So... what's Hotpod Yoga all about?

Have you heard of Hotpod Yoga? Welcome to the innovative studios bringing a unique way to practice hot yoga. If you’re wanting to think outside the box and try an alternative yoga session, then hit up Hotpod Yoga and experience one of the coolest pop-up studios around.

Hotpod Yoga is available on MoveGB in many London locations: Brixton, Hackney and Notting Hill. And we’re so excited to announce that Hotpod is launching in Bristol on 10th November 2018!

Hotpod Yoga Bristol - win BIG!

There will be two MoveGB exclusive classes to celebrate the launch, with treats and goodie bags. Want to get involved? You can book yourself into them now, or enter our competition. Head over to our Instagram to get involved:

• Win two spaces in the session on Saturday 10th November 2:30pm - 3:30pm
• Win a month of FREE MoveGB membership
• Win a £50 Gymshark gift voucher so you can update your yoga wardrobe. 

Competition closes on Tuesday 6th November midday.

You can check out the Hotpod Yoga Bristol on MoveGB here (the timetable will be released on Friday 9th November) and book yourself into the launch weekend classes.

So… what is Hotpod Yoga?

At Hotpod Yoga, hot Vinyasa Flow yoga classes are held in portable inflatable heated studios, a.k.a. the ‘pod’! These pods are one-of-a-kind designed from scratch for a perfect hot yoga environment.

Expect a yoga session that works for real life humans - feeling that office hunch? Feeling a bit worse for wear after a night out? Suffering from tight runner muscles? Sweat and stretch out all the kinks and blow away the cobwebs in the pod.

The warmth of the pod means you don’t need to spend as long warming up as your muscles are more limber in the heat - classes can be shorter and get you right into the action. And as soon as that door is zipped closed behind you, the darkened, cocoon-like environment quickly quiets the busy mind. Add bergamot scents and fantastic tunes, and you’ve got a fully immersive experience that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and energised post-workout!

What to expect from Hotpod Yoga classes:

Forget about any stereotypes or preconceptions of yoga you may have. Hotpod is all about getting you to feel comfortable in your body, pushing your boundaries, and letting the hot, dark, immersive pod remove you from day-to-day life.

You'll sweat more than you thought possible; you'll come out feeling refreshed and reinvigorated. All levels are welcome - don’t worry if you can't touch your knees (let alone toes) or you can put your legs behind your head. It’s yoga designed for all bodies.

No two classes are ever the same ensuring that the teacher’s personality can truly come out and you have the flexibility to adapt moves to suit your needs.

The benefits of hot yoga:

Some may think hot yoga is a gimmick, but it certainly does bring about benefits. Hotpod yoga releases the tensions and stiffness accumulated in life. You’ll see an increase in flexibility and energy after a session.

The 37-degree heat warms the muscles allowing you to ease into the class even if you’re really inflexible. Fitness and lifestyle expert, Christine Bullock, explains that the external heat allows muscles to expand and contract to greater limits, so higher flexibility can be reached with reduced risk of injury. Just be sure to not push yourself past your limits - be mindful in your stretching.

Studies are inconclusive on whether hot yoga helps you sweat toxins out. But according to wellness expert, Jasmine Rausch, hot yoga increases internal temperatures and skin temperatures, which promotes blood flow to skin cells giving you that post-workout glow that lasts. The sweat from the heat and physical exertion will open your pores and push out grime accumulated from the daily grind.

Hot yoga also gets the heart, lungs, and other organs pumping, and if that isn’t enough you’ll also de-stress, calm your mind and get a fantastic night’s sleep! But hot yoga isn’t for everyone. If you suffer from high or low blood pressure, have a pre-existing heart condition, are pregnant or prone to adverse reactions to hot environments (dizziness, nausea, skin irritants) then best to seek medical advice before participating.

What’s the difference between Hotpod Yoga and Bikram Yoga?

An easy mistake to make, but Hotpod Yoga and Bikram Yoga are very different from one another. Bikram for starters is a bit hotter than Hotpod (40°C - 42°C vs 37°C), and Hotpod tends to be more humid – creating a slightly cooler, but sweatier environment.

In terms of the physical practice, Bikram Yoga uses a set sequence of 26 postures, whereas Hotpod Yoga offers Vinyasa Yoga classes. Vinyasa essentially means flow, resulting in classes in which positions are strung together through a variety of means. At Hotpod this means that whilst the postures themselves are often replicated from class to class, and the sequence of the class becomes recognisable, enabling you to move out of your head and into your body.

What do you need to bring to a Hotpod Yoga class?

Wear something you feel happy wearing and that will allow you to move comfortably – something stretchy is best! You’ll also need a big towel that can cover your mat as this will stop those Bambi legs making an appearance in the pod.

Be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day, both before and after the session. Bring a bottle of water to class as staying hydrated throughout will help you enjoy the class to its full potential. But don’t worry if you forget these, there are towels to rent and filtered water on site! And no worries if you have a hot date after class - showers and hair dryers are also available so you can leave in style.

Who are Hotpod Yoga Bristol?

Frances and George have practised and taught with Hotpod Yoga since its launch in London. When they moved to Bristol, they brought it with them. They wanted to give Bristol the truly unique experience Hotpod has to offer, and provide somewhere all can use to escape city life and sweat it all out!

*All images courtesy of @hotpodyoga