Hot yoga

高溫瑜伽

Imagine yourself in a studio that is heated to 40 C, moving rapidly from one pose to the next for 90 minutes and leaving puddles of sweat behind. What an intense experience. Yes, that’s what hot yoga is all about.

想象你自己置身於一個40度的高溫房間中，一氣嗬成、汗流浹背地做足90分鍾的瑜伽動作。這是一種怎樣高強度的運動經曆啊！沒錯，這就是高溫瑜伽。

Bikram is one well-known and trademarked style of hot yoga. It’s soaring in popularity. Even Lady Gaga, Madonna and other celebrities swear by it.

比克若姆熱瑜伽是一種人氣極高且極具標誌性的高溫瑜珈。它在瑜伽界的人氣之高，甚至就連Lady Gaga、麥當娜等名人都是該瑜伽的鐵杆粉。

Fans of hot yoga believe it forces the body to work harder and lose weight. But many medical experts worry it could cause health issues such as heat strokes, nausea or muscle cramps.

高溫瑜伽愛好者們堅信它可以通過高強度鍛煉達到減重效果。然而很多醫學專家則擔心高溫瑜伽可能會導致諸如中暑、惡心、肌肉痙攣等健康問題。

A 2013 study conducted by the American Council on Exercise at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse reveals that performing hot yoga is not harmful if done properly. As for the physical benefits, including muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, it won’t give you more than standard yoga.

2013年，美國運動協會在美國維斯康星大學展開的一項調查顯示，以正確的方式練習高溫瑜伽對身體並無壞處。其保健效果也和普通瑜伽並無兩樣：增加肌肉力量、耐力以及靈活性。