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Featured Pose
Student of the Month
Frequently Asked Questions
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Featured Pose
Sun Salutations
Surya Namaskar
Sun Salutation Backbend Lunge
Sun salutations, also known as Salute to the Sun, is a flowing series of 12 poses. It is an ancient and entire yoga practice in itself, incorporating all systems of the body.
 
Sun salutations stimulate the abdominal organs, wake up the spine, build heat and unleash held energy. Arms, wrists, and spine are strengthened, and the chest opened. Sun salutations develop strength, flexibility, grace, speed, alertness and coordination. Movements coordinated with the breath increase awareness of breath and flow. The system warms and prepares the body for asanas.
AUGUST 2007
 
Hot summer weather is upon us! But don't let that interfere with your hot yoga practice. Remember that practicing at least 3 times per week, and practicing on consecutive days is one of the best ways to improve and progress in your practice. Also, because of the hot weather, it's even more important than usual to drink a lot of water before and after class. Always come to class well-hydrated! ...Then you won't have to drink as much water during class, which can sometimes make you nauseous, or the water can fill your belly so that it's hard to do certain postures.
 
Feel free to use the link at the bottom of this email to forward SWEAT to friends or family. They can use the link to the left to join our mailing list, and receive all future editions of the Newsletter.
 
Namaste,
Jason Wilkerson
Student of the Month
 
           Sun Salutation Backbend Lunge
This month we're featuring 2 Students of the Month -- 
Michele and Dan Butler!
  • When did you start practicing hot yoga? 
    Four years ago. Dan was not getting what he wanted out of the gym, and he often felt really tight. He saw HB Hot Yoga open, tried it out, and kept practicing. Within a week or so, he got his wife Michele coming to class. And within 3 months, Michele gave up running and working out at the gym, and started practicing hot yoga 4-5 days per week. Within 2 months, she eliminated sciatica, neck, back and other pains that had plagued her for over 10 years.
     
  • How often do you practice?
    When they left their jobs to start their business 6 years ago, Michele and Dan made a commitment to their health -- which now includes a commitment to practicing hot yoga 4 times per week, and walking 2-3 times per week. They almost always take class together, and enjoy sharing both the challenges and the benefits of hot yoga with one another.
  • Why do you practice? What are the primary benefits you experience? 
    Dan: "I think it's a fountain of youth for the body." As Dan's gotten older, he's realized he wants to keep exercising, and needs to minimize risks for injury -- and hot yoga is a perfect way to work towards that goal. And he loves the people at the studio!
    Michele: "Hot yoga provides me overall health." It has removed pain that she used to spend so much money treating with massage and other therapies. It has reshaped her body, helped her mentally, made her a much calmer person overall. Michele also loves the sense of community at the studio. Even though she's lived in Huntington Beach on and off for 20 years, she's met lifelong friends through the studio that she wouldn't have met otherwise.
  • How has your hot yoga practice impacted or changed your life?
    Dan feels strongly that hot yoga enables him to take care of his body, completely. Michele is a happier and healthier person because of her hot yoga practice, and the way that it's completely removed pain from her body is truly amazing. Hot yoga will be a lifelong exercise for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
 
Will hot yoga help me lose weight?
As with any exercise, there are other lifestyle factors that affect weight loss. Fundamentally, weight loss happens when you consume less calories than you use. Hot yoga is a great way to burn calories (estimated 700-1300 calories per class for a 100-200 pound person, respectively), but you must also eat healthy foods and portion sizes, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep each night -- in order to lose weight in a healthy way. It just so happens that doing all of those things also makes you feel better when taking class, and improves your hot yoga practice for the long-term!
 
Another important component to losing weight is doing exercises that raise your heart rate, providing a cardiovascular workout. Hot yoga does this, namely in our balancing series (Standing Head-to-Knee, Bow Pulling, and Balancing Stick). In order to lose weight using hot yoga as your primary form of exercise, it's recommended that you do at least 3 classes per week in order to get enough vigorous cardiovascular exercise.
 
While most people don't experience dramatic weight loss from hot yoga (because you lose weight and gain muscle mass), each posture/asana combines flexibility, strength and balance to work your entire body. With persistence, patience and dedication, you can lose inches, feel generally slimmer, tone muscles, increase endurance, boost metabolism and gain strength unlike any other form of exercise.