Yoga & Wellness Education

Some Like It Hot: The Heated Yoga Debate

Heated yoga has become inceasingly popular in recent years. Some people find that their bodies feel more relaxed and flexible when they practice yoga in studios heated up to 105 degrees. Other people find that the heat is agitating and uncomfortable. Some health professionals express concern that the body is more prone to injury when practicing in extreme heat.

Our approach at Akasha Yoga is to keep the room temperature around 74-76 degrees and allow the heat to build naturally in the body as a result of physical exertion. We find that students newer to yoga feel uncomfortable when the room gets fairly warm, so we do our best to maintain a more moderate temperature in our Level 1 classes. Our more intermediate and advanced students tend to feel that the warmth that builds as the class progress benefits them, so we typically allow these classes to warm up more as the class progresses, up to around 80 degrees.

There is a certain amount of controversy and disagreement about what is most healthy. In the absence of clear research evidence, we believe that it is safest to practice in a more natural way. For this reason, we maintain our temperatures at moderate levels to the best of our abilities.

The issue of yoga studio temperatures has been a hot issue in the news:

This article, by our own instructor Michelle Laxton, shares her personal experiences and perspectives:

Ultimately, our advice is to educate yourself and listen carefully to your own body to discover what is best for you.