HOME HOT YOGA
  • About
    • Bikram Yoga
    • Pregnancy Yoga
    • Private Lessons
  • Blog
  • JOIN TODAY
  • MEMBERS AREA
  • D.I.Y. HOT ROOM
  • Contact
  • BIZ COACHING
  • SHOP

It's been a year.

3/12/2021

0 Comments

 
On March 15, 2020, Orlo and I squeezed onto our couch amidst a pile of unfolded laundry after putting the kids to bed.

We put our chins on our knees and looked at each other. 

“Are we doing this?” one of us said, and we both knew the answer.

It was Orlo’s birthday, but we had already decided to postpone the festivities.

We'd made the decision to announce that evening our plans to close the studio, at least for a while, to do our part in “flattening the curve.”

The word was getting out that COVID-19 was a “thing,” and we sincerely hoped there was something we could do that would stop it in its tracks.

We shut down on March 17, hoping it would only be a couple of weeks.

On March 23, Governor Brown announced that, among thousands of other small businesses all over Oregon, yoga studios were mandated to close their doors.

The rest is history... but don't worry, I won't rehash it here!

Instead I want to share some heart-warming stats you may not know about our community over the past 365 days:
Picture
Not too shabby for being shut down by the govnah, eh?

It actually gives me the chills:

Homies, you have stepped (way) out of your comfort zone this year and done things (hot yoga in the bathroom??) in the name of your own health and sanity that you'd possibly never imagined you'd do.

That is what we discover when we practice yoga: the essence of who we are:

Look how powerful you are, and how resilient! Look how you have found and made the time and space to care for yourself. Especially when it has been hard, when it has not been pretty.

A lot has changed this year, but not everything. For example, our mission at Home Hot Yoga is still:

To get the most people feeling the best by providing a joyful, inclusive environment for yoga. 

Our “environment” has moved online of course, which means we’re able to reach people all over the world with our transformational yoga system and help them feel better, wherever.

Speaking of which:

We have a very exciting project in the works, so be on the lookout for some Major  Announcements coming soon!

Do you have any happy “stats” of your own? What has your yoga practice helped you handle, accomplish or become this year? Comment below and let us know!

See you in the Zoom room.
0 Comments

Update: COVID-19 vs. Heat & Humidity

10/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Over the summer we published this blog post discussing existing research on heat and humidity in relation to COVID-19. (Hint: it was good news for Bikram Yogis!)

A new study came out this month which has even more to say on the subject. Where back in May, scientists observed that areas with higher temps and humidity experienced less spread of COVID, the recent findings suggest it's not quite that simple.

Wait... can we still do Bikram Yoga??

YES.

**CAVEAT ALERT**

Before I dive in any deeper, I'd like to point out that in no way am I claiming that being in our yoga room will guarantee that you do not catch the novel coronavirus. The truth is that
any time you leave your home or are around other people, you are at some risk of catching COVID. This post is addressing the scientific findings that some environments pose more risk than others. 

Here is what the science says:

​"Our research shows that the viability of coronavirus is higher at low air temperature values below or equal to 75 F (25°C) and at high relative humidity values greater than or equal to 65%," says Prof. Dimitris Drikakis, one of the new study's authors.

"Therefore, countries with the above weather conditions or indoor places with the above environmental conditions (at those conditions) are more at risk."


Check out this chart (circle added for reference) from the study showing the concentration of airborne contaminated droplets:
Picture
The study found there was less risk of catching COVID at temperatures above 75 and humidity below 65%.

Hooray: that's US! (See the red circle on the image above.)

​
We keep our hot room at a perfectly sweet spot for sweating: 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) with 40-60% humidity (In most classes, especially now with our limited capacity, humidity actually remains between 40-50%.)

Scientists now understand that how well COVID spreads in the air is due to a combination of factors which include not only heat and humidity but also (when outdoors) wind and (when indoors) ventilation.

