Click the following links to view the answers to these questions:
- What is Moksha Hot Yoga?
- How is Moksha hot yoga different from other hot yoga?
- Is Moksha Yoga a cardio workout?
- What if I'm not flexible?
- Will I lose weight?
- When should I avoid doing hot yoga?
- What should I bring/wear? How long are the classes, and do I book in advance?
- Why do I have to come 15 minutes before my first class?
Moksha Yoga is a series of traditional yoga postures practiced in a heated room (~37C). The series is a cardiovascular workout that strengthens, tones, and stretches the muscles while calming the mind and reducing stress. A combination of calm breathing and deep stretching allows for greater oxygen supply throughout the body, which returns the system to its healthiest form. The heat allows for deeper, safer stretching and promotes detoxification of the skin, blood and muscles through sweat. All classes are open to beginners.
Moksha Yoga differs in the following ways:
Complete workout. On a physical level Moksha Yoga is a comprehensive workout that focuses on upper and lower body strength, balance and flexibility. Moksha Yoga also focuses on opening the hips where lower back and knee pain often originate. The intensity of the workout can be adjusted for any body type or fitness level.
Accessibility. Anyone can practice Moksha Yoga because our instructors are trained in the modifications to make Moksha practice safe for any fitness level or body type. And through our Karma Yoga Classes, one's finances need not be a barrier to a regular practice.
Community. In addition to making hot yoga more accessible through our Karma Yoga Classes, we work actively with local charities by providing regular donations and offering free yoga instruction in underserved areas.
Care for the environment. All Moksha studios are built with sustainable and non-toxic supplies, lights and heating systems are low consumption, and all studios are cleaned with environmentally friendly products. We also donate monthly to Zero Footprint, an organization that measures the environmental impact of our studios and directs us on how to best offset our 'carbon footprint' through donations to environmental protection groups.
Yes, it is. The Moksha series incorporates many challenging postures that sustain an elevated heart rate.
You don't have to be flexible to start yoga. The heated practice room allows tight muscles to stretch with greater ease.
Yes you can. With regular practice students find their bodies becoming significantly trimmer and toned. The added bonus is that Moksha Yoga improves the major systems of the body, increasing health and vitality, which is the best way to lose weight in the long term.
Hot Yoga is great for most people, however it is contraindicated under the following circumstances.
Pregnancy. Women in their first trimester of pregnancy, unless they have kept up a regular hot yoga practice for at least 6 months, are recommended to stay out of the heated room.
Heart Disease. Those suffering from severe heart disease that limits cardiovascular activity should consult their doctor about being in a heated environment.
Children. It is best that hot yoga is practiced only after the child's sweat glands have developed - usually around a girl's first menstruation or a boy's growth spurt.
Bring a beach-size towel, water and yoga mat (Mats are also available for purchase, click here). Clothing that is light and comfortable is best. Since the aim is to sweat during the class, it is advisable to bring a change of top for after class. For more information about what to bring and how to prepare, click here.
The Moksha series is 90 minutes long. However, some studios do offer a 60-minute class for those on the go. There is no need to register in advance. Unless indicated, all classes are on-going and drop-in.
Click here for class schedules.
Because our classes begin right on schedule and if you arrive even a moment late we will not permit latecomers into the practice room. We do this so that students in the class will not be interrupted or distracted once their class has begun. Arriving a few minutes early before your first class will also allow you to fill out any information we require of you and to have the chance to meet your teacher and ask them any questions that come to mind. Plus I like to think that rushing and stressing out to get to your yoga class kind of undermines the purpose, non?
If you have any other questions, we'd love to hear from you! Please email your questions to uptown@mokshayogauptown.com
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