Is really better to practice yoga in a warm or heated room?
I’m just beginning Yoga. I’m using Pratricia Walden’s DVD “Yoga for Beginners” in my aprtment. I heard somewhere that the room you practice in should be really hot. Can anyone tell me more about this. Thanks!
Bikram yoga (also known generically as “hot yoga”) is done well above normal (72 F/22 C) room temperature.
The heat does promote blood circulation throughout muscles and extremities, in turn assisting muscle relaxation and thus flexibility.
However, unless you are specifically trying to emulate Bikram style — which you are not, if you are following Patricia Walden’s teaching style (which is essentially Iyengar style), then following her dvd at normal room temperature is probably what Walden herself would recommend for her dvd’s.
I’m sure a dvd by a professional such as Walden will lead you through a adequate progression of warm-up asanas (poses) prior to any difficult/challenging asanas, making it unnecessary to go to the trouble of above normal heat.
Namaste’,
dwb