Downward dog. Child. Tree. Cat. Plank. I'm sure for many of you there is instant recognition that these are yoga poses. some of you probably even practice yoga regularly. maybe, you're one of the lucky few who have discovered the amazing experience of Bikram or Moksha yoga.

Wondering what on earth Bikram and Moksha yoga are? These are the two popular forms of "hot yoga," a series of yoga poses practiced in a room which is heated to between 38 and 42°C. There is a dedicated hot yoga studio right here in London: Moksha Yoga, located at 677 Richmond St. Moksha Yoga runs a variety of classes every day from Monday through Saturday, and all of their instructors boast of wealth of yoga experience.

If you've always wondered about hot yoga, but are uncertain as to how to get started, Rob Thomaes, Co-Owner of and Instructor at Moksha Yoga, offered some simple advice: "All you need is a yoga mat, a towel for the top of your mat and a large water bottle — that's it!" The instructors will lead you through all the rest.

Hot yoga, like all other forms of yoga, offers you not only a great way to get in shape and relax from all the daily stresses of life, but a plethora of other health benefi ts as well. "Doing yoga in a heated room has hundreds of benefi ts," explained Thomaes, "but the main one is increasing range-of-motion in the body systems. We liken it to warming up a rubber band, allowing the band to stretch further and further." In simple terms, practicing yoga in such high temperatures radically increases your fl exibility, which is great for improving your strength.

It's not only your muscular strength that improves through the practice of hot yoga; Thomaes was certain to emphasize "the intensity of the heat also adds a challenge to your cardiovascular fitness." Basically, doing hot yoga will have you not only sweating up a storm, but will get your heart pumping and your lungs working hard!

Thomaes has some personal experience with exactly how much hot yoga can improve your health. Before he began practicing hot yoga, Thomaes played football, baseball and wrestled. "As an athlete, I was riddled with injuries. I had too much muscle and bulk on my frame, and I was extremely stiff to the point where I couldn't even touch my knees in a forward bend. At 36, I'm now more all-around fit than I was when I was 20, and it's mostly due to hot yoga."

Thomaes offered one last piece of advice on how to make sure that you are dressed properly for the occasion. "Women usually wear an athletic tank or bra top and shorts or capris. Men usually wear just shorts or shorts and a t-shirt," he said. "Make sure your clothing is wicking and not cotton!"

So if you're looking for a new way to get in shape, break a sweat or find a little more peace and relaxation in your life, give hot yoga a try. You may just fall in love with the practice!

For more information on Moksha Yoga in London, visit mokshayogalondon.com, call 519-850-8850 or stop by the studio today!