Heating the room to body temperature (98.6 degrees) in our hot yoga class, facilitates deeper stretching, reduces the chance of injury, and stimulates the circulatory system. The temperature increases blood flow to all areas of the body, which is essential to distributing oxygen and removing toxins. As with any physical activity, warming up the body is part of the preparation process that will increase muscle performance and reduce risk of injury. Warming the body involves bringing the body's interior core temperature to the surface of the body. When the exterior temperature is equivalent to or greater than the body's interior temperature, the process of warming up the body is aided and maintained. For students who have never practiced hot yoga, the heat can be daunting at first, but you will find that this perception quickly changes. In fact, the heat is something you will look forward to, because it contributes to the overall experience and you will actually be able to feel it help your body.