Now, some might say that hot yoga is like doing yoga inside a volcano, but let me tell you, it’s more like doing yoga on the surface of the sun. From the moment you step into that sweltering room, your first Hot Yoga Class, you feel like a melting popsicle, contemplating life’s deepest questions while trying not to slip in your own perspiration.

As the heat wraps around you like a warm, huggy Grosse Umarmung, you find yourself in a unique state of existence. It’s like being caught between two worlds—the world of timide discomfort and the world of absolute bliss. You start questioning your life choices, wondering how you ended up in a room that feels like a hamam with no lavender salt, luckily, contorting your body in ways you never imagined possible. But hey, don’t give up that easily, it’s all part of the journey, right?

Jokes aside, the struggle is real. Every drop of sweat becomes a tiny sacrifice to the best of your near future. And as you sweat and wobble, you realize that your life, too, is a series of challenges that make everyone of us stronger and more flexible, both physically and mentally. Especially, mentally. It’s in those moments of survival celebrations, your triumphs, where you manage to hold a Balancing Stick pose without looking like a broken umbrella and you hear “not bad even for Maryna”, that you discover the obvious connection between discipline, stamina and personal growth. Your stamina. And your growth.

But, please, let’s not forget – hot yoga is FUN. When you’re surrounded by a room full of fellow-yogis struggling to maintain their balance in a state of profuse sweating, it’s hard not to find humor in the chaos. In the days when your focus is elsewhere.. (And that’s OK not to have your focus sometimes, it’s a part of a process..). You might catch a glimpse of someone’s hilarious facial expression as they attempt a pretzel-like posture Standing Bow Pose, or witness a scary Joker Smile right next to you during the Full Locust,… by the way, that smile is one of the regular “demands” you can’t escape during the class. Laughter becomes the soundtrack of this beautifully absurd journey. And I love it!

After a few years of practice, personal guidance of the Hot Yoga Gent teachers, online classes, workshops, healed injuries, deep conversations and unique discussion after the classes, – hot yoga has stolen my heart forever and brought me to becoming a yoga teacher!

Becoming a yoga teacher wasn’t just about sharing the physical poses and techniques. It was a spontaneous decision, a jump through the Corona times to freedom of choices, -it felt it was about serving others and guiding them through the sweltering room of self-discovery, where everyone who comes could find strength, flexibility, and a deeper understanding of themselves…Like I found mine ones.

It feels right to claim, that life in its own is like a hot yoga class—challenging, sweaty, and filled with unexpected surprises. Embrace the heat, and let it guide all of you towards a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Namaste

…and bring your favourite towel with you because we are going to sweat!

Not only have I developed way more self-discipline but also I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself. And although there’s always a moment during every class when I wonder why I am doing this again, I always come back to this little hot corner of peace I cherish and am so grateful for.

Moving to Belgium back in 2008 from Somalia, running long distances outside – despite the weather, mind you – was a way to both get acclimated to my new surroundings and to clear my mind. However, everything from the tarmac to bad running shoes weakened my knees. And about four years ago I stopped running, which I didn’t think much of, but still sorely missed. One fateful October evening, a very good friend of mine told me she was going to a hot yoga class and that I should join her, even if it was just for one class. I wasn’t that excited about the really hot room to be quite frank; the idea made me very irritable before I even stepped in class. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong: after my first session, I was so excited I survived the heat that I wanted more. I know… crazy right? Before I knew it, I was standing on my mat twice a week. That went up to three times a week. Now I practice four times a week and one of these fine days will challenge myself to do two classes in one day (apparently, this is possible, who knew?). Until then, I will be grateful for what yoga gives me: a challenge for my body mixed with peace of mind. A combination that truly liberates me and makes me feel better every time I step off my mat.

The classes are hard , and I think if it will get easy I quit ???? but still it isn’t easy , however you get used to it .You learn not to listen to your mind that will try to convince you that it’s to hot in the room that you have no breath … I like to work to even better postures, just a little further . However if I can keep me postures until I’m 60 I’m also happy . I found out that for me the hot yoga brings a lot of pain relief … i have a Rheumatic disease . Yes this is a strong motivation, as less pain is more energy. And I know that even on my bad days it feels beneficial to me and that I have some motivating teachers to help me through my bad days . Yes it’s true I’m a little addicted to hot yoga, but it doesn’t hurt.