For indoor spaces, proper ventilation is advised, as well as the use of air purification systems to help reduce concentration levels of any contagions in the air.

Here at Home we've always been fans of good air quality.

Yogis who've practiced in stuffier hot studios often remark at how much better they breathe in our room! That's in part because of our Demand Control Ventilation system. 

The DCV maintains indoor air quality by automatically adjusting the amount of outside air coming into the hot room when the CO2 reaches a specific level.

In order to further increase the flow of outside air in keeping with current recommendations, this setting is currently at “0” which means we are bringing in the maximum amount of outside air (around 50%) during class. The air which is recycled is constantly cleaned by the iWave air purification system.


"We should also avoid places of low temperature," says Drikakis.

We've been saying that for years! ;)

​Check out this post for a rundown of the many benefits of heat for all kinds of reasons. And read this if you have any concerns about "handling" the heat. Most importantly, join us in Home's hot room: we're here 7 days a week.

​Click here to book your class!
0 Comments

Is hot yoga in a mask even safe?

10/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Our psychic powers tell us you may be wondering: is wearing a mask in hot yoga even safe?

Depends.

Are you prepared to take excellent care of yourself during class?

That means breathe through your nose, and rest when necessary (Hint: if you find it hard to keep breathing through your nose, you need a rest:
Picture
When you first return Home, you will probably need to take more breaks than you are accustomed to. It's true that a mask will be in the way of air headed into your nose, but also don't forget that you haven't been in a hot room for 7 months!

Everyone is going to be out of "hot yoga shape" at Homecoming, masks or no masks. We all get to re-acclimate together.

If you think about it, that's kind of awesome.

Never in the history of the studio have we ever had a class where everyone was still getting used to the heat!

What a gift that we all get to support and inspire each other in this way. 

Look, if you have any concern (and especially if you have any respiratory issues) you should definitely ask your doctor if wearing a mask in hot yoga is for you.

Having said that, there may even be some benefit to exercising while wearing a mask!

For years, athletes have used "elevation training masks" which decrease levels of oxygen to simulate working out at high elevations. The idea is training the lungs to perform with less oxygen, will make performing with normal oxygen levels that much easier.

It's important to note that wearing a regular (non-ETM) mask does not actually decrease oxygen levels (though it may feel like it sometimes) 

Bottom line: athletes have been training in masks for years. The word "training" is the key: it's a practice. Like yoga.

Doing your yoga in a mask is going to take practice.

So are you prepared?

If you're prepared to try- mindfully and patiently, practicing in a mask will be way less lame. 

By the way, just like trying ONE class in a mask is not really enough.

Because, imagine if you only tried Standing Bow Pulling pose ONCE, and then decided you couldn't do it?? You'
ve got to give this (and yourself!) an honest chance. Just like when you first began practicing in the heat: 2 or 3 classes in your first week will help you adjust the quickest.

Who knows, your respiratory system may actually get stronger from the experience! Your ability to tune in to your body's signals and manage intensity accordingly definitely will.

And that's a bonus worth training for!

Check out this post for more thoughts and tips on wearing masks in class.
0 Comments

Bikram Yoga in a mask!

10/8/2020

2 Comments

 
Bikram Yoga in a face mask: #36482 on the list of things I’ve done in 2020 which I never imagined I would do! You know what though? It ain’t so bad.
​

Yogis have been asking for recommendations, so...
Picture
Here are a few things I’ve discovered:
  1. Which mask matters! These are my faves, but you should try a bunch of different kinds and find what works for you.
  2. Standard disposable paper mask - Pros: very breathable, you know it’s clean because you use a new one every time. Cons: it gets wet, and it creates trash. 
  3. Foamtec mask (pictured) - Pros: very breathable even when damp, does not pull on your ears, washable and reusable. Cons: You CANNOT wash it with your other laundry if you have a cat (learned the hard way!)
  4. Switch in the middle. My style is the paper mask for the start of class through Party Time, then have a quick sip of water if I need it and switch to the Foamtec mask for the rest of class.
  5. Try a face cage. (Actually called a face mask support frame, but if you Google "face cage" you will also get to see MANY masks with Nicholas Cage on them!) These fit inside your mask and simply keep it from getting smushed up in your mouth or sucked into your nose. You might need to remove it for Locust pose when your mouth is on the floor. Honestly, getting my mask stuck to my face has not been a problem as long as I switch when my mask gets wet. But here is a tool to help if it becomes an issue.

