Be Stronger - The Benefits of Heated Vinyasa Yoga

Heated Vinyasa Yoga  offers a truly unique yoga practice based on intuition rather than tradition. A heated, climate controlled Vinyasa flow practice, this class heals, detoxifies and exhilarates the body and mind with emphasis on movement, balance and intention. Heated Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic, challenging program that combines strength, sweat and spirituality.

Heated Vinyasa Yoga is an intense practice that appeals to everyone from the working professional to the stay-at-home mom. For that class – the student’s class – time and space and the worries of the day disappear and the focus is solely on flow, movement, balance and intention.

A Vinyasa style yoga practiced in a heated, climate controlled environment, this class focuses on core strength, balance and flow to build a solid practice based on strength and spirit. A secular practice, Heated Vinyasa Yoga honors the roots of yoga without imposing the preconceived spiritual practices of other programs.

Accessible to beginners and advanced students, Heated Vinyasa Yoga emphasizes breathing to connect the body and mind. This yoga offers students more than the familiar poses and breathing techniques; it offers a way to face life with a renewed personal strength.

"This yoga torches calories." - Self Magazine

Yoga Journal is an excellent reference for descriptions of the poses performed in Heated Vinyasa Yoga

Benefits of Yoga

• Muscle Toning
• Balance
• Weight Loss
• Stress Reduction
• Increased Vitality
• Flexibility
• Strength

Reasons for the Heat

• Enhances vasodilatation* so that more blood is delivered to the muscles.
• Allows oxygen in the blood to detach from the hemoglobin more easily.**
• Speeds up the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids.
• Makes muscles more elastic, less susceptible to injury.
• Improves coordination.
• Reduces heart irregularities associated with sudden exercise.
• Burns fat more easily.***

Q. What does ‘Yoga' mean?         

Yoga can be traced back to 5,000 years ago and is a Sanskrit word meaning to join, or yoke; union. Its' full meaning is about the union of body, mind and spirit. It also is about the ending of the chatter of the mind, so that the mind can experience stillness, thus a meditative mind can be nurtured.

For our culture yoga is about the lessening of stress and anxiety of modern life; about relaxation, strength, and flexibility. A quiet mind and body can awaken the depths of being.

Q. Can beginners attend classes?

Yes. Our instructors create an encouraging environment in which all levels and abilities can practice yoga. 

We encourage beginners to pace themselves in class and recommend beginners commit to attending at least 1 class every week. Regular practice will create a solid physical base and an intellectual understanding that will eventually help build strength, focus, stamina and flexibility.

Q. Why is the studio heated and will this make the class more challenging for me?

Heated Vinyasa Yoga is practiced in a warm room because the heat helps stretch muscle fibers and tendons, and helps prevent injuries to these areas while stretching. The heat also helps increase circulation to tissues and organs, enhances the functioning of the immune system, and provides great healing influence to the entire body.

The heat will make the classes more challenging. However, we encourage students to pace themselves and determine the intensity that works best for them in each pose and throughout the class. Your first few classes may be difficult. In fact, you may feel dizzy or even nauseous, but these feelings will soon pass and you will sense a renewed strength and power. With hard work and dedication, Heated Vinyasa Yoga will provide a healthy, challenging workout that will give you a strong and stress-free road map to life.

Q. What if I'm not that flexible?

We encourage you to develop a flexible mind. You don't need to be physically flexible. All you need is to focus on letting go, sweating, breathing, moving, and respecting your limitations. A yoga pose will expose blocks and imbalances and regularly practicing yoga will increase anyone's flexibility level.

However, increased flexibility alone is not yoga's only objective, nor its only benefit. The ultimate benefit of yoga - to harmoniously unite body, mind and spirit in a healthful physical practice - can be experienced regardless of whether you're able to easily touch your toes.

Q. How often should I practice Yoga?

Successful yoga practice requires discipline and wisdom. Consistency is the key to success. For life-changing results it is recommend that you practicing some form of Yoga four to six days per week. A practice of two to three days per week, if consistent, will create transformation over time. Develop the spirit of repetition and dedication in your practice and you will see results.

Q. When can I expect to see progress in my yoga practice?

Each individual will respond differently to yoga, based on a myriad of factors including age, physical condition, and genetics. What is far more important than measuring "progress" is to simply embrace where your practice is, and let go of any arbitrary self-imposed "goals." Yoga is truly a life-long pursuit, one that you can go on exploring as long as you live and never learn all there is to know. Yoga is about the journey, so enjoy the ride.

Q. Is yoga a cardiovascular workout?

No matter what your level of fitness, you will find Heated Vinyasa Yoga not only challenging, but also a powerful workout that goes beyond just a cardiovascular workout. All postures combine flexibility, strength, and balance to work the entire body. With patience and dedication, you can lose weight, develop muscle tone and strength, and become more flexible than with other forms of exercise.

Q. What are some of the benefits of these types of yoga?

There are countless benefits to Yoga, including stress reduction; flexibility, and strength; and improved sleep patterns and relaxation. A regular practice (at least three times a week) can reduce the symptoms of many chronic diseases (e.g. arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid disorders).

Q. What should I wear/bring to a Heated Vinyasa Yoga class?

 Women should wear shorts, fitting sports pants or leggings, and a sports top or jog bra. Men should wear shorts or bathing trunks. Since the room will be kept warmer than for a traditional class, you should wear something comfortable for sweating. Additionally, please bring water, a towel and your spirit to class. While Yoga mats are provided by Silver Mountain Sports Club, many people feel more comfortable using a personal Yoga mat during heated classes.  Hugger Mugger Yoga Mats are available for purchase in our Retail Boutique.