By all accounts, yoga tends to reach the parts that other forms of exercise fail to reach, and over time this meditative form of body bending can reap great rewards, including the reduction of stress, the building of core strength and the boosting of energy levels. It will also help you improve flexibility.
Yoga comes in many forms and styles, and one growing in popularity is commonly known as hot yoga. If you've never heard of hot yoga, you can probably guess what it would say on the tin.
Hot yoga is the brainchild of Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yoga guru who had the idea of cranking up the heating in a room prior to the start of a yoga workout. Bikram, a native of Calcutta, wanted to replicate the summer weather of his home city, and then some. He believes the intense heat and humidity of hot yoga (the room is usually kept at a temperature of around 40c) serves to loosen tight muscles, while the profuse sweating cleanses the body both physically and spiritually.
There are many places across London where you can try hot yoga. Classes and styles will vary so visit the website first to see if it sounds of interest. Or simply go along and give it a try.
Hot Bikram Yoga holds classes in Fulham and Balham.
Bikram Yoga has studios in Soho and Victoria.
There's also
Bikram Yoga Chiswick in Essex Place
All of the above places happily welcome beginners and have excellent advice on their websites for newbies.
Don't worry if you're as flexible as a wooden plank – over time you'll notice that this changes. All you need to do is to attempt the postures as best you can. If you make the yoga class a regular event, you're bound to feel the long-term as well as short-term benefits.
Hot yoga guarantees a full body workout at a pace that suits you, while at the same time instilling within a sense of calmness and well being. I'm getting a sweat on just thinking about it.
