8 September Ray Child September 8, 2011 Advantages of Hot Yoga: Body, Mind, and Spirit Hot Yoga advantages of hot yoga, dallas yoga, Sunstone Yoga 8 Comments Yoga is an unusual form of exercise in our fast-paced, mind-over-matter world. The advantages of hot yoga often leave new practitioners surprised, as their bodies respond differently to a new and unique exercise routine. At Sunstone, we strive to help our students find their balance and adapt to a different way of thinking about exercise. The Problem: Distraction Quite often in our exercise routines we either push our bodies past the breaking point or simply check out, letting our minds drift away. We tend to distract ourselves from the discomfort of exercise with music, reading a magazine while on the treadmill, or engage in conversations with an exercise partner that take us miles away from what our bodies are doing in the moment. As we wander through the rest of our day away from the gym, we wonder why we’re prone to be distracted or scattered. We train our minds to escape from discomfort or difficulty, and then question the results. The Solution: Attention Yoga is different. Yoga asana requires a combination of balance, flexibility, and strength that pulls our attention back to our bodies as we practice. With hot yoga in particular, the intensity of temperature creates a sensation of the body opening and lengthening as the heat penetrates and loosens the muscles. The intensity of the workout combines with the sensation of increased flexibility and strength. That unique combination leads us to place all our focus on the moment at hand, whether we’re stretching toward our toes or engaging our legs and minds to balance in a challenging standing posture. With yoga, the body can’t work successfully without the mind and attention. Body, Mind, and Spirit Because yoga encourages an integrated attention that involves our bodies, our brains, and our inner cores, yoga practitioners are often surprised to find themselves feeling more centered and less anxiety-ridden once off the mat. Our students often find themselves responding to situations at work and at home with calmer reactions, initiated by an unexpected sense of ease, perspective, and confidence. With a regular yoga practice, the documented physical and medical benefits of yoga are inextricably linked to the mental, emotional, and even spiritual growth of the practitioner. Integration Yoga is, at its base, a challenging physical practice that has been shown to improve overall health and fitness . Yoga has also been practiced for millennia as a meditative or contemplative practice. Indeed, hatha (physical) yoga is but one branch of eastern yogic traditions, a means of reining in the mind by challenging the body. Whether you’ve come to yoga to relieve stress or improve muscle tone, you may find that, without any conscious effort, you’ve become a calmer and more centered person in the process. Yoga can not only bring balance to our outer bodies, but to our inner beings as well. Related Articles Advantages of Hot Yoga: 5 Ways Hot Yoga Helps Insomnia The advantages of hot yoga are many and varied… and one of hot yoga’s most surprising benefits is that it can alleviate insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by stress, anxiety and depression, a lack of physical activity, diet, or imbalances in body chemistry. Yoga, especially hot yoga, can address all of these concerns. Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. Dallas Hot Yoga: Sunstone’s Beginner Poses Anyone who is new to yoga, or curious about yoga, can be deterred by visions of people tying themselves up into impossible pretzels. Dallas hot yoga in particular, since we live in such a hot climate to begin with, often gets a sideways look and the question, “Why would you do that to yourself?” Accountability Partners: Not just “yoga buddies” Here we are, seven weeks into 2012 … perhaps you started out strong on your New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier, lose ten pounds, or take five hot yoga classes a week. Often times we make resolutions with great ambition in the moment, but we tend to lose perspective (and the eagerness to follow through) as time passes — sleep right now sounds so much better than getting out of bed to take a 6 a.m. Fire class. Practice? By now you have been in Sunstone classes or researched yoga enough to have heard instructors, our social media, and fellow students speak about the “practice” of yoga. Yoga Teacher Training: Transformational Learning at Sunstone Yoga Academy Is yoga teacher training right for you? Even basic yoga training can change your life. Whether you want to open your own studio or just take your yoga practice to the next level, Sunstone Yoga Academy can help you open up to the world around you. Our Yoga Academy is for people who are passionate about yoga and growing their practice—we’re not just looking for people who want to teach yoga! Comments are closed.