The Difference
How is hot yoga any different than regular yoga?  The difference lies in sweat.  Hot yoga is performed in a room at a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  The body function of sweating provides another element to the yoga process.  The internal heat produced by the body’s performing of the yoga positions combines with the external heat of the room resulting in massive sweating.  Yoga on its own is an incredible path toward healing physically and mentally.  Combined with heat, the process becomes even more amazing.

The Skin
Most people know that the liver and kidneys serve to extract waste from the body and eliminate it.  Many do not, however, think about the skin when it comes to waste excretion.  Through the skin’s ability to sweat, it can excrete a great deal of toxic material out of the body.  The skin is powerful in its ability to sweat out toxic and unhealthy materials from the body.  Other than protecting and water-proofing the body from external forces, this is one of the skin’s primary functions.

For Detoxification
Hot yoga is an ideal program for detoxification.  Detoxification is a recommended part of everyone’s health routine.  It is important to eliminate toxins which build up in the body over time.  Detoxification should be a regular part of your overall health maintenance.  Hot yoga provides one of the most ideal ways to rid your body of these toxic accumulations.  Regular yoga in itself is a wonderful way to use oxygen to flush out toxins in the bloodstream.  Hot yoga adds the value of sweat to the equation providing another way for toxins to leave the body.  Hot yoga functions through several different ways to bring healing and toxic elimination.

• Posture- Hot yoga utilizes a series of different postures to maximize blood flow to all areas of the body.
• Breathing technique- When practicing hot yoga, you must use a specific style of breathing to maximize the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream.
• Relaxation- When the mind relaxes, stress toxins are lowered.
• Temperature/sweat- The differentiating factor of hot yoga is the 100 degree temperature of the room which causes heavy sweating (a pathway for toxins to leave).

Combined with other Programs
The keys to detoxification lie in a balanced and healthy life.  How you achieve this balance is up to you.  Hot yoga is a great way to detoxify your body.  You can also, however, combine this practice with other detoxification treatments.  Colon cleansing is becoming a popular way to clean out toxins from one’s digestive tract.  Foot pads are also now being sold which claim to draw toxins from the body through the feet and onto the pad.  The trick is to find what works for you.  Colon cleansing may be too drastic for your tastes, and the stress toxins you create could outweigh the benefits.  Determine which detoxification program works for you, and then stick to it. If you do this, you’ll be ready to live a healthier and happier life.