Some Like It Hot
First off, great movie. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dress in drag & join an all-girl band to escape mobsters. Marilyn Monroe strolls through “like jello on springs” (direct quote) as Sugar Kane, love interest and comedienne in her own right. Netflix it, like, now, especially if you didn’t recognize any of those actors. Philistine. : )
But, I digress. A lot, usually.
My actual point is that heat in yoga is a miraculous thing. Think of taffy kept in a fridge, vs at room temperature, vs in a steamroom. Warm muscle = stretchier muscle.
You can create internal heat in practice through moving (vinyasa/sun salutes) and also by holding a pose deeply for an extended period of time (try five minutes in the Warrior of your choice with the front leg bent to a true right angle to test that one out. I’ll wait. : ).
But external heat and humidity totally helps everything open up easier. As a not-naturally-bendy yogini, it took heat (as well as time and patience and technique blah blah etc etc) before I stopped getting constantly injured & pissed off & started to create some freedom, space & length.
It can take some getting used to & finding the right level. E.g., Bikram at 105ish is a bit much for me; Baptiste runs 95ish and Forrest 85 plus, and those are mighty fine temps. Tasty. For a home practice, three cheers for portable heaters & humidifiers. The Beloved Husband can’t bear to go near my yoga room once it’s been appropriately nuked for practice. But, sweet release of heat, my goodness!
Try it. Before or after you Netflix that classic flick. : )
Tags: Hot yoga
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Would love to hear your thoughts on the challenge doing heated yoga during hot, hot summer months… I suppose hydration before and after are key, but on some level doesn’t it make sense to do more of a cooling practice during the ungodly hot summer months?! In Forrest yoga in particular, is there room for judgement calls depending on the outside temperature, humidity and heat index? Like would a Forrest Yoga teacher, giving a Forrest Yoga specific class, ever keep the heat off if it was over 100 degree’s F outside with over 30% humidity?
On another note (but related I think
) what about ujayyi pranyama…I was doing one of Ana Forrest’s videos yesterday and she recommend that people engage in ujayyi through out their day to give themsevles energy. Are other pranyama’s used in Forrest yoga…like cooling pranyamas (such as Shitali Pranayama), especially for the summer months and to help cool down after a long heated practice???
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:04 am
Hey, isn’t all of Texas air-conditioned nowadays & you freeze in every mall??? : ) I think we adapt to the heat & a good temp for practice holds true for the individual regardless of the weather. Forrest is done at 85 plus, period, or you gotta call it something else. Water is essential and I’m gonna wax philosophical on that soon cuz I’ve tons of opinions there also. : )
For pranayama, Forrest teaches Sitali, Nadhi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, Brahmeri, basic Kumbhaka/Rechaka & throwing Uddiyana in also, Agni Sara, Sivananda… loads of different ones. I think the ujjayi encouragement is because we work so hard to breathe well in class, then as soon as we walk outside, start the shallow gasping crap again! Maybe that’s just me. You keep giving me notes on more things to write about!! : )
July 12th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
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