits. You m
ay also hear that hot yoga boosts your metabolism. While hot yoga is great for your health in many ways and may increase your metabolism temporarily because of the physical activity, it will not kick your metabolism into high gear by virtue of the heat in which you exercise. Your metabolism may actually suffer while doing hot yoga under certain conditions.
Metabolism 101
Metabolism is the method your body uses to process foods eaten into energy. It consists of two main activities: increasing energy stores and breaking down those energy stores for the purpose of energy generation. That energy provides the fuel for your body's natural processes and also gives you the stamina to go about your daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs and working. You can boost your metabolism, although Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. notes that efforts to do so will likely not lead to long-term weight loss.
About Hot Yoga
Hot yoga, also called Bikram yoga, consists of 26 poses, or asanas, performed over a 90-minute period in a room heated to 105 degrees F and 40 percent humidity. The founder of Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury, alleges that this type of yoga is a full-body workout that properly teaches oxygen use through a breathing technique known as pranayama.
Hot Yoga and Your Metabolism
Hot yoga makes you sweat. You may equate sweat with a tough workout, and vigorous exercise is associated with an increased metabolic rate, according to a September 2011 study published in the "Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise." You may find hot yoga to be a hard workout that will boost your metabolism temporarily; however, the heat does not provide positive benefits in this respect. Elevating the body temperature does slightly increase the metabolism, but your body regulates heat very closely to avoid organ damage. Sweating without replenishing lost fluids by drinking adequate amounts of water can decrease your metabolism, which puts you at risk of a lowered metabolic rate when doing hot yoga.
Considerations
Hot yoga is not appropriate for everyone. Diana Zotos, yoga instructor and physical therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, suggests you avoid this yoga practice if you dehydrate easily, or if you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, muscle or joint pain, or heart disease or abnormal blood pressure, as hot yoga may exacerbate these medical conditions.
