13/08/2025
Sharp pain or dizziness are often a sign that you are pushing yourself too far. Read on to find out how to stay safe during your hot yoga class!
Hot yoga can have a profoundly positive effect on the body – provided you know what you are doing. This makes it all the more important to listen to your own body and avoid comparing yourself to others.
Thanks to the heat (typically 35–40 °C at 40–50% humidity), muscles open up more easily, as elevated temperatures improve the elasticity of muscle tissue. Studies have shown that heat significantly increases muscle flexibility, thereby reducing the risk of injury during stretching exercises (Woods et al., 2007).
Nevertheless, it is important not to force anything and to respect your own limits, as overstretching and microtrauma can still occur.
Calm breathing through the nose is essential to help stabilise circulation and deepen your practice. Nasal breathing promotes more efficient oxygen uptake than mouth breathing and supports regulation of the autonomic nervous system, reducing stress and improving physical endurance (Jerath et al., 2015). Controlled breathing also helps regulate body temperature and heart rate during yoga practice in exercise in heat.
Overall, when practised correctly, hot yoga can improve flexibility, boost muscle circulation, and enhance overall wellbeing. The key is to listen to your body, take breaks when needed, and slow down at the first signs of dizziness or pain.
All that’s left to say is: enjoy yourself and your sweat in your first or next hot yoga class.
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Monksland Retail Park, Monksland, Athlone N37 YR98
hotyogaathlone.com
