Some like it hot (YOGA)

Hello dear Rocca members,

Here is Claudia, your founder.

A couple of weeks ago I was kindly invited by a Hot Yoga Studio in the heart of Lisbon – Vydia, to try one of their classes. Our love for sports does not go unseen on our socials and that makes me VERY happy. As the sports bunny that I am, I immediately said yes and booked a class for the next day.

As I walked in, I could feel the warmth coming from the studio. For a split second, I questioned by ability to make it through the class - but I'm not a quiter (unless we are doing a drinking competition) so I grabbed my bottle of water, put my hair in a high bun (using my Rocca scrunchie), took a deep breath and in I went. By the time we started the practice, the heat was almost overwhelming (this is when you start to question why??) and I was already dripping in sweat. However, as we began moving through the poses, my body adjusted to the intensity of the heat with an unexpected ease.

There’s something truly purifying about Hot Yoga. With sweat pouring off me (sorry for the visual) in rivers, I could feel the toxins leaving my body. More than that, I could feel a mental cleanse, especially because I really had to focus on my breathing – one key learning to take from this experience, there’s no space for distraction in the heat; it forces you to be present and in the moment.

The class ended with a beautiful meditation and a nice fresh touch – an ice-cold eye mask on your face. Bless. Checkout the short reels on our page for a little glimpse Rocca Club (@theroccaclub) • fotos e vídeos do Instagram.

After the class, I felt completely drained in the best way possible. My muscles were loose, my mind was clear, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. In awe of this experience, I decided to dig deeper and educate myself about the benefits of this practice so I could, my dear Roccas, share with you too.

Here are the 10 key benefits of choosing the steamy hot version:

1.  Improved Flexibility: The heat in a hot yoga studio helps warm up your muscles, allowing you to stretch more deeply and safely. This increased flexibility can enhance your range of motion and reduce the risk of injury – trust me, you’ll be surprised how much you can actually bend.

2.  Detoxification: Sweating profusely during hot yoga helps flush toxins from the body through the skin (the afterglow is real).

3. Enhanced Cardiovascular Health: The intensity of hot yoga elevates your heart rate, providing a cardiovascular workout that can improve circulation, boost endurance, and contribute to heart health – and doesn’t require you to jump or run (that’s a win right there).

4. Increased Strength: Hot yoga often involves holding poses for longer periods, which builds muscular strength and endurance. The heat also challenges your body, promoting greater muscle activation – and trust me, I was SORE the days after.

5. Stress Relief and Mental Clarity: The combination of focused breathing, mindfulness, and physical exertion in hot yoga can help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance mental clarity – trust me, you won’t be thinking about your idiot ex, your idiot boss, or any idiot for that matter.

6. Weight Loss: The high temperatures and vigorous movements can help burn calories and support weight loss goals. The elevated heart rate and metabolism during class can also contribute to a higher calorie burn (bring it on!!)

7. Improved Breathing: Practicing hot yoga often emphasizes deep, controlled breathing, which can improve lung capacity, respiratory efficiency, and overall breath control – if you had bad covid like me, this really helps. 

8. Enhanced Circulation: The heat causes blood vessels to dilate, which improves circulation and helps oxygen and nutrients reach your muscles more effectively – bye bye cellulite, see you never.

9. Mind-Body Connection: Hot yoga fosters a strong connection between your mind and body. The intense environment encourages mindfulness, helping you stay present and aware of your body’s sensations and movements. Don't loose focus on your breathing or you'll be dizzy very fast.

10. Increased Focus and Discipline: The challenging conditions of hot yoga require concentration and mental toughness, which can carry over into other areas of life, improving focus and self-discipline (we love it).

If you want to do deeper into the subject, here are some articles I recommend reading:

Forbes Health - What Is Hot Yoga? Benefits And Safety Advice – Forbes Health

Well and Good - Is Hot Yoga Good for You? | Well+Good (wellandgood.com)

Harvard Heatlh - Harvard study: Hot yoga may help ease depression - Harvard Health

I hope you enjoyed the reading, I have definitely been back for a couple more classes.

Claudia x