But the #1 thing you need to do when practicing Bikram Yoga in a mask (or even not in a mask) is simple and costs $0:

Give yourself permission to take radical good care of yourself during class.

That means breathe through your nose, and rest when necessary (Hint: if you find it hard to keep breathing through your nose, you need a rest:)

Good news is, you already practice that every time you do Bikram Yoga- right? 

When you first return Home, you will probably need to take more breaks than you are accustomed to. It's true that a mask will be in the way of air headed into your nose, but also don't forget that you haven't been in a hot room for 7 months!

Like Standing Head to Knee pose, doing your yoga in a mask is going to take practice. If you're prepared to try- mindfully and patiently (and with the right supplies!) hot yoga in a mask may not be your favorite, but it won't totally suck. You might even forget it's there.

Plus, think of how bada** that is! "I do Bikram Yoga in a face mask" said no lame person EVER. ;)

Check out this post for more thoughts on masks!

2 Comments

What's an iWave?

10/7/2020

0 Comments

 
I feel pretty confident about spending 90 minutes in a hot room breathing with you during a global pandemic. There are a few reasons for that:
  1. Yogis are staying home if they feel sick or have been exposed
  2. We're wearing masks in class
  3. Yoga strengthens our immune systems
  4. COVID doesn't survive as long at high temps
  5. We're cleaning like freaks
  6. There's an iWave in the ductwork killing any COVID that sneaks in!
Ok... but what's an iWave?

The iWave is the air purification system we've installed in the hot room's duct system! When air passes over the iWave, ions produced by the device reduce pathogens, allergens, particles, smoke and odors in the air, without producing harmful byproducts.
Picture
How does it work?

iWave uses a fancypants technology called "needle-point bi-polar ionization" to create equal amounts of positive and negative ions. When the ions are released into the air, they break down passing pollutants and gases into harmless stuff like oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor.

When the ions run into pathogens like viruses, bacteria or mold, the ions remove their hydrogen molecules. Without these molecules, the pathogens have no source of energy- so they die.

​The ions also attach to tiny allergens like pollen, causing them to stick together until they are large enough to be caught by our ventilation system’s hospital-grade MERV-13 air filters.
Picture
Is it safe?

Nature generates the same ions that the iWave’s technology does- with lightning, waterfalls and ocean waves. These natural processes break apart molecules, naturally cleaning the air. The difference between the iWave’s technology and what nature does is that the iWave does it without producing ozone!

Does it work on Coronavirus?

Yep! This system has actually undergone independent lab testing on COVID-19 and shown to deactivate 99.4% of the virus in just 30 minutes, in addition to significantly reducing a wide variety of other pathogens in the air and on hard non-porous surfaces.
Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    HHY Founder, Yoga Business Coach, yoga-doer and life-lover, Kay Afif!

