Warm Yoga is such a tonic in the colder months, and at Yoga Borne we offer warm (not hot) Yoga several times a week.
Many people are put off by the intensity of heated Yoga, which is why our classes are warm as opposed to hot.
This blog tells you more about warm and hot Yoga, and debunks a HUGE myth that hot Yoga sweats out your toxins - sorry, it’s just not true!
However, there are many benefits to practicing in a warm room.
What is Warm Yoga?
The room is gently heated — typically warmer than a general class, but not extremely hot.
Yoga Borne warm Yoga is generally a temperature of 26-28 degrees.
Heat is used to support relaxation and ease into poses, without pushing the body into extreme heat stress.
What is Hot Yoga?
Practiced in a much hotter room — commonly 35–40 degrees, with increased humidity in some styles like Bikram/Vinyasa-based hot yoga.
The aim is to warm muscles deeply, increase flexibility, raise heart rate and simulate a more intense physical workout.
In short, Warm Yoga is more gentle and supportive, whereas Hot yoga is intentionally more intense and thermal-stress-driven.
What are the real benefits of heated Yoga?
Research shows that heated Yoga can create physiological and psychological responses — though many popular claims are overstated or misunderstood.
1. Flexibility & range of motion.
Heat increases muscle temperature and blood flow, making muscles more pliable and decreasing stiffness. This can allow deeper, safer stretching — something both warm and hot environments support.
2. Cardiovascular and metabolic effects.
Practicing Yoga in heat raises heart rate and core temperature, similar to moderate physical exercise, which may contribute to aerobic conditioning, calorie expenditure and metabolic adaptation over time.
3. Mind-body and mental well-being.
At Yoga Borne your warm class will combine movement with breath awareness and mindfulness, which many studies link with reduced stress and improved emotional states. There’s some evidence heated practice may further enhance mood and sense of focus.
Sweat and “toxins” — what science really says!
A common belief in heated Yoga, especially hot Yoga, is that sweating removes toxins. The scientific reality is more nuanced:
Sweat does not equal detox pathway.
Sweat’s primary role is thermoregulation — keeping your body cool.
Most toxic waste elimination is performed by the liver and kidneys, not sweat glands.
Sweat contains mostly water and electrolytes, with only very tiny amounts of certain heavy metals or trace compounds.
So, you don’t “sweat out toxins” in any meaningful health sense, even though you may feel cleansed or refreshed from the experience or physiological changes.
Heat makes you sweat more — but not as a way to meaningfully detox your body.
It is important to hydrate both before and after a heated class. Replace electrolytes with coconut water, bananas, milk and salted snacks.
Who is Warm Yoga for?
Beginners or those new to heated classes.
Those wanting a calming, less intense experience than hot Yoga.
Every-body will be made to feel very welcome at Yoga Borne!
Hot Yoga tends to suit people comfortable with heat and moderate exertion and those wanting an intense physical experience with increased heart rate.
Overall, heat can help muscles relax, improve flexibility, and contribute to cardiovascular and metabolic responses, but much more research would be needed to confirm many claims about infrared heat superiority (used in hot Yoga), or detoxification.
Fancy a warm class?
Join us for a beginners class on Mondays 7:30pm, slow flowing class on Thursdays at 6:15pm, and watch this space for a warm flow coming soon!
