If you're someone who equates working out in the winter with mustering up the courage to get off your warm couch and go out into the cold, then hot yoga may be the activity for you.
Hot yoga, also called Bikram yoga, is a yoga class practiced in extremely high temperatures – ideally in a room heated to 104 degrees with a humidity of 40 percent. It is said this method not only warms you up but also helps release toxins from your body, improve T-cell function and reduce the chances of infection.
Below are four hot - or Bikram - yoga studios in the Philadelphia area.
Bikram Yoga Philadelphia
1520 Samson St., Center City
If you're wondering what to expect out of your first Bikram yoga class, here are some notes from Bikram Yoga Philadelphia:
• Expect to sweat and detox intensely
• Expect to be challenged and have fun at the same time
• Expect to feel great after class
Aside from that, people who practice hot yoga at least three to four days per week say it promotes digestive, muscular, nervous, metabolic, lymphatic and skeletal system benefits.
For more information, visit Bikram Yoga Philadelphia.
Hotbox Yoga
Locations in Manayunk and West Philadelphia
One Sunday a month, Hotbox Yoga has a Sunday Seva class meant to help practitioners kick start the work week while giving back. Each class will have a different theme and support a different charity - locally or globally.
For more information, visit Hotbox Yoga.
Priya Hot Yoga
1828 Callowhill St., Franklintown
Priya Hot Yoga offers several workshops that add some spice to typical hot yoga.
For example, on Friday, Jan. 29, Priya Hot Yoga will hold an evening Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga class and on Friday, Feb. 12, an Intro to AcroYoga class.
For more information, visit Priya Hot Yoga.
Anjali Power Yoga
1519 South St., Southwest Center City
But don't worry if you're not a full-out yogi – yet. The studio gears its classes to all ability levels, steadily building to a practice that allows you to "authentically experience the yogic rewards of strength, joy, peace and love."
For more information, visit Anjali Power Yoga.