Pros and Cons of Hot Yoga

Before starting a hot yoga exercise regimen, consult a physician to ensure you are healthy enough to do this without suffering any negative impacts.

Some of the positive aspects of hot yoga include getting a better overall sense of well-being, an opportunity to reduce stress, having longer muscles and greater flexibility, said Jean Cacciabaudo, MD, director of cardiology at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and a former hot yoga participant.

But hot yoga also has some potential pitfalls, including that a person can become dehydrated and if that happens for an extended period of time, this can lead to heat exhaustion, Dr. Cacciabaudo said. This is why she encourages people to be sure they are in good enough shape to sustain these workouts, where the temperature in the room is often between 100 and 104 degrees.

By constantly changing positions in the hot room, this can cause shifts in a person’s blood pressure, Dr. Cacciabaudo said. People who are on blood pressure medications or have a heart condition should especially consult a physician before starting to do hot yoga.

“If you allow yourself to become dehydrated, your heart rate will go up higher than you want it to,” Dr. Cacciabaudo said. “If you think of your circulatory system as a tank with pipes, the tank gets less full so it’s more work on the pump to circulate everything around effectively.”

As a former practitioner, Dr. Cacciabaudo said many class leaders are attuned to know if someone is pushing themselves beyond a reasonable point. If you are feeling excessively tired, lightheaded and especially nauseated, stop doing the yoga poses and leave the room, Dr. Cacciabaudo advises.

For more information about yoga and its impact on your heart, click here.