This trendy workout could cause more harm than good: Extreme stress

This hot workout trend might not be health hack it seems.Experts are warning fitness fanatics that hot yoga, popularized by TikTok influencers and A-list celebrities, could pose health risks.Like the name suggests, the workout consists of doing yoga in high temperatures of around 105 degrees with 40% humidity — conditions that can put “extreme stress” on the cardiovascular system.“I’ve seen how the intense heat forces the heart to work overtime to cool the body,” Dr.Veronika Matutyte, a lecturer at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, told the Daily Mail.“This isn’t just a mild increase in heart rate but a significant physiological demand [and] coupled with the electrolyte imbalances caused by profuse sweating, [it] can create a perfect storm.”The temperatures of hot yoga, also known as Bikram yoga, carries a risk of “cardiac arrhythmias, heat stroke, or other serious and even fatal complications,” Matutyte explained.“While the deep stretching and mental focus can be beneficial for some, I find that the risks particularly to the cardiovascular system are real, significant, and shouldn’t be underestimated,” she said.“Don’t assume that just because you’re young or feel healthy, you’re immune to these risks,” she continued.

“The heat can affect all of us, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution.I’ve seen the consequences of underestimating these risks and I can attest that they can be devastating.”The practice promises to improve flexibility and mobility, with the heat allowing for deeper stretches, according to Today.

Additionally, hot yoga also purports stress reduction and boosted heart health.On TikTok, the tag #hotyoga has been used on thousands of videos.Content creators — who are often drenched in sweat — record themselves in the heated workout classes, with some calling it the “hardest workout” they’ve done.“Hot yoga is no joke,” creator Katie Gallagher said in a video online...