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Jury Is Still Out on Hot Yoga

A 2025 systemic review in Sports Medicine – Open examined the effects of hot yoga on the body and mind. Hot yoga is practiced in warm to hot conditions, typically at temperatures at or above 77° F. The review of 43 studies involving 942 predominantly female participants assessed the immediate and long-term effects of the practice. Many of the studies had small sample sizes or inadequate experimental designs.

The researchers found that body temperature and heart rate rose after a single session of hot yoga, but it did not require greater energy compared to yoga performed at normal temperatures. Longer sessions of hot yoga led to some improvements in flexibility, balance, bone mineral density, body composition and cardiovascular indicators such as blood lipid profiles.

The researchers found encouraging but not definitive evidence that hot yoga may alleviate psychological and affective disorders, as well as improve cognitive function. Noting that there were reports of ill-health following hot yoga practice, the researchers concluded that while hot yoga appears to offer some health and functional benefits, claims that it is superior to other forms of exercise or yoga are not yet backed by strong evidence.

In-Print National Content Global and Health Briefs Health Brief March 2026

 

 

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Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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