You love yoga class but you love relaxing in your hot tub even more. What if you could combine both activities and reap expanded benefits? Whether you are a yoga beginner or a master, practicing poses in the hot tub can help increase your flexibility and balance. Here are three reasons you’ll want to trade in those yoga pants for a bathing suit and enjoy your next Zen session in front of the hot tub jets.
Enhanced Mindfulness and Stress Relief
Many people find themselves able to relax and be more “in the moment” in their backyard spa. By incorporating yoga’s deep breathing techniques with your hot tub soak, you can boost the natural stress relief benefits of both activities. Become a mindfulness master as you allow the warm waves of water to help you relax, and then add some yoga poses as you focus on staying in the moment.
Improved Flexibility
Yoga and a soak in the spa both help improve flexibility. Combining the two can offer results even faster. The hot water warms up your muscles, so you may be able to reach further on your favorite poses and feel the benefits of looser ligaments all day long. The water also adds resistance, helping to strengthen core muscles. But it also makes your body feel lighter, so you won’t feel the added strain on joints and bones.
Increased Confidence
The water’s buoyancy can aid your balance and help you achieve poses you may have found difficult or even impossible on land. Many yoga beginners become disheartened when they can’t perform the simplest poses. With the hot water aiding your attempts, you may be able to achieve success faster and gain the confidence to try more difficult poses. Advanced yoga practitioners may find they can hold poses longer or stretch further in the hot tub.
Get Your Hot Tub Yoga Zen On
Nearly any standing yoga pose can be adapted for the water, and you can use the hot tub bench for support during most seated poses. Try these to start:
- Wave pose (ideal for beginners): Tilt your body to one side, leaving one arm hanging down while waving the other one above the water. Repeat on the other side.
- Pelican pose (a bit more challenging): Stand in the middle of the hot tub with your knees bent slightly. Wrap your right leg around the left, so you are balancing on one foot. Place your arms out to the sides, bent upwards at 90 degrees. Move your left elbow over your right elbow, pressing your hands together. Repeat with your left leg up and your right elbow on top.
Experiment with your favorite poses, beginning with the easier stretches first. You may be surprised by your own strength and flexibility as you work your way up to hot tuba yoga master.
From fitness to arthritis pain relief, explore all the health benefits a Jacuzzi® Hot Tub can bring.