Curious About Hot Yoga? We Have Answers to Your Burning Questions
Are you someone who has thought about giving hot yoga a try, but weren’t sure where to start? Maybe you’ve felt it was a little intimidating because you wouldn’t know the poses or exactly what to do. This month we interviewed Adam Tilocco, owner of Flow Yoga Studio, to answer some of your most burning questions and discuss why yoga is for everyone.
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Adam Tilocco
Owner of Flow Yoga Studio
Q: Can you tell us about how you first got into yoga, and how you evolved from teaching classes to owning your own studio?
A: I knew a woman from the gym and she invited me to a hot yoga class at Cleveland Yoga in Beachwood. I loved it from the get-go because it was a tough & sweaty workout, it calmed down my mind, and I really enjoyed the positive affirmations and spiritual messages. I started going more and more, which eventually led me to obtaining my yoga teacher certification and traveling around the country to attend different yoga programs and conferences. After teaching at a couple of local studios for a few years, I made the decision to open my own studio, which is now known as Flow Yoga Studio in Mayfield Village.
Q: Why do you think that sometimes people are intimidated to give yoga a try?
A: I feel that one reason they are intimidated is because of the way it is presented in books, magazines, and on the Internet. Oftentimes you will see an extremely toned person doing some sort of crazy funky pose. I think people look at that visual and say “no way, that is not for me.” In reality, most practitioners who attend yoga classes are everyday people from the community who are working on strength, balance, and de-stressing. Dads, moms, teachers, students, athletes, businesspeople, nurses, etc.
Q: There is a stigma around hot yoga that people may find intimidating given the warmer temperatures. What would someone experience taking their first hot yoga class and what advice would you give?
A: Hot yoga is when you do the poses in a heated room. It tends to have a very physical, workout-like feel to it. So, if you enjoy a little bit of challenge, I would suggest giving it a try. Aside from the workout, people tend to gravitate towards this style because the heat loosens up your joints and muscles which sometimes makes it easier to get into the pose. Also, there is just something about sweating your brains out and feeling very strong, peaceful, and accomplished when you leave. To avoid dehydration, I would suggest drinking a lot of water up until about 2 – 3 hours before the class begins. You may want to bring a towel too to wipe sweat off of your arms and / or face.
Q: If someone is new to hot yoga, how do they find the right class for their level?
A: Remember, not every style of yoga is hot yoga. If the heat is too much or too taxing, try to find a class that is lightly heated or not heated at all. If you find that the workout style is hard on your body or a little too rigorous, try to consider something like gentle yoga or restorative yoga. Most studios have entry-level classes (basics, beginners), so that is usually a good place to start
Q: We know that breath work is an important aspect to any yoga practice. Can you tell us about the benefits of breathing appropriately during yoga and why it is so important?
A: I like to look at things from a practical perspective. If you are seriously stressed out or anxious, people do not tell you to breathe quickly and erratically. They encourage you to slow down and take full, hearty breaths. The same goes for yoga. When we breathe deeply and intentionally, two things happen. One, we release tension in our bodies and minds AKA we feel better. Two, we are able to concentrate on the present moment. When we access the present moment, focus and gratitude tend to come to us with a little more ease.
Q: With so much going on in the world, we often hear about things like yoga or meditation and how they can help with stress relief, among other things. How do you feel the awareness attitude about yoga has evolved over the years?
A: I think people are very aware of how beneficial meditation is, but they do not engage in it because you have to stop what you are doing, sit down, and get still. That is a tall order given the busy and distracted world we live in. For me, I find that I walk away from meditation feeling way less scattered and strained within my mind. It feels very much like a fresh start. From what I know, people really enjoy apps like Spotify and Calm because they guide you through the meditations. Knowing how hard it is to slow down, I think it definitely helps if you can have a helping hand along the way.
