Health Benefits And Risks Of Hot Yoga

Promotes Detoxification

Hot yoga promotes the detoxification of metabolic waste throughout the body. As with all of hot yoga’s intermingled benefits, the enhanced circulation, cardiac output, and kidney function promoted by the excess heat can all serve to remove toxins from the body. Sweat, of course, is a big contributor to waste excretion, while stretching and breathing both function to remove metabolic 'junk' from muscles and joints, such as lactic acid, uric acid, and trace heavy metals.

Individuals should, of course, be sure to drink plenty of extra water before, during, and especially after a hot yoga session. Their bodies will be filtering these wastes for hours afterward. The stress reduction and detoxification process may be enhanced with herbal tea or certain essential oils as well, and some mineral supplementation may benefit. Individuals should consider coconut water for potassium and a small magnesium supplement after a sweaty session.

Not Appropriate For High Blood Pressure

Although hot yoga is a good form of exercise, it is not appropriate for individuals with high blood pressure. The extreme temperatures of the practice, by design, force the body to work much harder to stay cool. As the heart pumps more forcefully to circulate blood and oxygen faster, this causes the arterial blood pressure to rise temporarily. Thus, those who are already under treatment for high blood pressure may not be able to tolerate hot yoga safely.

Very high blood pressure can cause arteries already constricted by plaque to occlude suddenly, resulting in a stroke or heart attack. Chronically elevated blood pressure can do other types of damage too, such as to the delicate tissues of the kidneys, retina, or the tiny vasculature at the end of the fingers and toes. If individuals have been diagnosed with or are taking medication for hypertension, they should check with a doctor before trying hot yoga.