What has surrounded the recent hype around hot yoga and pilates?
Hot yoga involves stretching, holding poses, meditation and a bunch of basic yoga skills, but the difference is it is in a heated room, usually around 90–105°F. Pilates and hot yoga are similar in some ways.
Pilates is an exercise practice that focuses on strengthening the body. It usually involves a reformer, which is a machine with a sliding carriage, springs, ropes, a footbar, and a frame. It is designed to strengthen and stretch the body while helping with flexibility and balance and can also help with posture and coordination. However, pilates can also be done on a mat with a more body-weight focus.
The difference between hot yoga and pilates is that hot yoga is in a heated room. It is mainly focused on flexibility, balance, and the mind, while pilates is more focused on core strength and posture, in a cooler environment. Hot yoga classes use a mat to work out, while pilates typically uses different types of machines.
According to PubMed Central, hot yoga and pilates can reduce stress and help with relaxing the body. Both of these practices can calm down the mind because they focus on breathing and controlled movements, also increasing concentration. Physical benefits include improving strength and flexibility due to stretching, lifting weights, and balancing. Holding poses can improve posture and stability. These types of exercises also get people’s heart rates to increase.
There are many perks of hot yoga. Hot yoga helps develop a sweat because of how hot the room is, which helps with burning calories. The sweat also helps to detoxify the body and let out stress.
“I have been going to hot yoga for a while now, and I have actually noticed a difference in my strength. I always feel refreshed after doing the work outs and get a good sweat in,” said Calabasas High School sophomore Parmis Raoofi.
Hot yoga and pilates can be very beneficial, but there’s a price to pay…literally. Different studios have various prices, but they usually are around $20–$50 per class. Prices normally depend on what type of class it is and what equipment is being used. Places like CorePower Yoga and Hot 8 Yoga have memberships, typically $200–$250 per month for unlimited classes.
CHS sophomore Carys Baudhuin said, “I’ve only done pilates for 3 weeks now but I have already seen my posture has been getting better. I also noticed it has really helped with my flexibility.”
Pilates and hot yoga have many benefits with flexibility, mental state, and strength. Like any type of exercise, consistency is key, and a routine helps to maximize these benefits.
