I have found my new love!
Today I tried Hotpod Yoga for the first time. If you have read any of my fitness blogs before, you will know that I have a current love for yoga, whether it be practicing in my uni room on my mat, or attending weekly fitness yoga classes at my gym. I had heard a lot about Hot Yoga and so when my yoga teacher and friend suggested going to a class, I quickly agreed and booked on. As a result of it being a niche experience, the sessions are quite pricey at £12 per session, however I purchased an introductory offer of three classes for £15 which I thought was very reasonable. These three sessions need to be used within 14 days.
The only information that I was given when I booked onto the class was to bring a towel and water. This made me quite apprehensive as to how intense the heat and the session would be.
I was so surprised by the appearance and architecture of the pod. It was an inflatable, portable heated studio that was almost like walking into a cocoon with the sides and roof being a bouncy castle texture! The lighting was low-level and had a purple tint to it, adding to the calm and soothing feeling. I have attached photos of the pod so you can see exactly what I mean.
For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Hotpod Yoga classes offer a ‘real-life’ approach to hot yoga in a completely otherworldly setting. The classes have roots in vinyasa flow and are grounded firmly in the reality of the moment. The sequences that I practiced in my session included a mix of active and passive postures. I found that this provided a balanced physical workout while also allowing space and depth to calm the mind.
On the day that I attended the class, it was -1 degree outside which obviously drastically contrasts the 37 degree heat in the pod. This was something I was very concerned about as I didn’t know how I would cope. It was definitely hot in there, making the yoga harder and coming out of the class into the bitter temperature did make me feel especially cold. However this ambiance allowed me to melt deeper into the practice so I rather enjoyed the environment once I got used to the difference. I could feel it warming the muscle and aiding flexibility. I liked how the heat wasn’t drying either.
The Hotpod teacher that I had was lovely and was so accommodating to new people to the class such as me. Before the session started, she spoke to the newbies about the pod, our past yoga experience, and also basic things about the facilities. This made me feel more at peace with the new experience. Surfing the class, she carefully and personally guided us through a flow of postures that opened the body, worked the heart and calmed my mind all in one.
I overall found the hour session refreshing and impactful and not too advanced. I’m definitely excited about going back again. I would recommend the classes to anyone, even if you have never done yoga before; all postures can be modified to suit all beginner and intermediate abilities. I’m hoping to work my way up to attempt the advance classes. It would be a great experience for anyone looking to clear an over-stimulated mind or open-up an office-bound body that has been sitting all day at a desk. I definitely left the Hotpod with a sweat which explains the towel and water requirement! However it was accompanied with a slightly sweaty smile on my face.
Rachel
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