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Health & Fitness

Venturing into Hot Yoga

Venture Yoga stepped-it-up-a-notch by purchasing new technology (infrared heating system) that is green, safe, healthy, and its just plain awesome.

Hot yoga seems to be the latest in greatest fitness activity—have you wondered why would anyone want to work out in such extreme conditions?

It turns out the heat is really good for you.

You have probably enjoyed the soothing, therapeutic benefits of infrared heat without even knowing it. How is that, you ask? Well, if you’ve ever stepped outside on a sun soaked, warm day, then you have experienced some of nature’s best infrared heat therapy. The sun is a source of this type of heat, and it’s the reason that you seem to instantly relax when your skin is touched by it.

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Why is that? Well, radiant, infrared heat actually heats the object (the object being you) directly, rather than warming just the air around you like conventional heat does. So those warm, enveloping sensations you are experiencing from sunlight and it`s resulting heat is actually radiant, or infrared heat. That's why Venture Yoga bought an infrared heating system for its HOT room.

Radiant, or infrared heat, works differently from conventional heat also in that it does not “transfer” heat from a heating source, but rather it distributes it more evenly because it “radiates” the heat outward. It does not need a secondary transference method to warm an area, a person, a small room, or whatever the purpose might be.

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Because the method is much more direct and efficient, it is thought to be a superior pain-relief method to conventional heat. It also happens to be a “green” choice.

Athletes have been known to use this type of heat to relieve aches, pains and strains, and also to help move along the healing process because it is believed to help make circulation more efficient. As you may know, wounds heal faster with better circulation, and this is also true of muscle and tissue trauma.

Infrared heat has only recently been discovered to have potential health benefits beyond just a relaxing pastime that is used in spas and gyms across the world.

Claims have also been made that radiant heat therapy may benefit cancer patients, those with cardiac health problems, stress and anxiety reduction, and even cellulite and skin improvement, which appeals to those with health and appearance interests. Yoga benefits alongside these benefits?! Win-win!

Radiant heat has also shown to be quite beneficial to those with arthritis, providing short term pain relief with no adverse side effects, and providing stimulation to the circulatory system that they can’t otherwise experience because of their physical limitations.

When it comes down to it, you really have to decide for yourself if radiant heat would be of any benefit to you by actually trying it out. If nothing else, it certainly provides excellent warmth to get you sweating in the HOT classes!

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