[JennyG]

Hey everyone!
I just joined a Moksha Yoga Studio, which is hot yoga, for my first week and first time EVER doing yoga, I went for 4 days in a row so far and I can't wait to go back! What a feeling! wow - amazing! I love it! What are your thoughts on hot yoga, for those who tried it or for those who are still attending classes?

Secondly, I know its a silly question, but does anyone know approximetely how many calories you would burn in a 75-90 minute hot yoga practice? I am so curious, because you sweat so much and your heart rate gets going pretty good for most of the class!

I'm new to this type of workout, as I am used to hardcore kickboxing, so it almost feels like a treat to do hot yoga and still know that I am exercising and doing good for my body!

Any suggestions or input that any of you may have, please feel free to post! I'm looking for any and all feedback! Thank you so much!

[cheryl126]

I've been to hot yoga a bunch of times because there's a studio near my house, but the heat is really too much for me. While I'm doing it, I always tell myself that I'm crazy for going through this, but then afterwards I feel amazing....for days! This is why I've done it a bunch of times and not just once

I think I just sweat more than normal people and that's what makes it tough. They tell us to bring a bath towel to place under you, so that you don't slip around on your mat in puddles of your own sweat (gross, but I feel like it's something you should know ahead of time!), but last time I was so hot that even the towel got slippery.

You also have to be careful about over-exerting yourself. There are people in my class who go there all the time and are totally ripped and look like they could be on fitness commercials, but I see some of them having to stop and do child's pose. One of my friends went to another studio where people are known to pass out from the heat. Not good - be sure to know your own body and know when to take a break!

Another thing that's maybe kind of amusing is that I've known a lot of people to sort of brush off yoga as just some stretching and breathing, but these hot yoga people do not mess around. This is a real workout. I've gone to their unheated classes too (which are about 1 out of every 20 classes they offer, lol) and I'm sore for a few days even though I weight train and am in pretty good shape. I don't know about the calorie burn, but on days that I go to power yoga instead of running, I do NOT feel like I'm getting off easy.

[goalgetta]

Hey JennyG,
I love love love hot yoga. I moved out of town and have not been able to find a place to do hot/Bikram yoga, but I try to catch a class whenever I come home. I am not sure what the exact calorie count is, but I have heard that it can be upwards of 400 or 500 calories a session. Of course it will vary with weight, level of intensity in poses, etc.

I think that if the heat does not bother you, it is a great exercise. You get strength and stretching in one. It also made me want to eat better and drink more water, so you might experience that plus as well.

[GonnaTurnHeads]

I hate it soooo much. I really really hate feeling hot in the first place, but to put myself in a hot space and then exercise in it!? It feels suffocating to me.