Are Cold Workouts the New Hot Yoga?

Boosters say that working out in the cold can reduce soreness and speed up metabolism so you burn more calories. We gave it a go at Brrrn.

 Hot Yoga Is a Lie

You're sweating out water and salt, not toxins.

 Hot Yoga's Heart Benefits May Not Come From The Heat At All

The researchers found that heart health, as measured by blood vessel function, improved significantly in both yoga groups (it didn’t change in the control group), which may suggest that it’s the yoga itself and not the heat that has an effect.

 Hot yoga’s high temperature may not have any health benefits

Could hot yoga really just be a waste of effort? A study suggests that the practice may offer little benefit over similarly-paced yoga at a more normal temperature. Most forms of yoga are thought to aid relaxation and muscle strengthening. But hot yoga, which typically involves going through a strenuous 26 poses over 90 minutes in a warm and humid room, also makes people sweat intensely – which some take as a sign that it’s better for you.

 What is hot yoga and is it right for you?

Hot yoga enthusiasts swear by the deep stretching, strengthening and detoxification that they get out of the practice. And two new studies show it might also help ease feelings of anxiety and reduce a tendency toward emotional eating.

Hot and Bothered: The Hype, History, and Science of Hot Yoga

The first heated yoga studio can be traced back to Japan in the 1970s. Bikram Choudhury was teaching in Japan and he was intrigued by the saunas his students would take during their lunch breaks. That’s when he started experimenting with heaters in his yoga room. 1 Bikram heated those early classes to 28 degrees Celsius (about 82 degrees Fahrenheit) to mirror the temperature of his hometown of Calcutta, India. He noticed that the increased temperature made people sweat and exert themselves more in class, and that as they sweat more they associated this with a better workout. So he increased the heat. And he increased it some more. And more. Today, Bikram yoga takes place in a room heated to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hot Yoga: The Dangers and Myths You Need to Know

Hopefully the facts can help you make the decision yourself, whether yoga in external heat is your friend or your enemy.

Is Bikram Yoga Safe?

A new study found that people’s core temperatures rose as high as 104 degrees during hot yoga. Experts weigh in on the benefits and potential risks of the practice.

Leaving Hot Yoga Before the Class Ends

When the 105-degree heat becomes too much to handle, a struggle between mind and body commences.

So You Wanna Try Hot Yoga

After taking my first class, I am officially in love. It was not easy, but it was one of the best workouts I’ve ever done. I’m so happy that I didn’t let my (mildly psychotic) fears get the best of me. Here are some of the best things I took out of my first class.

The #1 Mistake You're Making With Hot Yoga

When it comes to Bikram yoga—you know, the type of hot yoga that takes place in a 105°F room with 40% humidity—people tend to either love it or hate it. While research from the past few years supports that the 90-minute, sweat-drenching practice can increase flexibility and balance; improve cardiovascular fitness; and may help with weight loss, many experts still question the safety of practicing in the sauna-like conditions. Turns out, if you're new to Bikram, you could be putting yourself at risk for heat exhaustion.

The Enduring Appeal of Being Hot

What is it about sweaty, 105-degree yoga that makes people feel intensely alive?

What to Expect During Your First Bikram Yoga Class

Bikram Yoga is a very specific hot yoga methodology. I want to emphasize this: Bikram Yoga is always hot yoga, but hot yoga is not always Bikram. In other words, Bikram Yoga is a "name brand" version of yoga performed in a hot studio.