Let the journey begin
Start something life changing. Transform your body, your mind and your life through our unique style of hot yoga.
Your first visit to enso
Yoga mat (we offer a range for purchase at the studio), water bottle (we sell water also), and a towel. Wear comfortable clothing.
The studio is open approximately 30 minutes before class so if you are a member anytime before the class commences is ideal. If you are attending your first class try to arrive 15-20 minutes before the start of class so we can check you in and chat. Don’t worry if you’re running late, we will never lock you out.
WaiverDrink plenty of water before class. Try not to eat 60 minutes prior to class. Come with a sense of humour.
There is no requirement to book prior to attending our classes. Provided there is sufficient space to accommodate you on your mat we welcome all comers to ensō. Try to arrive 10 -15 minutes before class to fill in a waiver, find a spot to lay your mat, and relax until class starts.
About the heat
Our ensō studio is equipped with far infrared heaters which have been known to:
• Increase circulation
• Increase oxygen and white blood cell levels in the blood.
• Stimulate weight loss by activating mitochondria enzyme activities thus increasing metabolism.
• Break down cellulite
• Stimulate the production of collagen in our bodies.
• Reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet.
• Help to reduce toxins in the body through perspiration.
• Relieve pain from arthritis, joint aches and pains due to injury
• Stimulate connective tissue cells for injury repair.
• Increase cellular growth as well as DNA and protein synthesis for tissue repair and regeneration.
• Help to heal burns, scar tissue, and skin problems.
• Relieve sore muscles and muscles spasms.
When you sweat, you breathe faster, your heart works more, your circulation increases and your metabolism accelerates, all in an effort to resume your normal body temperature. Because your circulation is increased during sweating, many of the toxins and impurities are able to exit your body by way of your open skin pores. This is a good reason to exercise to the point of sweating. Your skin also benefits from sweating. Your skin pores open and any dirt or impurities on the surface layers of the skin have a chance to exit. Sweating regularly, if followed by proper cleansing, will benefit your skin.
It is believed that the immune system also benefits from sweating. When your body heats up, your body generates more white blood cells which strengthen your immune system.
Sweating has been discussed heavily as a tool for weight loss. The weight that you lose through sweating is water weight. This weight is quickly replaced when you replenish your fluids. However, the activities that lead to sweating burn up calories. Being in a hot room uses up energy as your body tries to restore your normal temperature. If you are sweating because you have been exercising, you have been burning calories. In hot yoga you do both of these.
So, sweating is a good goal to incorporate as part of a weight loss program because it means that your body is eliminating toxins and burning up calories. Just be sure to make hot yoga a part of a larger program of balanced nutrition and varied exercise for a maximum effect.
Benefits of hot yoga
Benefits of yoga for the body:
- Improve flexibility
- Improve physical strength
- Increase core strength
- Lower blood pressure
- Weight management
- Improve digestion
- Body detoxification
- Improve immunity
- Relieve pain
- Prevent workout injuries
- Get in tune with your body
- Improve your posture
- Improve your breathing
- Improve your sleep
- Improve circulation and cardiovascular conditioning
- Relax
- Relieve stress
- Improve your mental strength
- Calm your mind
- Improve your sleep
- Focus on the present
- Inner peace
- Improve intuition
- Increase self-acceptance
- Improve concentration
- Improve memory
- Increase mental awareness
- Increase confidence
Please let your instructor know if you have any injuries or ongoing medical conditions that might be aggravated during yoga. There are several modifications to the poses that can help you avoid further injury. You should take particular care with knee, back, shoulder and neck pain. If for some reason you feel sore after class please speak to your instructors and they can give you advice on appropriate restorative poses. If you have any chronic heart, respiratory, or neural conditions you should speak to you doctor before coming to yoga and keep your teacher informed. Yoga can be very beneficial for many ailments, however particular care must be taken where there is an existing condition. As a rule, a sharp pain that feels ‘electrical’ is a warning sign and means you need to ease off.
Like most things, the more you practice the more you will reap the benefits. If you are looking to become stronger and more flexible, doing a class at least three times a week should provide measurable results. If you can only get to class once a week, try to do a little at home with a DVD, podcast, app, or YouTube video.
As you work on the limitations in your body, it could bring up the reasons why you are tight in the first place – long hours at work, heavy bags you’ve been carrying, any stressful events in your life. When doing the postures we release physical tension which may have built up for years, and sometimes this tension is linked to an emotion. At some point, we all come up against tension, whether physical, mental or emotional. But that’s the great thing about yoga – it helps each of us where we need it. Coming face-to-face with the things that limit us is the first step to addressing them and to growing in our practice and as a person.
In many postures there will be a point at which you can’t reach further or go any deeper. This is your edge. Your muscles are simply saying ‘enough’. Trying to force your way further can trigger the muscles to tighten further as they are programmed to prevent us from injury. One of the fundamental principles of yoga is ahimsa (non-harming) and that includes not harming yourself. Find your way to your edge mindfully then back off a little and discover a balance between effort and surrender, an attitude of ease, where you can still breathe fully and easily.
Yes, indeed. Flexibility develops over time and postures can be modified to suit your level. Doing yoga is one of the best ways to increase your flexibility, and with consistent practice you will notice your flexibility increase after only a few regular sessions. Yoga is for everyone, and in fact if you are stiff you are the perfect candidate for yoga!
Keeping on with your regular yoga practice can feel like a must when pregnancy is causing so many other aspects of your life to change. Tell your instructor that you are pregnant so they can offer options for you. The onus is on you to ease up when you need to. Pregnancy is not a time to attempt new postures or push yourself. Check with your doctor before doing hot yoga during pregnancy. Because we do not know your medical history — although you sound like you are doing wonderfully — we ask that you speak to your physician first and be cleared medically to exercise while pregnant.
If you are pregnant or have other medical conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease we recommend that you consult your doctor prior to taking any hot yoga classes. Of course if you are unwell, it is advisable to rest, and we look forward to seeing you back in the studio when you are well.