Students often ask, "How often should I practice hot yoga to get the benefits?" There are two answers I offer and the one you hear depends on where you stand: you can and will see the benefits no matter how often you practice...
and the optimal number of weekly classes for the transformation you're looking for, whether it's weight loss, increased flexibility, healing of joint pain, more peace and relaxation in your life, is THREE.
Three seems a magic number for many practices and traditions: think Holy Trinity; the pyramids; the old superstition that good and bad things come in multiples of three.
Just about every religious tradition holds dear the mystical qualities of three and its multiples (my own lucky number is 33 and my daughter was born at 3:33AM).
In hot yoga we speak of The Cumulative Effect tied to the 3-times-a-week practice; once you are practicing three times a week consistently, your body accumulates the changes you initiated with your practice and you have a strong foundation from which progress in your practice accelerates.
If you have ever skipped a week or two or practice, you know how that feels; like your body has snapped back to an old, tired place.
Practice three times a week for a year or more and you'll have built a reservoir of internal support.
Of course, if you stop practicing altogether, the well will run dry.
Speaking of the yoga room, did you know that there is hot yoga etiquette? Try to stay still between the poses.
Drink water but only between the poses, so as not to distract others.
No talking.
Commune as much as you want in the reception area...
but once you enter the yoga room, silence is the mantra.
It pays to start your practice peacefully.
I recommend you lie on your yoga mat and fill your mind with things that feel good to you; let the heat bake those good feelings into your limbs.
Really.
So - zip the lip in theyoga room and open your heart to...
whatever you want.
Avoid wearing perfumes, scented deodorant, any scents when you come to yoga.
Some people have a strong reaction to scents and we don't want to offend anyone.
Speaking of offending, don't worry if you sweat...
we all do in hot yoga and it's not offensive at all.
I once got whacked with a stream of sweat from the person next to me during a rousing half spinal twist...
he took me out to dinner afterwards to apologize and today we're married (OK, we were married before the sweat incident, but any excuse for a candlelight dinner!) The 30 Day Challenge: if you can commit to hot yoga for 30 days in a row (a 10-times multiple of 3), you won't have to wait a year for the foundation to set; you'll have built it in 30 days...
and your practice will transform from there...
exponentially.
There are many places to progress to in your yoga practice.
When your body is aligned, you let go of thoughts about your body and progress in a different area: your state of mind.
Your ability to create calm focus will come out of the yoga room with you and into your life.
Your attitude about the world around you will soften.
Whatever your goals, yoga is a path.
Of course, your life IS your path, so you can never be OFF your path.
Try hot yoga three times a week for one year and let me know how the road less traveled looks to you.