6 October Ray Child October 6, 2011 Advantages of Hot Yoga: 5 Ways Hot Yoga Helps Insomnia Hot Yoga hot yoga, insomnia, Sunstone Yoga 4 Comments 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. Stress: All forms of yoga can reduce stress. Restorative poses calm both the body and the mind. Most hot yoga poses, or asanas, require a great deal of attention and effort, so the mind goes into a meditative state, focusing solely on what the body is doing. The result at the end of the session is a calmer, more focused mental state that can improve your ability to relax and fall asleep. Anxiety and depression: Prolonged physical exercise causes the body to release endorphins that interact with chemical receptors in the brain. This change in brain chemistry reduces perceptions of pain and contributes to a feeling of well-being. yoga combines the mental benefits of meditation with those related to moderate exercise. Alleviating anxiety and depression allows the mind to rest more easily, contributing to a better night’s sleep. Lack of physical activity: Hot yoga is a physically demanding activity that combines the benefits of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. A body that exerts physical effort during the day requires more sleep at night. Hot yoga practitioners report deeper, more restorative sleep at night and higher energy levels during the day. Diet: Hot yoga can indirectly make you more aware of your everyday diet for two reasons. First, you may find yourself more likely to eat lighter, healthier fare when you know you have a hot yoga class ahead—hot yoga on a full stomach can be profoundly uncomfortable! Secondly, hot yoga practice on a routine basis improves body awareness and overall attention in all everyday activities. A hot yoga practice can thus help you pay attention to your diet, reducing or eliminating insomnia triggers like caffeine and alcohol. Imbalances in body chemistry: As we discussed above, concentrated physical exercise, such as hot yoga, can release endorphins, affecting brain chemistry. Yoga can affect other physical systems as well. The compression of hot yoga postures like wind relieving and forehead-to-knee poses massages internal organs and the digestive system, improving the body’s basic functions. The root causes of insomnia are all related to dis-ease in the body and in the mind. A calm, focused mind in a healthy, comfortable body is far more likely to fall easily into restorative sleep. Practicing hot yoga on a routine basis combines the internal benefits of meditation with the physical benefits of exercise, and can help you achieve that elusive good night’s sleep. AtSunstone, we’re here to show you the advantages of hot yoga – to help you discover and reveal a balanced, healthy body and mind. For more information, check out our complete list of class offerings here or contact a studio near you. Related Articles Who Does Yoga? – Breaking Through Dallas’ Hot Yoga Myths Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but it’s still a very misunderstood form of exercise in America. Misconceptions about yoga, most especially Dallas hot yoga, are still, (sadly) widespread in the West. Here are a few of the most far-reaching yoga myths. You have to be in perfect shape if you want to do yoga. Don’t Settle for “Gym Yoga” – Dallas Hot Yoga is a Cut Above Gym Yoga Do you know what the difference is between “gym yoga” and Dallas hot yoga? When you take a yoga class at the gym, you may get a sub-par experience that leaves you disappointed. Gym classes are designed for the broadest audience, and sometimes even taught by instructors with no certification and little experience. Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: 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! Advantages of Hot Yoga: Body, Mind, and Spirit 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. 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. Comments are closed.