Practicing Hot Yoga at Home

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY OUR MANAGER MANDY IN DECEMBER 2020:

When we mention the topic of virtual classes, so frequently we hear “I want to practice yoga at home, but I don't have the space!” I didn’t either back in March, but when I realized that my studio practice wasn’t going to be happening for any time soon I knew I had to throw something together. My house is fairly small and shared by three adults, but we made it work!

The first important step is to designate a “sacred” space for your practice that your household agrees on -- make sure everyone knows that this is a “do not disturb” zone. You will also want to use the smallest space possible such as a small office, bathroom or large closet. The smaller the room, the easier it will be to heat! You will also need a space heater, a humidifier (if you are not in the bathroom), and some extra layers of clothing.

One of the perks of using your bathroom is that you can run some hot water to easily increase the humidity. Our bathroom was too small so it was not an option, but I have many friends who had some great HOT virtual classes using theirs! If you are using your bathroom, a small countertop space heater will do the job to heat the room!

If you are in a small office space, large closet, etc. you will need both a space heater and humidifier. I ordered a 2-in-1 heater/humidifier that was a bit pricey but I was SUPER happy with it. It heated the room up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and came with a remote so I could adjust the temperature or humidifier while I was practicing without having to walk across the room. If your budget is a bit tight, any old space heater will do, and you can grab a humidifier at your local pharmacy!

Start off your session with a few extra layers of clothing that can be removed as your body heat increases. You’d be surprised how much you can increase your internal temperature without too much heat! Grab a thermometer and take your temperature at the end of the warm up series -- if you’ve reached 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re doing it right!

It’s totally normal to feel like you are not sweating as much - that’s because it’s just you practicing, and there’s no industrial humidifier in your practice space. However, if you are not sweating as much, sometimes your practice towel can get bunched up on your mat between postures. In this case, I highly recommend a cork mat -- it will create an awesome grip with just a little sweat!

Finally, a note from the teachers: you may not feel as flexible without the "hot room," so be careful not to overstretch. Home practice gives you a fantastic opportunity to build your strength and refine your technique. When you're not overwhelmed by the heat, you'll be able to notice lots of new details that will make your practice even stronger when you return. Keep practicing, remember to breathe, and we'll see you soon!

Ready to get started? Here are some of our suggested products for home practice. Click on the product image to purchase.