Giving It A (Hot) Shot
It started off as a coupon-site wild shot, my journey into the heat of hot yoga. But what began as just too good a deal to pass up ($30 for one month of unlimited sweating, stretching, panting Bikram yoga classes) turned into rejuvenated skin, an inch off my waist, and all around detoxification. I am now hooked to the mental benefits and delighted in the bonus physical changes. Let’s just leave the mental benefits out of this for now and talk about hot yoga as a possible new beauty secret.
Week 1
The first week brought on some unpleasant skin-related side effects I wasn’t expected. I thought the breakouts and blemishes popping up on my face were in all likelihood a result of all the sweat (so much sweat!) and laying my face against the sweaty mat during the 90 minute class. However, it turns out that initial breakout is just the toxins releasing themselves from deep inside the skin.
Weeks 2-4
By the end of week two (and after 6 classes) my skin had noticeably improved- and even glowed. By week three, my skin was clearer and brighter than it had been in months. After that first week, I never broke out again. My skin was flawless! Of course, being forced to drink up to 8 litres of water during the day to stay hydrated for class couldn’t hurt. All around good things were happening beauty-wise. I was wearing less makeup because I felt so youthful and refreshed, and even noticed the whites of my eyes looked whiter. Who knew?
30 days later
Though I didn’t actually do 30 days of yoga (more like 18), the physical benefits have been impossible to miss. The waistband of my favourite high-waist floral shorts is gaping madly! It looks terrible. But I love it. I am not a big scale user- but if the drooping pastel jeans, floral shorts and cute leather skirt I bought before this whole hot yoga journey are any sign, I would say I’ve lost about an inch off my waist. Want to feel the benefits of detoxified skin and a cleansed body? Go for it, but I’m warning you…it’s no day in the park!
Real Style Contributor Suzanne Hartman
Tags: bikram hot yoga, hot yoga and weight loss, hot yoga benefits, hot yoga for skin, hot yoga good for skin, hot yoga review