For lack of a better description, you feel as if you got that body back that you had when you were in your twenties. That feeling usually lasts till the next day, at least. If, like me, you do yoga several times a week for a prolonged period of time, it can even last for a few weeks. Not doing yoga for several days is something I like to avoid though, as I miss it after a day or two. The most important reason for doing yoga for me, personally, is that it greatly lifts my mood. It literally makes me happy. This is probably because of the warm atmosphere (pun intended) at Hot Yoga Ghent. Seldom have I visited places that made me feel more welcome and accepted than here. So if you come to Hot Yoga you will bathe in your own sweat, sure. But you will also be showered with kindness. That is why I do hot Yoga – to fill up on positive energy. Your mileage may vary; I like to come about five times a week. Last but not least, the teachers are very experienced and have a vast knowledge of yoga as well as human anatomy. They provide guidance for people recovering from an injury or illness, and will tell the practitioner how to adjust or even replace certain postures as to keep the practice healthy in all circumstances.
So! Do something good for yourself and come do yoga with us! I mean, what else are you gonna do in the evening? Watch TV? Get off the couch and on the mat, I *guarantee* you will not regret it.

You can expect a welcoming and safe environment, highly skilled teachers who guide and encourage you, and fellow yogis who got your back. The classes have a remarkably positive impact, both physically and mentally. Every class is different, and I believe it offers you what you need the most at that certain time. This recommendation comes with a warning: there is a good chance that you will get hooked.

Hot yoga calms my mind and teaches me to focus. In the hot room there is nothing but a mat and myself. It is a relief to look myself in the eye on that square meter and to work so intensely. After every session my body feels different but especially my head gets priceless rest. We are now 10 years later and I still practice hot yoga. Sometimes I go twice a week, sometimes there is a month-long break in between. What is certain is that I find my way back to my mat every time. Time and again, hot yoga pulls me back. Hot yoga for me means meditation, perseverance and learning to love my body. It helps me find peace in a world that occasionally goes crazy. It’s my medicine.

Vanuit de omliggende straten komen ze druppelsgewijs aan met veelkleurige yogamatten onder de arm. Yogi’s. We begroeten elkaar glimlachend. We weten waarom we hier zijn: als we ons niet goed in ons vel voelen dan hebben we dringend een yoga sessie nodig en als we ons wel goed voelen dan hebben we een yogales wel verdiend. Een jongen die ik niet ken vraagt of ik in vorm ben. Ik antwoord dat ik dat binnen 90 minuten zal weten.
90 minuten in de intense hitte van de ruimte, de lucht zwaar van energie en intentie. Zweet parelt op onze voorhoofden terwijl onze lichamen zich plooien, buigen en strekken. Een dans van gratie en moed. Een eindeloze zoektocht naar perfectie en innerlijke harmonie. 90 minuten van afzien, op adem komen en dan toch maar weer doorzetten… en het gaat allemaal veel te snel voorbij!

Throughout the years many beautiful yogi souls crossed my path and overall I have found a greater sense of contentment, self awareness and gratitude. I got deeply connected to my own body and besides that I am beyond grateful that some of my most sacred friendships found their existence upstairs in the changing room. Over the past eleven years practicing hot yoga, I truly fell in love with it all: the studio, the energy, the mind over matter, the sweat, locking the knee, the postures, the yogis, the L from Linda, the heat, the positive suffering, the delightful and revitalized feeling after and…, last but not least, I discovered the genuine wisdom of my own body.Let me invite you to step out of your comfort zone and experience this class for at least one time, just to check if you will fall in love with it all just as much as I did my very first class. Enjoy, surrender and remember… if you still look good after class, you didn’t do it right 🙂

The first couple of classes were tough because of the heat and different exercises but then I got used to it and now after exercising for about 1.5 hours you feel like a different person. You feel very relaxed but also exhausted at the same time. On top you sleep like a baby after doing hot yoga.
These are the reason why I now try to join classes several times a week.
I can advise everybody to join yoga regularly – it’s a life changer!

Apparently I should have drunk double the amount. That night I had a very bad night, having a headache, feeling feverish, tossing and turning in my bed, unable to sleep. Luckily it didn’t put me off! It still took a year before I started coming regularly, but since then I just cannot imagine my life without hot yoga. I am also most grateful for the opportunities it has given me professionally and so proud to showcase my work with all the amazing models on this website.