This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
Hot Yoga: A Newfound Passion ¶
On a sweltering Friday afternoon, August 16, 2019, I embarked on a journey to try hot yoga at Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi. The experience was nothing short of transformative.
As I entered the studio, I was greeted by Sonia Birdi, the founder of Hot Yoga Nairobi, who checked me in and showed me to the changing room. I was allocated a locker, given a yoga mat, and a glass of water to carry with me into the studio.
Unprepared for the heat, I soon found myself struggling to breathe in the humid room, which was already hot with 40 percent humidity. However, I was determined to see it through.
According to Sonia, the heat helps to improve flexibility and lung capacity, providing an anaerobic workout that gets the heart pumping. The class was a Vinyasa hot yoga session, where participants move from one pose to another seamlessly while breathing in between.
As I struggled to keep up, I realized that I was unfit, and my body was not used to the physical demands of the workout. I retreated to the child pose several times, feeling dizzy and dehydrated. However, the mirrored studio helped me push through, and I was surprised by how fast the time went by.
After the session, Sonia told me that I had been holding in too much, and that this was one of the main benefits of hot yoga. She also shared the numerous benefits of hot yoga, including weight loss, detoxification, increased lung capacity, toned muscles, increased flexibility, and improved sleep patterns.
As I left the studio, I felt a sense of accomplishment and a newfound passion for hot yoga. I would definitely go back and recommend it to others, especially those in top management positions.
Before you go for a class, remember to drink approximately three litres of water in the 24 hours leading up to it, come on an empty stomach, and arrive 20-30 minutes early to register and orientate.
