Social media has opened so many doors for us. It brings together people from all different ages, places and lifestyles. It’s a way to escape our own versions of reality and experience someone else’s. But it is also a form of persuasion. We look to influencers to keep up with the latest trends, and sometimes, these trends bring the rapid spread of misinformation along with them.
One trend that has caught people’s attention is hot yoga. It challenges individuals physically and mentally, leaving them drenched in sweat and, supposedly, feeling “detoxed.” I was one of those yoga-goers. There was something almost addictive about how my body felt after class. Believing all the toxins in my body were gone, I would leave feeling refreshed and accomplished. It became a regular practice for me, just as it has for many others.
I never stopped to question where that feeling came from. That question became even more interesting after a conversation with a yoga instructor who argues that hot yoga does more harm than good. So, of course my journalist self had to do some fact-checking. Let’s talk about the pros and cons.
The Pros:
Like any wellness trend, hot yoga has its supporters. One argument is that the heat helps improve flexibility. Heat can increase blood flow to tissues and make muscles feel more pliable, potentially allowing people to move comfortably into certain poses. However, being able to stretch farther doesn’t necessarily mean you’re less likely to get injured.
Hot yoga can also offer benefits for bone health. Yoga involves weight-bearing poses that support strength and balance, when coupled with the heat, can improve bone density. Bone density can weaken as we age, so this is a strong positive.
Then there’s the benefit that attracts so many stressed out college students. When a class is as physically demanding as hot yoga, it’s almost impossible to think about anything other than controlling your breathing and focusing on your body in that moment and that moment only. Not the test you have tomorrow or the fact that you got dumped this weekend. Just you, your body and the present moment.
That mental break, combined with the mood benefits that exercise can provide, leaves us feeling better about ourselves and the world around us. And who doesn’t want that? Aside from the fact that hot yoga classes are usually more expensive than regular vinyasa classes, the benefits sound pretty appealing, especially when celebrities, influencers and companies regularly endorse them.
The Cons:
What happens when we look beyond the sweaty selfies and feelings of accomplishment post-class? Why do some people think yoga does more harm than good?
The yoga instructor that I was inspired by was passionate about this. He told me when hot yoga started becoming immensely popular in Los Angeles, where he was living at the time, he refused to teach it. His concern was that yoga already requires a large amount of physical effort, and adding extreme heat to an already demanding practice makes it harder for the body to flourish how it’s supposed to.
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding hot yoga is that sweating means we’re detoxing our bodies. But, sweating is primarily how our bodies attempt to cool down. Our liver and kidneys do most of the detox work. When we sweat heavily over a short period of time, we lose minerals and electrolytes our bodies need. If those aren’t replaced, we can become severely dehydrated and at risk for heat stroke. For anyone walking into an early morning class without drinking enough water, dizziness, headaches, muscle cramps and fatigue are all signs your body isn’t handling the conditions well.
Next, let’s revisit one of hot yoga’s selling points: flexibility. Although heat can make muscles more flexible that doesn’t mean we should push our bodies further than they’re ready to go. When we feel more flexible than usual, it’s easy to push too far, and before you know it, you feel sore and strained because your body wasn’t prepared.
After all my research, I don’t necessarily think hot yoga is a hoax. The benefits exist, but the problem begins when we confuse sweating with detoxing, discomfort and progress. Just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s good for us.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to understanding your own body and the risks involved. If you decide to try hot yoga, stay hydrated, take breaks and consider starting with a regular temperature class. Remember, dizziness, nausea or fainting aren’t signs of a successful workout. That’s your body telling you to stop and slow down.