Hot Yoga is a series of yoga poses done in a heated room. The room is usually maintained at a temperature of 95-100 degrees.

As you can imagine, a vigorous yoga session at this temperature promotes profuse sweating which rids the body of toxins. Hot Yoga also makes the body very warm, and therefore more flexible. Moksha Yoga is a form of Hot Yoga that is more well known today.

Hot Moksha Yoga

Hot Moksha Yoga is a form of hot yoga that is ideal for the yoga beginner as well as the seasoned practitioner. Hot Moksha yoga is a series of traditional yoga postures created for practice in a heated room. The series of postures taught in hot moksha yoga is a cardiovascular workout. It incorporates many challenging postures that sustain an elevated heart rate. It strengthens, tones, and stretches the muscles while calming the mind and reducing stress. The heated room allows tighter muscles to stretch with greater ease. All Hot Yoga classes follow a basic structure that is fundamental to the Moksha Yoga practice.

Health Benefits of Hot Moksha Yoga

Health benefits of Hot Moksha Yoga include but are not limited to:

• Reduces stress. Hot Moksha Yoga's deep breathing exercises brings calming effect that reduces stress.  
• Alleviates/Improves Depression. Hot Yoga also helps alleviate depression.In addition to melatonin, the pineal gland also controls the release of serotonin, the "mood" hormone. As certain postures flush the pineal gland with oxygenated blood its function improves and emotional highs and low begin to even out.
• Improves Arthritis.The 'hot' element of the hot yoga class is what has the most dramatic affect on arthritis sufferers.
• Reduces Back/Knee Pain. The heat in a Moksha Yoga class relaxes the joints. Also Hot Moksha Yoga focuses on opening the hips where knee and back pain often originate.
• Reduces and/or Alleviates Headaches. Many postures in the Moksha Yoga sequence relieve tension and tightness in the neck and shoulder area. As this area relaxes, blood flow increases and headaches often decrease or go away entirely.
• Reduces/Improves Insomnia. Several postures focus on increasing blood flow through the pineal gland where melatonin, the hormone released to induce deep sleep, is released.
• Reduces Digestive Problems.  With regular practice many Hot Moksha Yoga  students find that they don't crave junk food as much. This inclination towards a healthier diet, coupled with calming the nervous system, helps with long-term digestive issues. Hot Moksha Yoga also can help improve symptoms from common digestive disorders such as irritable bowel disorder (IBS).
• Reduces Constipation.  Relaxing the central nervous system by focusing on breathing increases a process called peristalsis. Peristalsis moves processed food through the digestive system and out of the body. Certain postures increase blood flow to the colon, further aiding the digestive process.
• Improves Poor Posture.  With regular Moksha Yoga classes the spine gets stronger and students notice that it is actually more comfortable to sit and stand straight.
• Improves Scoliosis. The work on stretching and strengthening the spine has a dramatic effect on those working with a spinal curvature. Hot Moksha Yoga helps ease pain and the strength in the internal muscle structure of the back improves which starts to allow for great ease in movement and better posture.
• Reduces Body Fat. Hot Moksha Yoga reduces fat due to excess heat.  You will loose up to 1000 calories per session.
• Improves your Sense of Well Being. Hot Moksha Yoga helps increase your energy and improve your overall sense of well being.

Hot Moksha Yoga Limitations

• Pregnancy. Women in their first trimester of pregnancy, unless they have kept up a regular hot moksha yoga practice for at least 6 months, are recommended to stay out of the heated room.  
• Heart Disease. Those suffering from severe heart disease that limits cardiovascular activity.
• Children. It is best that hot yoga is practiced only after the child's sweat glands have developed - usually around a girl's first menstruation or a boy's growth spurt.
  

Hot Moksha Yoga Tips

• It is essential to have your own yoga mat when doing Hot Yoga since you will be sweating so much.
• Students tend to wear very little clothing for the same reason.
• Make sure to drink plenty of water before and after class so you don't get dehydrated.
• It is not advisable to eat during the two hours before class.