Hot yoga is a broad term describing any yoga practice intentionally performed in a room heated above typical ambient temperature. This heated environment promotes muscle flexibility, increases blood circulation, and encourages significant sweating. The practice is not a single style but a category encompassing many different methods, sequences, and philosophies. These variations lead to many names for classes, defining the specific experience a practitioner will encounter.
The Original Branded Style: Bikram Yoga
The most famous and original hot yoga style is Bikram Yoga, a highly codified system developed by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. This style is a specific, non-negotiable routine practiced under precise environmental conditions. A traditional Bikram session is 90 minutes long and features a fixed sequence of 26 postures (asanas) and two specific breathing exercises (pranayamas).
The room environment is strictly set to 105°F (about 40°C) with 40% humidity. The fixed sequence is repeated the same way in every class, designed to systematically work the entire body through standing and floor postures. This adherence to a fixed pattern and specific heat distinguishes Bikram Yoga as a trademarked system. The heat allows for deeper, safer stretching of the muscles and connective tissues.
Generic Hot Flow Classes
Beyond the fixed structure of Bikram, many studios offer classes referred to by descriptive names like “Hot Flow,” “Hot Vinyasa,” or “Hot Power Yoga.” These classes are based on the Vinyasa style, which emphasizes continuous, fluid movement where postures are linked using the breath. Unlike the Bikram sequence, the arrangement of poses is dynamic and changes from session to session, allowing the instructor creative freedom.
The temperature in these generic hot classes is typically lower than Bikram’s 105°F standard, usually ranging from 90°F to 100°F. This warmth induces sweating and warms the muscles but offers a less intense environment than the original style. The focus remains on linking movement and breath, with the heat enhancing the cardiovascular component of the workout.
Proprietary Systems and Franchise Names
As hot yoga’s popularity grew, several proprietary systems and large franchise brands developed their own names and sequences, distinct from Bikram and generic Vinyasa. These names represent specific, trademarked methodologies that utilize heat as a core component. For instance, CorePower Yoga is a major national franchise offering classes like C2 or Sculpt, often practicing in rooms heated to a range of 93°F to 98°F.
Other branded systems include Modo Yoga (previously Moksha Yoga), which utilizes a set sequence of 40 poses practiced at approximately 103°F over 90 minutes. Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga is frequently practiced in a heated room between 90°F and 95°F, focusing on a specific sequence of flowing postures. These unique names and temperature protocols are part of a trademarked brand experience, differentiating them from general “Hot Flow” offerings.
Newer brands, such as HOTWORX, use infrared heat technology, often in smaller, sauna-like settings, for high-intensity, structured workouts. The existence of these proprietary systems demonstrates how “hot yoga” has evolved from one specific style into a diverse marketplace of branded experiences. These names represent a blend of heat, specific sequencing, and brand identity.