Beauty clinics have long used infrared as a part of many treatments, as it is known to help with detoxification, lymphatic drainage, blood circulation, pain management, weight loss, skin cleansing and reducing cellulite. But why stay still on a treatment bed receiving the beneficial heat when you can maximise the use by combining it with exercise?
Infrared heat can penetrate into the skin deeper than heat from a heater, and therefore has more therapeutic benefits. With this idea in mind, coupled with the surge in popularity of hot yoga, Kryoga Gold recently introduced infrared hot yoga, bringing the best of both worlds together in a 50-minute sweat session.
Master Sri Srinivas Suresh Kamal said that while infrared hot yoga has been popular in other countries for quite a while, it is a new concept in Asia, and Kryoga was the first place in Asia to introduce the new workout.
"Traditional hot yoga focuses more on improving flexibility, but infrared hot yoga offers faster benefits while also flushing out the toxins and relieving office syndrome," said Master Kamal.
The 50-minute session is conducted in an otherwise ordinary yoga studio equipped with infrared panels on the ceiling to emit infrared rays. The sequence for this class has been developed by Master Kamal himself, who is honoured as one of the top 8 Indian yoga masters in the book The Great Indian Yoga Masters.
"The sequence is called Hot Dhara and the poses and the flow in the sequence focus on strengthening the organs for total well-being. The heat from the infrared panel is not suffocating like that from a heater _ it is a healthy heat. The poses are mostly basic, making the class suitable for beginners as well as those who are more seasoned," explained the Indian yogi who has travelled intensively spreading his teachings throughout Asia, the US and Australia.
While different people break a sweat at different rates, most will start sweating within the first five minutes in this class. Minimal clothing and breathable fabrics are highly recommended, as sweat-soaked clothes will be quite annoying. Also, exposing more skin to the infrared heat makes sure you get as much of the benefits as possible.
The pace of the sequence is slow and steady, with a lot of twisting to add flexibility. Also it does not feel like an intensive workout, the heart does work harder and you can feel it pumping strong after the first 15 minutes.
True to what Master Kamal said, this kind of heat makes you feel less exhausted than heat from a heater, and you will definitely be blissfully drenched in sweat by the end of the class.
"Dry heat from a heater can make you feel dizzy, but this one does not. It is less suffocating, and most people say they feel better in infrared heat than in a room warmed by a heater."
It is recommended to drink plenty of water before and after the class, and to keep a bottle of water close at hand during the class to avoid dehydration. Eat a light meal about two hours before the class, and do not eat anything immediately after the class. This class is suitable for most people, even those with health conditions, although unfit people should always alert the instructor before the class. It is, however, not recommended for pregnant women and those who have just had Botox injections.
Master Kamal guarantees that doing three to five sessions of infrared hot yoga a week will yield visible results within a month. "But that doesn't mean you don't need to watch your food intake. Yoga alone doesn't work _ you need discipline."