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    September 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All
    Abdominals
    Addiction
    ADHD
    Aging Greatly
    Anatomy
    Anti-racism
    Anxiety
    Ardha Matsyendrasana
    Arthritis
    Athletes
    Awkward Pose
    Backbending
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Balancing Poses
    Beginners
    Benefits
    Bhujangasana
    Bikram
    Bikram Yoga
    Birth
    Black Lives Matter
    Blood Pressure
    Blowing In Firm Pose
    Body Image
    Bow Pose
    Breathing
    Bursitis
    Business
    Camel Pose
    Cardiovascular
    Cause
    Chair Yoga
    Challenge
    Chilblains
    Children
    Chronic Back Pain
    Circulation
    Cleaning
    Clothing
    Cobra Pose
    Community
    Concentration
    Coordination
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Dandayamana Dhanurasana
    Dandayamana Janushirasana
    Deep 6 Rotators
    Degenerative Disc Disease
    Depression
    Determination
    Diabetes
    Digestion
    Doing Less
    Eagle Pose
    Early Morning Class
    Early Morning Yoga
    Ehlers Danlos
    Elbows
    Electrolytes
    Emotional Benefit
    Equipment
    Faith
    Fibromyalgia
    Fixed Firm Pose
    Flexibility
    Floor Series
    Focus
    Forward Fold
    Front Side Compression
    Frozen Shoulder
    Full Locust
    Garudasana
    Goals
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Guest Post
    Habits
    Half Moon Pose
    Half Spine Twist
    Half Tortoise
    Hamstrings
    Hands To Feet Pose
    Hatha Yoga
    Headache
    Head To Knee Pose
    Healing
    Healing Injury
    Health
    Heart
    Heart Rate
    Heat
    Herniated Disc
    Hhy To Go
    Hips
    Hives
    Home Hot Yoga Studio
    Home Practice
    How Yoga Works
    Humidity
    Hydration
    Hyperextension
    Hypermobility
    Immune System
    Inflammation
    Inspiration
    Interlocked Finger Grip
    IT Band
    Joint Pain
    Joints
    Kaizen
    Kapalbhati
    Karma Yogi
    Knee Pain
    Knees
    Lateral Flexion
    Lock The Knee
    Locust Pose
    Logistics
    Longevity
    Mask
    Meditation
    Membership
    Mental Health
    Mindset
    Mistakes
    Moderation
    Motivation
    Nervous System
    Normal Breathing
    Nutrition
    Online
    Osteoarthritis
    Overuse
    Pain Relief
    Parenting
    Patience
    Photos
    Poetry
    Posture
    Posture Of The Month
    Practice
    Pranayama
    Pregnancy
    Products
    Quit Smoking
    Rabbit Pose
    Racial Equity
    Rajashree's Pregnancy Yoga
    Raja Yoga
    Recipes
    Recovery
    Relationships
    Relaxation
    Research
    Respiratory System
    Routine
    Running
    Safety
    Schedule
    Sciatica
    Science
    Scoliosis
    Self Care
    Self Discipline
    Self-discipline
    Self Realization
    Situp
    Sit Up
    Skin Health
    Sleep
    Social Justice
    Speaking Up
    Spinal Stenosis
    Spine
    Spine Twisting
    Spondylolisthesis
    Spondylosis
    Stamina
    Standing Bow Pulling Pose
    Standing Head To Knee
    Standing Separate Leg Head To Knee
    Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose
    Stiffness
    Strength
    Stress Relief
    Stretching
    Student Of The Month
    Students
    Studio News
    Summer
    Surgery
    Sustainability
    Sweat
    Swelling
    Teacher Feacher
    Technique
    Teri Almquist
    Testimonials
    Tips
    Tourniquet Effect
    Transformation
    Tree Pose
    Triangle Pose
    Trikonasana
    Twisting
    Utkatasana
    Video
    Videos
    Visualization
    Weight Loss
    Wrists
    Yoga
    Yoga Story Of The Month
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Log in for online yoga
We are an independently woman and veteran owned business. 100% of your investment stays with our company. No franchise fees or royalties are paid to any person or entity.
Picture
Terms / Privacy
  • About
    • Bikram Yoga
    • Pregnancy Yoga
    • Private Lessons
  • Blog
  • JOIN TODAY
  • MEMBERS AREA
  • D.I.Y. HOT ROOM
  • Contact
  • BIZ COACHING
  • SHOP