Yoga is an ancient philosophy that allows innumerable adaptations to meet the specific needs and requirements of the times as well as its practitioners. Soon after Yoga was introduced to the West, about 5 decades ago, Yoga came to be adapted into a number of different styles to suit the requirements of the people in the West. One such adaptation is Hot Yoga.

Yoga master Bikram Choudhury, born in Calcutta, India in 1946 and founder of the Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills in 1974, is the innovator of Hot Yoga. His style of Hot Yoga included 26 Yoga Asanas, including two Pranayama exercises. As the name suggests, this style of Yoga is conducted in a hot or heated room to maximize its benefits. A class of Yoga typically includes a 90 minute workout, doing these 26 Yoga Asanas, in a room where the temperature is maintained at 90-105 degrees. Each Yoga Asana is typically performed twice and help for a fixed amount of time, usually three breaths.

The philosophy behind using a hot room is that the heat helps increase the temperature of the body on one hand and relaxes the muscles on the other. This is very beneficial to help the body get flexible and get into all the Yoga poses correctly. It also helps avoid injuries that may be caused while attempting to stretch your body. The heat in the room also helps the heart pump blood faster and the increased cardiovascular activity helps burn fat faster. No wonder, Hot Yoga is very popular among people who want to lose weight. One other huge advantage of practicing Yoga in a heated room is that you sweat a lot and this helps your body get rid of toxins faster.

There are many health benefits to practicing Hot Yoga. Here are but some of them:

• It helps tone your muscles and makes them stronger
• It helps make your body more flexible and increases your range of movement
• It helps you develop more stamina and makes you stronger
• It improves blood circulation in your body and lowers blood pressure

Here are some tips you need to follow if you are just starting out with Hot Yoga Classes:

• Avoid eating at least 2-3 hours before each class
• Drink a lot of water before and after the class, although not immediately. This will help prevent dehydration
• Use your own Yoga Mat and towel because you will sweat profusely
• Ensure that you are dressed in comfortable, yet functional clothes for Hot Yoga. Your Yoga clothes should ideally be sweat-absorbent.

Many people find the distinction between Hot Yoga and Bikram Yoga confusing, since they are both conducted in a hot room. The fact of the matter is that they are no different. It is just a matter of legal copyright. So, whether your Yoga classes advertise Hot Yoga or Bikram Yoga, it implies one and the same thing.