In 2023 a scientific study proved that a regular Hot Yoga Practice really does help with symptoms of depression (see our Blog for the full article).

But did you know you can get a simple mood boost by optimizing your practice?

Here’s how it works:

Give yourself at least 3 weeks. As Hot Yoga Instructors, we always say it takes about 30 to 60 days to get results and experience the progress you’re making, so the baseline to start is 3 weeks minimum. Just as your muscles require time to build, your brain takes time to develop a robust dopamine reward system for movement.

Get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes. This is because it takes at least 20 minutes of moderate aerobic activity for the endocannabinoid system to kick in and start to lift your mood. (That’s the system that release not just endorphins, but serotonin and neurochemicals that make you feel so good!). Moderate means you're breathing calmly and you're in the zone.

Tap into the Community-feeling. When you exercise with friends or in an in-person group setting, you will set yourself up to get twice the oxytocin boost, first from the physical activity itself, then from the social interaction.The flood of oxytocin may be responsible for the powerful social connection that some people experience when moving in unison with others .

Sample different class formats. Different types of movement such as cardio (HIIT), resistance strength, and mindfulness practices like yoga, all release different combinations of mood-enhancing chemicals, and collectively, prime the brain to reap greater rewards. Find what works for you and stick with it (the good news is we offer all of these styles for you to benefit).

So when you practice, track your mood and sample different classes, you may just find the perfect match and one you particularly LOVE.