Hot yoga for depression: One session a week can help you stay cool, study finds

People may be connected to each other like never before, but they’ve probably never been so depressed and alone. With the rise of technology, it may seem like you have the tools to be happier, but why doesn’t life seem fulfilling for everyone? Depression has silently entered the lives of many people, even though they do everything they can not to let the shadow of this obsessive illness loom large. According to the World Health Organization, more than 40 million adults in India suffer from depression. Although you can’t change the statistics, you can work to reduce the symptoms. One solution could be to do hot yoga for depression!

What is hot yoga?

Hot yoga is a form of yoga that is practiced in a room where the temperature and humidity are higher than traditional yoga classes. In these classes, the room is heated to temperatures ranging from 35°C to 40°C or even higher, and the humidity level is also increased so that you can sweat. Hot yoga classes often follow specific sequences of yoga poses and breathing exercises, such as Bikram yoga and hot Vinyasa yoga.

The benefits of hot yoga are multiple.

A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that hot yoga or Bikram yoga can help improve your flexibility.

A study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport also found that Bikram yoga can help burn more calories. Other health benefits of hot yoga include burning calories, strengthening bone density, reducing stress, alleviating depression, reducing heart disease, and nourishing the skin.

However, people practicing hot yoga need to stay hydrated and be aware of their body’s limits. The high temperature set during hot yoga may be harmful to some people.

Read also: Hot Yoga 101: What It Is and How It Can Benefit Your Health

Hot yoga may help reduce risk of depression

Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being. Yoga is a holistic practice touted as an effective way to treat depression. According to a recent study, it would be even better if you tried hot yoga for depression.

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that heated yoga is an effective treatment for people suffering from depression. For the study, 80 participants were invited to take hot yoga classes twice a week. After eight weeks, the researchers found that these people had a reduction in their depressive symptoms. Most participants saw a 50 percent drop in their depressive symptoms.

Hot yoga once a week may also reduce the risk of depression

Although practicing hot yoga twice a week was shown to be an effective way to reduce depressive symptoms during the eight-week randomized trial, researchers found that doing it just once a week could also help. The researchers found that depressive symptoms were reduced even for participants who received only half of the suggested prescribed yoga sessions. Therefore, heated yoga sessions once a week could also be beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression.

According to data from the American Psychology Association, yoga is a technique that helps you relax and improve your mood. Several other studies have also shown that doing yoga is an effective way to reduce people’s risk of depression.

Take away

For someone suffering from depression, hot yoga can be an effective way to relieve symptoms. Although it is recommended to do hot yoga at least twice a week, even once a week can be helpful for people. Not just depression, practicing hot yoga can help with weight loss, reduce stress, build bone density, decrease the risk of heart disease, and much more. Although it offers many health benefits, it is best to do it under the supervision of an expert or consult a doctor before incorporating it into your routine.