Lifespan brands’ very own Tiffany Vargas is a yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga in the Chicago area. Last night she taught a special Hot Power Fusion yoga class with Lava® lamps, evoking the feelings of peace and harmony during the 1960s and 70s. The slow, relaxing flow of the Lava® lamps in the classroom created the perfect vibe for the theme. Tiffany also played some great old tunes from the era and talked about the way people were ahead of their time in the way they opened their minds and hearts to ALL people, no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation.
Hot Power Fusion yoga cranks up the heat in the room, which also creates a unique atmosphere conducive to stretching muscles more completely, opening up the skin’s pores and ridding the body of toxins. Of course, being in the bitter cold of the Windy City’s northwest suburbs, hot yoga is a great escape from the unpleasant outdoor temperatures.
One class attendee said she loves doing the hot yoga class in the later evening hours (this session was from 8-9 pm), especially on a cold winter night. It warms her up, loosens her muscles and relaxes her before bed. It’s a great way to get rid of the day’s stresses and calm your mind and body for a good night of sleep.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing to attend a hot yoga class for the first time.
Benefits of hot yoga:
- Detoxification – flushing toxins from the body through sweat. With the high temperature, from 99 up to 105 degrees, you will definitely sweat a lot! Don’t worry about it; don’t feel self-conscious about it. Just let it drip off. That’s what it’s meant to do. Don’t wipe it off either – that can close your pores. This will force your body to produce more sweat for the same area again to cool it down. If you look around the class, you’ll see that everyone else is sweating as much as you. Embracing the sweat is the secret to a successful hot yoga session.
- Elevates the heart rate, making the body work harder. It’s a great cardiovascular workout.
- Warm muscles – helps you stretch more deeply into the yoga postures.
- Improves breathing, which can help with issues like asthma.
- Focuses your mind, allowing you to develop mental concentration.
- Helps to relax your body.
Before a hot class:
- Don’t eat heavy foods before doing hot yoga.
- Don’t eat within an hour of hot yoga class.
- Don’t do another strenuous workout on the same day.
- Don’t wear constricting or baggy clothes.
- Don’t chug a bunch of water right before class. Gradually drink water throughout the day.
If you’re new to yoga in general, here’s a great introduction from Positive Health Wellness:
For more about CorePower Yoga studios, check out their social media and websites:
Instagram CorePower Chicago Suburbs – https://www.instagram.com/corepoweryoga_suburbanchicago/
Instagram – CorePower Yoga main account – https://www.instagram.com/corepoweryoga/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/CPYChiSuburbs
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CPYnorthsuburbanchicago/
Website – www.corepoweryoga.com