10 Reasons to Level Up Your Practice with Far Infrared Yoga

Mar 25

Hot Yoga deep sweat detox health benefit

What if you could double-down on the health benefits of doing yoga in Far Infrared heat? Well you can!

The Yoga Public hot studio is equipped with Far Infrared ceiling panels. These panels gently radiate heat penetrating the skin, internalizing the heat and encouraging an intense sweat. We set the room at 38°C. Far Infrared heat is dry so there's no added humidity to acclimatize to as you engage in your yoga practice.

It's no secret that heat is good for you, think of the Turkish Hamam, the saunas in Amsterdam and Bikram Yoga in India. Practicing yoga in a heated room increases flexibility and stamina. It's believed to stimulate the release of human growth hormone which triggers the body to heal itself. The main difference between doing yoga in a hot room and doing yoga in Far Infrared heat is simple; with Far Infrared heat the warmth radiates all around the room penetrating everything it comes into contact without warming the air around you.

10 scientifically backed reasons how Far Infrared Hot Yoga is good for your health:

1) Far Infrared Hot Yoga for Increased Mobility and Flexibility and Reduced Muscle & Joint Pain

Are you often tight, sore or stiff? Far Infrared heat confers the benefit of increased flexibility and mobility as your body gives in to the effects of the warmth, as well as improved muscle recovery from daily stress or workouts. Several studies have shown Far Infrared heat to ease pain and tension in muscles, organs and joints, with a reduction in inflammation & chronic pain including chronic lower back pain.

2) Lower Cholesterol & Improve Cardiovascular Health with Far Infrared Hot Yoga

According to Mayo Clinic and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Far Infrared heat improves the functioning of blood vessels increasing blood circulation while also lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The expansion of blood vessels also supports & strengthens immune system cell growth, promoting further healing. Expanded capillaries encourage lymphatic cleansing & the body’s ability to detoxify.

3) Heavy Metal Detox with Far Infrared Hot Yoga

Infrared heat is considered 7x more effective at detoxifying heavy metals and other environmental toxins. Everyone has some level of toxic metals circulating and accumulating in their bodies. Studies have shown that arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury levels in individuals with high exposure were more concentrated in their sweat than in urine samples.

A similar study showed that mercury levels normalized with repeated Far Infrared saunas. Infrared heat raises your core temperature inducing a deep sweat. Toxin detoxification is also helpful for auto-immune diseases such as:

Fibromyalgia,
Lyme Disease,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Colitis and
ADHD.

4) Far Infrared Hot Yoga Boosts Immune System

Far Infrared heat is also proven to boost the immune system and promote healing by increasing white blood cell and T cell counts. Also when you raise your body temperature in this way it can act like a fever promoting immune function and soothing sore muscles, aches and tension in the body.

5) Far Infrared Hot Yoga Promotes Healthy Skin

The benefits of Far Infrared to the skin - the largest organ in your body - are many! Increased blood flow from increased blood circulation means increased oxygenation to the skin. Other beneficial effects include improved skin texture and wrinkles due to increased collagen and elastin from stimulated fibroblasts.

6) Far Infrared Hot Yoga Benefits of Exercise without Exercising

Evidence suggests that when our muscles are heated they produce the same heat shock proteins produced when exercising. What's more startling is that these shock proteins may actually be responsible for the health benefits we get from exercising. So what does this mean for you? It means that you can reap some of the benefits of exercising by simply laying in the heat. Moreover, exercising (doing yoga) in Far Infrared heat can almost double those benefits.

7) Far Infrared Hot Yoga Protection from Disease

Heat shock proteins also inhibit inflammatory pathways and play a protective role in improving health and physical performance by making healthy cells stronger and protecting them against stress and injuries ultimately making your body more resistant to disease. Several studies have also shown Far Infrared heat to have a benefit in the treatment of the following conditions:

High blood pressure,
Congestive heart failure,
Dementia,
Alzheimer's Disease,
Headache,
Type 2 diabetes,
Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
Ankylosing Spondylitis,

No adverse effects in relation to Far Infrared have been reported.

8) Far Infrared Hot Yoga and Weight Loss

Binghamton University did a study which found that participants exposed to 30 minutes of infrared 110°C heat 5 times per week (after 3pm) for 8 weeks lost approximately 4% body fat over 8 weeks.

9) Far Infrared Hot Yoga and Wound Healing

In a study on the effect of Far Infrared heat on the speed of skin wound healing among groups with and without FIR using a rat model. When skin wound area, skin blood flow, and skin temperature was measured before and during Far Infrared heat wound healing was significantly more rapid with Far Infrared heat than without it. Findings also revealed greater collagen regeneration.

10) Far Infrared Hot Yoga for Depression

Far Infrared heat may stimulate serotonin production - the hormone linked to mood regulation - and benefit people suffering from depression. In a randomized clinical trial participants were subjected to a single session of 38.5°C heat for an average of 20 mins and compared with a placebo-control group and the participants that were exposed to the Far Infrared heat produced a significant antidepressant effect apparent within a week of treatment that persisted for 6 weeks after treatment.

The practice of hot yoga at Yoga Public can be applied to the many styles of yoga we offer: Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin to name a few. As you soak in the deep warmth generated by far infrared heat, and continue to practice in the hot room over time, there are many benefits to experience. But beyond the aforementioned health benefits of Far Infrared heat, hot yoga just feels good. Our climate makes it especially attractive but you don’t need to be in the deep freeze of winter to appreciate the penetrating warmth and the benefits that come with it.

See you soon – in the hot room!

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Sources:

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00811.2015

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2539004/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25748743/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2521478

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00109-016-1389-0

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312275/

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpregu.00525.2013

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26713568/

https://www.get-fitt.com/what_infrared_rays/research/far_infrared_for_wrinkles_and_skin_texture/