What is yoga?
Hot Yoga
As we discussed in last month’s blog, there is no ‘one size fits all’ school or approach to yoga. Non-attachment is an important part of yoga, so if you have a closed mind and think, ‘oh, but I only like to do Bikram classes,’ how would you ever know anything else was out there? Every student must find their own practice style, and here at Hot Yoga Ibiza we offer a variety of yoga classes that we invite our students to experience while finding their practice rhythm. One of the newest additions to our schedule is Hot Yoga, hailing from the famous Bishnu Ghosh lineage.
So what is HOT YOGA exactly? The class is a 90-minute therapeutic and challenging mind and body workout, practiced in a room heated to around 40 degrees Celsius. The ideal combination of positions derived from the traditional 84 asanas of Bishnu Ghosh’s yoga fused with the intense heat and humidity of a Bikram yoga class, you could almost describe it as ‘Bikram meets CORE 40’. Regular students will recognise many of the poses and the class is taught with the flexibility to mix things up and have a little fun with the positions.
With more of a flowing rhythm than BIkram, to encourage a deeper concentration, it’s a totally different style of mental practice, resulting in a deeper meditation at the end of the class.
The class focuses on breath and alignment in addition to the depth of each pose, designed to build strength and stamina and enhance flexibility while bringing the body to total relaxation.
Who is it for? Hot Yoga classes are perfect for those who love the heat associated with a Bikram Yoga class, but are perhaps seeking a different kind of rhythm in class. This is achieved more easily without the constant barking dialogue of Bikram (good in its own right, but not for everyone), and the class is a good entry level experience for those looking to build up to the CORE 40 practice. As with all of our classes however, the depth of your practice is totally up to you and the class can be adapted to suit all levels – experienced yogis will also benefit from this practice.
What to expect in class? Heat, of course! The room is heated to around 40 degrees Celsius, so be prepared to sweat! You’ll also be looking directly in the mirror for the duration of the class, encouraging a deep connection with yourself.
As a general guide, we start with two pranayamas (breathing exercises), then move into the Salute to the Moon series, followed by the Awkward series, Eagle series and the Transition series to take you from standing postures to the floor. Here we practice Hip Opening positions, followed by Savasana and the Wind Removing pose before moving into deeper asanas such as the Cobra series, the Half Tortoise series, a series of extensions and compressions and every student’s favourite, the Abdominal series. Following this is the Double-sided series and some fun inversions, before we finish the class with a focus on multiple pranayamas and a five-minute meditation – the aim of the practice.
