Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

Hi. I just started taking hot yoga classes over the weekend, and I was wondering if you could help me out with a few questions. (I've been to 3 classes so far.)

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body?

*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.)

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.

Thanks

Re: Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body?

It will be a year in February. I try to go at least 3 days a week because that's what I need to notice a difference in my body, and it's just unrealistic with my schedule to go more than that (I work F/T and I am also a mom). There are weeks that go by where I may only make 2 or even 1 class. It's hard sometimes when life happens to make it to a 90 minute class (not to mention travel time and getting there a little early to get a good spot). My goal overall is to make 10-12 classes a month.


*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.)


Yes, the class is 90 minutes and that is the norm for Bikram yoga. It's the same class each and every time, however, different teachers are going to be better than others, or have a different "style" in the way they lead the class.

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?

Some days I am still not used to the heat. There are so many factors involved.....what you ate that day, if you are hydrated enough, your sleep cycle......etc. If I miss a few days it can be hard. I still consider myself a beginner, and I know there are poses I will probably always struggle with because I don't have a ballerina's body.

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?

I am on bc where I haven't really gotten a period in months, but when I have gotten AF I have still gone.

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.

I wear tanks with a built in bra, or a sports bra with just a regular tank from Old Navy over it. I like their tanks with the skinny straps over a sports bra the best. You shouldn't wear anything too, too loose.

I actually am planning to invest in some expensive sports bras/yoga tanks in the near future because the ones I have now I am constantly "adjusting" after each pose.

Re: Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body?

I have done it on and off, but I noticed a change within a week or two. I was going 3 -5 times a week.

*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.)

The classes were 1.5 hours. I have never seen a hot yoga class be shorter than that unless it was a hot yoga express class.

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?

I don't remember exactly but you do learn to get used to it. Bring lots of water!

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?

I still go unless I am having bad cramps or something. I just try to remember to stay hydrated all day.

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.

I don't wear cotton to hot yoga for that reason. I have seen girls wear just sports bras and shorts. I do not feel comfortable wearing something like that because I have nothing nice to show. I go with like Under Armour stuff.

Re: Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body? - I've been practicing for almost 2 yrs. I noticed a difference within a few classes. Depending how many times a week you go to class.

*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.) - I take a Vinaysa Flow hot yoga class. It is a flow yoga class with the heat and instead of holding the poses as in Bikram, you flow into the poses using your breathe. The classes are usually 75-90minutes depending on the teacher

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?
2-3 classes but even now some days I need to take a break in class or drink extra water. I notice to it depends on what time the class in am or pm

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?
depends how bad it is. My first day or two no, I have AF too bad.

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.
I wear either a Nike or Fila yoga tank with built in bra. I was wearing a sports bra and a tank but was too hot and uncomfortable. Lululemon has really nice tanks but $$. Kohls or TJMaxx has really good sales on tanks

Re: Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body?

I noticed a difference in my body within the first week. I was going 4-5 times/week. I attended religiously last Spring but when work got crazy, I stopped going (regretfully) and plan to begin again soon.

*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.)

90 minutes for Bikram is the standard. Although my gym does a mini-version in an hour.

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?
It got easier with every class! I think after about 4 classes, I stopped struggling.

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?
I did, as long as I was feeling up to it. It actually made AF easier on me.

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.
This is the reason that most women just wear a sports bra. I'm more body conscious and I had great results with running tank tops, like Nike Dri Fit, that sort of material because I feel less drenched and heavy. My first class I wore a Juicy Sweatsuit

Re: Please answer some Hot Yoga Questions for me...

Posted by thiadora

Hi. I just started taking hot yoga classes over the weekend, and I was wondering if you could help me out with a few questions. (I've been to 3 classes so far.)

*How long have you been practicing? How many times a week? and When did you start to notice a difference in your body?

*How long is your class? I'm taking classes at a Barkan studio and the classes are 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if that is the norm. (Other types of yoga I've taken have been an hour long class.)

*How long/many classes did it take you to get used to the heat?

*Do you go to class when you have AF? If you avoid the class at that time, how long do you wait to go back?

*What kind of shirt/tank top do you wear? I really prefer wearing cotton, but my tank tops get so sweaty and out of shape that it gets uncomfortable.

Thanks