Hot Yoga, Cold Yoga, & The Science of Body Temperature
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Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss how hot yoga and cold yoga affect the body and the eye-opening and geeky science of body temperature!
Points of discussion include:
How does temperature affect our bodies in general, and what role does it play when we’re moving our bodies in yoga or any other movement practice?
Is hot yoga a safe type of yoga, or does it pose significant risks we should be aware of?
Does the sweating that we do in hot yoga detoxify our body?
Do hot yoga and cold yoga require more energy expenditure than room temperature yoga? (In other words, do we burn more calories in hot and cold yoga?)
What do we know about the benefits of heat exposure in a sauna and cold exposure in cold water immersion or cryotherapy? Can we assume that we’d get these same benefits from hot or cold yoga?
How does the human body regulate temperature anyway?
…And much more!
Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
Strength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & Travis
Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with Jenni
Strength for Yoga email newsletter
Article: Constrained Total Energy Expenditure and Metabolic Adaptation to Physical Activity in Adult Humans (Pontzer et al. 2016)
Instagram Post: Do Yoga Twists Detoxify the Body?
To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / Instagram
Music used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.