Health Controversy: Hot Yoga Is Fascinating, But Is It Dangerous?
You guys may remember my experience with hot yoga, as I wrote about here. Confession: I haven't been back since. But, I have been thinking about trying it again, and a recent news story caught my eye where some say that hot yoga is dangerous, do you agree ...
Hot yoga enthusiasts, including Jenny McCarthy, who did it while she was pregnant, swear up and down that this caliente form of yoga is safe, effective and so good for your bod. But others beg to differ.
Fabio Comana, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise (ACE), says the extreme heat associated with hot yoga is dangerous. "You may think it's purifying and cleansing but you have to respect the physiology of the body," he said to MSNBC.
"The human body is designed to tolerate temperatures between 97 and 100 degrees. It's not designed to go outside those numbers," he said. "Core temperature can go up very quickly. Over 105 degrees you will start to damage protein. It's cause and effect."
I know people who swear by hot yoga, otherwise known as Bikram yoga, and others who say they nearly died (maybe a slight exaggeration) after trying it. I fall into the latter category. I found it very challenging, and as much as I hydrated myself beforehand, I still got a crashing headache and nearly passed out in class. Eek!
What do you think? Do you tend to think that hot yoga is amazing or dangerous?
P.S. Want sexy arms? Here's your move. And, would you ever try ... flying yoga? Plus, the scary yoga obsession.
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