hubbiida

Ok. But I will point out for future readers of this thread that you never once addressed any of the points I raised. Most importantly, you never answered the question:

How do you justify Hot Yoga’s excessive use of natural resources?

I’m guessing you didn’t answer because … you can’t.

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by hubbiida.

mzsocialworker1, did you read my posts? If so you would get why practitioners of Hot Yoga need to defend themselves. If you missed it, here’s why: Hot Yoga is now a huge cultural trend. That means thousands of yoga studios around the world heating large, often poorly insulated rooms, usually with conventional heating systems to temperatures of over 90 degrees. Sometimes as high as 120!

So, do you get it now? Can you not see how some people might take issue with the environmental impact of such behavior? From my point of view it is outrageous. What’s worse, it’s utterly unnecessary. Yoga can be practiced with just as much efficacy or more at normal room temperature. I actually practice in the winter in rooms as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit … and sweat! Yoga makes its own heat, if you know how. So, given this, why do you need to abuse the poor Earth any more than it is already abused just to get your yoga fix on? Please explain. I’d really like to know.

BTW: If you really enjoy sweating and being hot while practicing Yoga, why not try Ashtanga or some other form of Vinyasa Yoga. I think you’ll find that you can generate your own heat and sweat profusely even in a cold room in the middle of the winter, if you practice correctly. Perhaps you could convert your Hot Yoga studio into a Vinyasa Studio. Do something good for yourself, for the environment, and for the world!

Thanks for your reply. I am sorry to say, it has not reassured me about Hot Yoga. In fact, it has only served to confirm what I suspected. In between the time that I posted and you replied, I did more research. That and your contentions above have convinced me that not only is Hot Yoga not for me, it should not be for anyone. Honestly, I am shocked.

I think this quote from your reply sums it up best: “We might all have solar panels, may grow all our own food, ride bicycles, recycle more, etc, etc, etc.”

Heavens! What a terrible thought.

But seriously, would that be so bad? Of course, the answer is no. That would be amazing. In fact, that is exactly what we, as conscientious citizens of Planet Earth, should be doing. That and much, much more. Every day we make choices. Those choices should be, as much as possible, geared toward creating a sustainable existence. Unnecessary overuse of essential resources, resources that not only pollute our environment, but are all but proven to be contributing to an environmental change that may ultimately make our own and many other species extinct should not be indulged in. For a person, or a group of people, who claim to be practitioners of Yoga, to engage in such behavior is very discouraging. I can only explain it by assuming that such people do onto understand what Yoga really is; that their westernized viewpoint of Yoga has changed it into something it was never intended to be.

Your rational, that engaging in Hot Yoga is a choice based on what makes you “feel so darn good,” is no excuse for the waste of energy inherent in the practice. There are many, many activities that make people feel good that are extremely harmful to others and to the environment. The simple fact that they make you feel good is not a justification for engaging in them. Your assertion that you will defend your choice to do Hot Yoga “to the hilt” only suggests to me that somewhere, in some unconscious or not so unconscious place inside, you know that what you’re are doing is essentially wrong. At least, I hope that is the case.

So, far from trying Hot Yoga, I will instead suggest that you try some other form of Yoga. I have been practicing Yoga for over 40 years. I can tell you that there are many, many forms of Yoga that are not harmful to the environment and make you feel more than darn good. They are transcendent. And all you need for these practices is your body. You don’t even need a yoga-mat or a lot of spandex. A pair of hemp draw-string shorts and a tee will suffice.

You seem like a good person. I’m sure some day you will come around to this point of view. When you do, look me up. Maybe we can practice together.