How Hot Yoga Enhances Holistic Weight Loss: A Naturopath’s Guide.

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This month, we have Daisy Wood, a naturopath & herbalist, sharing her thoughts on weight release and hot yoga. This week, I celebrated my 51st birthday, yikes (& very coincidentally Daisy and I share the same birth date :)), and have been going on my own weight release journey for the past year. I have read many a books, listened to many a podcasts, seen my GP and have worked with a naturopath, experimenting with what I eat, when I eat, meditating more and overall taking time to notice what makes me feel good and what doesn't. Through this journey hot yoga has always been my constant because as Daisy explains - hot yoga works with our body's natural wisdom to be the perfect support for weight release. Thank you so much Daisy for sharing your journey with us!

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How hot yoga enhances holistic weight loss: A naturopath's guide.

As a naturopath, my focus is on holistic, sustainable weight release and healing metabolic ill-health that is the root of so many other ailments. Over the years, my clinical practice has deepened, to address not only the body, but mind, heart, and soul. Recently  my yoga practice has also deepened. While I’ve explored various forms of yoga, my 10 months at Kāpiti Hot Yoga have been the most transformative, both physically and personally.

In my profession, I hold personal growth and wisdom close. I strive to embody these values and guide others toward a balanced, joyful life. Weight release is not merely shedding physical weight; it’s a journey into self-discovery, revealing who we truly are beneath layers of stress, imbalance, and protective barriers. It’s about stepping into our authentic selves, grounded in community and spirit.

This year Kāpiti Hot Yoga has been a big part of my own spiritual and physical evolution. Although my practice has had its ebbs and flows, the connection between my work as a naturopath and what Anjana and her incredible team offer in the studio is undeniable. 
Hot yoga, like all forms of yoga, while rooted in physical movement, is ultimately about deeper personal development. However the 26+2 sequence becomes a moving mediation and the heated room amplifies the metabolic and other physical benefits.

Physically hot yoga supports weight release by activating the body’s natural wisdom in several ways:

• Reduces Stress: Elevated cortisol levels, caused by stress, often lead to increased fat storage. The heated environment in hot yoga promotes relaxation, helping balance hormones and allowing the body to work with itself, not against it.

• Elevates Mood: Mental well-being is key to self-care. Hot yoga has been shown to improve mood, reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. With a lighter heart, it becomes easier to make nourishing choices in both diet and lifestyle.

 

• Enhances Detoxification: Sweating in a heated practice aids in releasing toxins that can disrupt hormone balance. This natural detoxification supports metabolic processes, making weight release more fluid.

 

• Boosts Immunity: A strong immune system helps maintain consistent activity and supports recovery. Hot yoga improves circulation and strengthens immune responses, keeping you on the mat and in life’s flow.

 

• Supports Cardiovascular Health: The heat raises the heart rate, mimicking cardio exercise. This promotes heart health and burns fat more efficiently, contributing to sustainable weight release.

 

• Regulates Blood Sugar: Hot yoga supports healthy blood glucose levels, which prevents insulin resistance and stabilizes energy, making weight release smoother.

 

• Strengthens Bones and Muscles: Weight-bearing postures build bone density and muscle strength, key to maintaining a healthy body composition and long-term wellness.

 

• Increases Flexibility: The heat warms muscles, improving flexibility and range of motion. This not only deepens yoga poses but also enhances overall movement, supporting natural weight release.

Sustainable weight release requires a connection to the body, heart, and mind. This practice has been life-changing for me—not only in building physical strength and flexibility but also on a much deeper level. In the quiet moments within the 26+2 postures, I’ve felt a connection to something larger—a peaceful presence within. I’ve discovered inner strength and flexibility through the challenge of the heat and the constant striving for improvement in the poses, mirroring my body’s flexibility and transformation.

For anyone embarking on their weight release journey, I wholeheartedly recommend integrating hot yoga. The benefits go beyond the physical—they touch the essence of who we are, helping us release not just weight but also helping us step into alignment with ourselves, which ultimately prevents the yoyo pattern that is common in many peoples experience of weight loss 
Kāpiti Hot Yoga has been a cherished part of my journey, and I’m deeply grateful for the synergy between my hot yoga practice and the guidance I offer as a naturopath.

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Author

Daisy Wood is a naturopath and herbalist who guides women to unlock their metabolic magic, release weight for good and to step into their authentic self.  She works from her home clinic in Paekākāriki and online  www.bloomwithdaisy.co.nz https://www.instagram.com/bloom_with_daisy/